How to Locate a Car Using the Vin Number

Vehicle identification numbers--commonly known as VIN numbers--can be found on all vehicles, usually on the engine or lower left side of the windshield. VIN numbers can be used to locate a vehicle or document a vehicle's ownership and repair history.

Instructions

1. Write down the vehicle's VIN number. Visit a website such as carfax.com or checkmycar.com that allows you to investigate a car using the VIN number.

2. Type in the VIN number in the appropriate box.

3. Read a sample of the car report. The website charges a fee to access the full report.

4. Once you have the complete report, scroll down to "Detailed History," where you'll find every known location in the car's history. You will see the city and state and in rare cases, a phone number. You'll also discover whether the vehicle has been taken to a repair center or a car dealership.

References

• Sample Car Report