A vehicle reference number or code may have different meanings depending upon who is asking for this information. We believe you may be asking about the Vehicle Identification Number that is on every motor vehicle.
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is the unique 17-digit identification code assigned to every vehicle by its manufacturer. This number appears on your state registration, and is often stamped along the lower driver's side edge of a vehicle's dashboard (in most vehicles though the location may differ).
The most common areas of the motor vehicle to find the VIN include:
- Left instrumentation/dash plate by window
- Drivers door or post
- Firewall
- Drivers door or post or passenger side (in older cars)
Each letter or number within the VIN gives information and thus the whole number can be decoded. When decoded, the VIN tells the country and year of manufacture; make, model and serial number; assembly plant; and in sometimes it can identify equipment specifications and options.
The Code of Federal Regulations Transportation (Section 565) notes that the government has specified the format, content and physical requirements for a vehicle identification number (VIN) system and its installation to simplify vehicle identification information retrieval and to increase the accuracy and efficiency of vehicle recall campaigns.
The vehicle identification number is divided into four parts:
- World Manufacturer's Identification (WMI - three characters)
- Vehicle Description Section (VDS - five characters)
- The VIN Accuracy Check Digit
- Vehicle Identification Section (VIS - eight characters)
So the first section consists of 3 characters that identify the manufacturer, make and type of vehicle. The first character in the WMI sequence is the country where the vehicle was manufactured. Countries like the United States, Canada and Mexico are represented by numbers while overseas countries such as Germany and Japan are represented by letters. The second character is the manufacture, i.e. Dodge (B) and the third character represents the vehicle type or manufacturing division.
The second section uniquely identifies the attributes of the vehicle. The vehicle description section identifies everything from the body style, engine type and braking system to restraint system, model, series, etc.
The third section consists of one character whose purpose is to provide a means for verifying the accuracy of the VIN transcription. It is determined by carrying out a mathematical computation developed by the DOT (Department of Transportation).
The final section has 8 characters which gives information on the model year, plant of the manufacturer (assembly plant) and has a serial number which is unique to the vehicle. This serial number can help to determine where in the production the car was made. For collectors it is important to use this to identify if the motor vehicle was the first or 500th vehicle of its kind made.
If you are not asking about the VIN number but a different type of reference number than you should ask the entity that is requesting this reference number how to obtain it. For example the New York State Thruway Authority has put out a reference sheet for vehicle reference codes that motorist use when signing up for an EZpass. This state agency states that for each vehicle being registered for E-Z Pass must enter the Vehicle Reference Code (VRC) provided from their sheet.
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