Leslie Massey
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) are unique serial numbers used by the automotive industry to identify individual vehicles. A VIN is always made up of 17 characters, including digits and capital letters. The National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS) maintains a database that records every road vehicle's VIN across Australia. If you are looking to identify your car's model, you can use a free VIN decoder service in Australia to input your 17-character VIN and retrieve information such as the make, model, and year of manufacture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a VIN? | A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual vehicles. |
| VIN length | A VIN is always 17 characters long. |
| VIN characters | A VIN can only include the following characters: 0–9, A–Z (uppercase) excluding the letters I, O and Q. |
| First 3 characters | The first 3 characters make up the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). Every high-volume manufacturer in the world has its own WMI. |
| Third character | If the third character of the WMI is a 9, this indicates a low-volume manufacturer. |
| Positions 12-14 | If the third character is a 9, these positions indicate the low-volume ID. |
| Fourth character | The fourth character is used to identify the vehicle's original year of manufacture. |
| VIN sources | The National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS) maintains a database of VINs for every road vehicle in Australia. |
| VIN decoder | A VIN decoder can be used to interpret the 17-character VIN and reveal information about a vehicle, including its manufacturer, model, features, and technical specifications. |
| Free VIN decoder services | carVertical, VinPit, and Identicar offer free VIN decoder services for Australian vehicles. |
| Paid VIN decoder services | carVertical offers a paid full vehicle history report service, which accesses various paid databases globally. |
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What You'll Learn
Free VIN decoder services in Australia
A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-character alphanumeric code that serves as a unique identifier for a specific vehicle. In Australia, the VIN is the standard vehicle identification method, and it can be found on the registration certificate, the compliance plate located in the engine bay, on one of the door posts, or on the passenger side windshield.
There are several free VIN decoder services available in Australia that can help users uncover important details about a vehicle's history and specifications. Here are some of the popular options:
VinPit
VinPit offers a free online VIN decoder service that supports Australian vehicles, including cars, buses, heavy and light trucks, motorcycles, and towed trailers. Their decoder tool works with all standard VIN formats and is partnered with authoritative information sources, including official vehicle records and government-authorised third-party databases, to provide detailed and accurate vehicle reports. VinPit values user privacy and does not store any search information.
CarVertical
CarVertical provides a free VIN decoder on its website and mobile app, which can be used to check a vehicle's history, including its real mileage, accidents, and theft records. The decoder breaks down the 17-character VIN to reveal essential information about the vehicle, such as its manufacturer, model, features, and technical specifications. While the basic information is provided for free, carVertical also offers a paid full history report for more detailed insights.
Seven Smart Auto
Seven Smart Auto offers a VIN decoder as part of its services to help Australian car buyers make informed decisions. Their decoder can be used to verify a vehicle's history, including accidents, outstanding finance, and theft records, ensuring compliance with Australian regulations and simplifying insurance and registration processes. Seven Smart Auto also provides cutting-edge upgrades and retrofitting services to enhance a vehicle's functionality and comfort.
Other Options
In addition to the above, there are other free VIN decoder services and mobile apps available in Australia, such as CarFacts, Autocheck, VINCheck, and PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register). These platforms offer various features, including accident history reports, odometer readings, registration details, and checks for outstanding finance and theft records.
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Paid VIN decoder services in Australia
While there are free VIN decoder services available in Australia, paid VIN decoder services can provide more detailed and accurate vehicle history reports. These services often have partnerships with auctions, insurance companies, manufacturers, and other institutions to gather valuable and reliable data. Here are some of the paid VIN decoder services available in Australia:
CarFacts
CarFacts is a platform that offers detailed vehicle history reports, including accident history, odometer readings, and registration details. It is particularly useful for those seeking a comprehensive review of a vehicle's background before purchasing it. The report includes information on any outstanding finance, theft records, and other legal encumbrances tied to the vehicle.
Autocheck
Autocheck is another paid VIN decoder service in Australia that provides reliable VIN decoding and history verification. It has a user-friendly interface, making it ideal for first-time car buyers who want to make informed decisions about their vehicle purchases.
CarVertical
CarVertical offers a paid full vehicle history report in addition to its free VIN decoder service. The paid report includes detailed information such as mileage records, damages, old photos, and theft records. carVertical has established partnerships with various institutions to gather valuable and reliable data for its reports.
Seven Smart Auto
While not solely a VIN decoder service, Seven Smart Auto offers upgrades and retrofitting services to enhance the functionality, comfort, and security of your vehicle after you have purchased it. They specialise in integrating cutting-edge technology, such as CarPlay and Android Auto, to take your vehicle ownership to the next level.
Using a paid VIN decoder service in Australia can provide you with valuable information about a vehicle's history and specifications, helping you make informed decisions when buying or selling a car, streamlining transactions, and ensuring the vehicle is safe and reliable.
