by Andrew Rohrlich
Is it safe to share a VIN number? When selling privately, many people wonder if they can share their Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, with a potential buyer. It's a valid question — after all, the VIN is unique to your car and could be used for identity theft or other types of crime.
The fact is, the VIN is a critical piece of information for any buyer purchasing a used car privately. It's an identifier for your mechanic, your insurance company, you, and most importantly, a potential buyer. It provides buyers with essential details on the car's history, such as its model year, past recalls, and service records.
Fortunately, sharing your VIN number is entirely safe and secure when selling a car privately. The VIN does not contain any personal information about you, the seller. In addition, most private buyers are reputable and trustworthy — so it shouldn't be a problem.
What Exactly Is a VIN Number?
The VIN is a 17-character code that identifies a vehicle. It's like the social security number for a registered vehicle, stamped on its frame, body panels, and engine components. It can also be found on the registration paperwork or insurance documents.
It's important to note that each car has a unique VIN, which makes it possible for potential buyers to look up detailed information about the car's past. It includes information such as any previous accidents or service records. Here's what the VIN shows:
- 1st character: The place where the vehicle was built
- 2nd and 3rd characters: The manufacturer
- 4th and 8th characters: The vehicle's engine size, type, and brand
- 9th character: The security code
- 10th character: The model year of the vehicle
- 11th character: The plant that produced the car
The remaining characters are a combination of numbers and letters that signify the vehicle's serial number. Since the VIN shows more detail than your license plate number, it's essential to share it in private sales.
What Is a Chassis Number?
All vehicles made before January 1, 1989, have a chassis number. Like a VIN, it's an identification number, but it may not be unique and does not have a specific length.
It's usually composed of two letters followed by six digits and can be found on the driver's side door jamb or near the engine block. While modern vehicles don't have a chassis number, some modern specialized vehicles may still have a chassis.
Why It's Completely Safe To Share Your VIN Number
Any potential buyer would want to know the car's history before purchasing. It's safe to share your VIN with them, as it helps them to get a detailed vehicle history report.
The VIN tells the other party about your car, not you. It will not give them any details about your personal life, credit cards, or anything related to your identity.
Is there any reason not to give out VIN? Well, VIN number scams do exist, so you should be aware of them. The main issue in this regard is VIN cloning, a process in which criminals clone a car's VIN number and register it as their own. But it's a highly complicated process and isn't exactly common practice.
It's best only to give out your VIN to a trusted source. When you list your car online, verify and vet the prospective buyer before giving them the VIN. This will help to ensure that you don't fall victim to any nefarious activities.
Why a Prospective Buyer Would Need Your VIN Number
What can someone do with your VIN number? VIN checks and history checks are standard parts of any car purchase. The buyer will usually run a vehicle history report to get more detailed information about the car before they make an offer.
The report will also tell them if the car has been in any accidents or whether it was stolen at some point. Most importantly, a VIN check makes the selling process transparent and smooth since the buyer can access the public record to verify the details you have provided about your vehicle.
Where To Find a VIN Number
Where to find the VIN number in your vehicle? This will depend on the model of your vehicle. Here are some locations where it's commonly present.
Driver's Side Dashboard
The driver's side dashboard near the windshield is the most common place to find a vehicle's VIN. If you look closely, you should be able to spot it.
Stand outside your car. Look at the place where the windshield and dashboard meet. You'll see the VIN here.
Driver's Side Door or Door Jamb
The VIN is also printed on the driver's side door jamb. It's usually placed on a sticker or a metal plate.
Car Title or Insurance Card
Besides the inside of your car, you can also find the VIN on your car title or insurance card. All you need to do is take it out and look for a string of 17 characters that make up the VIN.
All new cars also have a Federal Safety Certification Number. The VIN number should be located on this label on the driver's side doorpost. Sometimes, the VIN number may be written near the rear wheel well. Crouch down and look for it inside the wheel well.
Experience a Safe and Simple Private Party Vehicle Sale
Selling a car should be a simple and safe process without any law enforcement involvement, scams, or other potentially dangerous situations. However, the absence of a safe checkout process can often result in these problems.
With Caramel, you can avoid these issues and ensure a smooth private sale process. Caramel gives you a link that you can include in the listing you post on an online marketplace. The buyer can click on this link to see your asking price and go through the checkout process, including financing, delivery, insurance, vehicle reports, and identity verification.
This article was written by Andrew Rohrlich. As a brand and product marketing expert, Andrew Rohrlich has crafted products, experiences and communications for household names like Gap and for multiple automotive technology businesses. For nearly a decade Andrew has studied automotive retail in depth from a customer point of view and aggregated the industry’s best research, thought leadership and know how to provide credible and important information to auto shoppers and sellers.
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