Code-autoradio provides you with a universal VIN decoder so that you can view the information concerning your vehicle

Search for information about a vehicle using the VIN code or its registration plate.

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What is a VIN decoder?

First of all, to understand how to decode a VIN, you first need to know what a VIN is. VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number; it is the reference that allows the manufacturer to identify the vehicle exactly, the options (or package) that were installed, the parts or even the car’s colour with what are known as paint codes.

Where can you find your VIN?

The VIN, also called the chassis number, is indicated on the registration document; you can find it at point E on the European registration document and it contains 17 characters. It is also found directly on the vehicle in different places (on recent models, it is often found at the bottom of the windscreen).

Why decode your VIN?

In practical terms, the VIN decoder can in some cases allow you to obtain the engine type, the vehicle model, etc… You can therefore obtain important information such as the engine capacity, power output (in horsepower or kilowatts), whether your car is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or even a « four-wheel drive » and, of course, the type of fuel to use, petrol or diesel.

If your aim is to buy a new vehicle from your preferred dealer and therefore you have a used car to sell, with code-autoradio.com you can use our VIN decoder free of charge and access certain data about your vehicle and compatible parts in order to replace the spare parts needed to sell your old car in good conditions. Our VIN decoder will allow you to find mechanical parts such as an alternator, a starter motor or even a used engine or a gearbox, all at the best prices. It also includes body parts such as a radiator grille, a bumper or even a bonnet and tailgate. Our algorithm will work just as well for your new car, as a BMW VIN decoder, as well as Toyota VIN decoder and Kia VIN decoder or Hyundai VIN decoder for Asian brands.

How do you decode your VIN?

How to read a VIN number? The first three characters identify the manufacturer and potentially the vehicle’s place of manufacture; this is called the WMI, which stands for World Manufacturer Identification. Each manufacturer has its own number. In France for example, Renault has code VF1, Peugeot has code VF3, Citroën VF7 and Dacia UU1 (and yes, Dacia vehicles are not manufactured in France). In Germany, Volkswagen has code WVW, BMW has WBA, Audi WAU and Mercedes WDB. Finally, and we will stop there because the list is long, for US (American) cars such as Chrysler or Jeep, the codes are respectively 1C3 and 1J4. For Ford, which manufactures cars in Germany and Spain, there are therefore two WMI codes.

The following six characters correspond to the VDS, which stands for Vehicle Descriptor Section. This is where you can identify the model, body type, engine, everything that generally makes it possible to identify a model (a 207CC 2.0L for example). Unlike the WMI, the VDS is specific to each car manufacturer, so the same information is not always found in the same place and no general rule can be drawn for the 4th or 8th character, for example.

Finally, the last numbers correspond to the VIS, which stands for Vehicle Identifier Sector and corresponds to the vehicle-specific information. These characters make the vehicle unique and allow the manufacturer to identify the vehicle precisely and to know which supplier parts were installed on this car.

Can VIN decoders be used on the Internet?

You can find many free VIN decoders on the Internet. The one from code-autoradio.com guarantees that your VIN data will not be saved or reused and that it is used only for the purpose of guiding you to mechanical parts compatible with your car. Indeed, as a website specialized in automobiles, we help you find car parts such as a turbo, a steering column or headlights at very competitive prices, and this for all car makes, from Fiat, Alfa Romeo to Opel, Seat or even Skoda.

Which parts can the VIN decoder identify?

Thanks to the VIN, you will be able to identify precisely the parts that have been installed on your vehicle. Indeed, depending on your model and trim level, there may be many references, yet only one will truly be compatible, so it is important to be able to detect the correct reference. In fact, dealerships or the managers of dealership workshops very often rely on the VIN to make sure they do not make a mistake. You can retrieve your Dacia car radio code with the registration document thanks to the VIN.This is a clear advantage they have over independent mechanics. At code-autoradio.com, our VIN decoder can help you identify your parts and, if that is not enough, our teams are trained and also equipped with the same tools as garages to help you find the right part for your car.

As we saw at the beginning, the VIN also makes it possible to know your vehicle’s paint code. This paint code is also indicated on your vehicle and allows you, when you are looking to replace a body panel such as a door or a wing, to find a used part already painted in the right colour and thus avoid having to repaint it. It also makes it possible to know precisely the options that have been installed on your car, such as electrically folding mirrors or xenon headlights. This valuable information is not shown on your registration document and only the VIN can help you identify it.