Checking a vehicle by chassis is easy if you follow these tips

Checking a vehicle by chassis number is a relatively easy task, as long as you know how to do it. The chassis number is a unique number that is assigned to vehicles.

What is chassis?

The chassis number is also known as NIV – Vehicle Identification Number, and is a document that registers and identifies cars, motorcycles, buses and several other automobiles.

The chassis number is made up of an alphanumeric sequence that shows relevant information about the vehicle.

This numbering has 17 digits and they do not repeat, this is a standard that follows resolution 4030 of ISO – International Organization for Standardization.

There are three different sets of numbers, in the first set the first 3 digits indicate the production origin and the manufacturer.

The second set contains descriptive information about the vehicle, this part is known as the Vehicle Descriptive Section.

The third set is the Vehicle Identification Section, with all the information related to the vehicle's manufacture, such as model year, factory, serial number and others.

And what is the chassis number for?

And this number works as if it were a birth certificate for your vehicle, recording all the important and relevant information that is stored by the manufacturer before the plate is installed.

More than just identifying a vehicle, the chassis number also serves to recognize possible fraud that may occur.

This is because the alphanumeric sequence of the chassis is unique, and is located in the engine and other parts of the vehicle, so when it is stolen or robbed, the police can recognize if the document has been altered and re-stamped.

Where is the chassis?

The chassis number is located on the engine, close to the cylinder head, and is also on the bodywork, specifically on the passenger side on a cover on the metal part of the vehicle.

In the windows we can also see part of the chassis, it is only the last 5 digits that refer to the serial number.

How do I check a vehicle by chassis number?

As the chassis number is important for a vehicle and can be used to identify the vehicle, it can be used to determine whether there is fraud with the vehicle and whether the chassis number is still original.

This is because if the chassis is falsified, it may be hiding a history of damage to the car that a seller would not want to show to the buyer.

Now, so that you know how to check the vehicle, you must know that it is necessarily on the right side of the vehicle.

And when you identify the location of the chassis and notice that it has the letters I, O and Q, be suspicious right away, as these letters never appear because they are easy to confuse with numbers.

Another way to consult is online, if you want more detailed information about this car, you can use the website DMV of your state.

On the Detran website you can find the “vehicle query” option, depending on the situation, you may need to create an account or even pay a fee for the query.

After submitting the information, please wait a few moments while the system processes the query.

You will then receive the query results, which may include information about the vehicle, such as make, model, year of manufacture, color, vehicle condition, traffic ticket history, and previous owner history.

Limitations when searching for a vehicle by chassis

While checking a vehicle by chassis number is an important step, it is important to be aware of its limitations.

Public inquiries typically provide basic information about the vehicle, such as make, model, year of manufacture, color, and legal status.

However, more specific details such as accident or repair history may not be available in public consultations. Furthermore, the information may often not be up to date.

In some cases, access to chassis consultation may be restricted to certain bodies or professionals, such as vehicle dealers or companies specializing in vehicle history verification.

To obtain more detailed information about the vehicle, such as accidents, claims, recalls or maintenance records, it may be necessary to resort to specialized services that offer paid vehicle history reports.

It is important to understand that checking a vehicle by chassis number has its limitations and is only one part of the vehicle evaluation process.

It is always recommended to complement this consultation with other verification measures, such as physical inspection, maintenance history and other specialized reports, to obtain a more comprehensive view of the vehicle you are considering purchasing.

This way, it is not so easy for someone to cheat you and cause you losses after purchasing a vehicle.

Why check a vehicle by chassis number?

Checking a vehicle by its chassis number is an essential practice before purchasing a used vehicle. It is a way to protect yourself from fraud and future problems when making purchases.

By checking the chassis number, you can obtain information about the origin of the vehicle, including the manufacturer, country of manufacture and specific vehicle identification data.

This helps ensure that the vehicle is not the result of theft, cloning or other illegal activities.

With this query, you can also get information about the vehicle's history, including the number of previous owners, ownership transfer dates, and information about past claims or accidents.

This way, you can assess whether the vehicle has a history of collisions and damage that could alter its value or reliability.

With this query it is also possible to check whether the car has any outstanding financial obligations, which may be financing, judicial restrictions or outstanding fines.

This is important to avoid purchasing a vehicle with legal issues or outstanding financial charges.

By obtaining all this information through the chassis check, you can make a more informed and confident purchasing decision.

Allowing you to better assess the value of the vehicle, identify potential problems and take preventive measures to avoid unpleasant surprises in the future.

In short, checking a vehicle by chassis number is essential to verify its origin, history and legal conditions.

This practice helps to ensure a safe purchase, avoiding future problems and enabling more transparent negotiation between buyer and seller.