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How to decode a VIN manually
A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every car manufactured after 1981. This alphanumeric sequence acts as a vehicle's fingerprint, containing crucial information about its origin, specifications, and history.
In Australia, the 17-character VIN is the standard vehicle identification method, but older or imported vehicles, particularly from Japan, may have chassis or frame numbers instead. The VIN can be found in several places, including the dashboard (visible through the windshield on the driver's side) and the driver's side door frame (inside the pillar when the door is open).
There are free online VIN decoder tools available that can quickly confirm the detailed specifications of a car, including its trim level, factory options, engine type, and vehicle model. However, these tools may not support older VIN formats due to variations in their structure.
If you want to decode a VIN manually, you can refer to the following breakdown of the VIN's 17 characters:
- The first digit identifies the vehicle's country of origin. If parts of the car were produced in different countries, the default nation reflected in the VIN is where the car was assembled.
- The next two digits, combined with the first, represent the manufacturer. For example, "WFO" means Ford Werke A.G. (Ford Germany).
- The fourth digit denotes the body style of the car. For instance, "C" means a two-door coupe.
- The seventh digit signifies whether the car was built by the manufacturer or by an affiliate (cars built under license). In the previous example, "G" means it was built by Ford in Germany.
- The eighth digit provides more detail, telling us the plant where the car was built.
- The tenth character represents the model year. For example, "N" = 2022, "P" = 2023, and "R" = 2024.
While the above provides a general guide to decoding a VIN, it's important to note that each brand may have its own specific way of arranging the information within the 17-character VIN. Therefore, when manually decoding a VIN, it's helpful to refer to resources specific to your vehicle's make and model.
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How to submit a VIN to NEVDIS
The National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS) is responsible for maintaining a database that registers every vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in Australia. A VIN is a unique 17-character serial number that identifies individual vehicles. The VIN provides a coded description of the vehicle, including the manufacturer, year of production, place of production, and vehicle characteristics.
To submit a VIN to NEVDIS, the following steps must be followed:
- Ensure that you have an approved VIN structure, including a World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). If you do not have an approved VIN structure, you must contact NEVDIS to demonstrate that you are an Australian vehicle manufacturer. Alternatively, you can contact the equivalent issuing authority in the overseas jurisdiction where the vehicles are manufactured to obtain a WMI and VIN structure.
- Obtain a WMI from NEVDIS if you are an Australian vehicle manufacturer. To do this, email a completed NEVDIS Australian World Manufacturer ID (WMI) Application Form to [email protected]. A WMI application costs $350 plus GST.
- Submit your VIN to NEVDIS following the guidelines issued by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport, and the Arts. VINs can be submitted at any stage of a vehicle's manufacture but must be done before any Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) submission. VINs can be provided to NEVDIS by an authorised submitter, such as a representative of a vehicle type approval holder or an appointed agent.
- Allow up to 7 days for the VIN to be processed by NEVDIS. VIN batches may be transmitted as a text file attachment to an email sent to [email protected]. The text file must have a unique filename, and VIN batch reports are returned the next business day.
- Complete the RAV submission process to add the VIN to the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV). This is a publicly searchable database that approves vehicles to be provided to the Australian market.
It is important to note that only accredited submitters may issue and register VINs, and individuals must apply for accreditation by submitting specific forms and documentation to NEVDIS.
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How to identify VIN location
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character serial number used to identify individual vehicles. The VIN can be found in several places, both on the car and in accompanying documentation.
VIN Locations on the Car
The VIN is usually displayed on a small metal plaque that can be viewed from outside the car, through the windscreen, at the bottom corner near the front passenger-side door. If the VIN is not found there, it may be on the driver's side door pillar or door post (where the door latches when closed). The VIN may also be found:
- Under the bonnet, in front of the engine block
- On the dashboard on the driver's side, behind the windshield
- On the firewall (in some older vehicles)
- On the front end of the frame or inner front wheel arch (for older cars)
VIN Locations in Documentation
The VIN can also be found on the following documents:
- Vehicle registration documents
- Insurance certificate
- Build plates and compliance plates, fastened to the car
- Vehicle approval documents
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Frequently asked questions
You can find your car's VIN on its registration certificate, the compliance plate in the engine bay, on the passenger side of the windshield, or on one of the door posts (where the door latches when it is closed).
A VIN decoder breaks down and analyses the 17-character VIN, which holds essential details about the vehicle, from where it was made to its specifications and features.
You can use an online VIN decoder by entering your 17-character VIN number into the VIN decoder tool on the website.
A VIN decoder can reveal the car's manufacturer, model, features, and technical specifications. You can also access a full vehicle history report, including mileage records, damages, old photos, and theft records.
Yes, there are free VIN decoders available in Australia, such as carVertical and VinPit. However, free VIN decoders may only offer data that is publicly accessible, while paid databases can provide more detailed information.
