Free Chassis Number Check
Decode the 17-character Chassis Number / VIN instantly: the maker, the country of manufacture and the details the VIN encodes. For vehicles registered in Europe, verify odometer history, safety recalls, theft status, and accident records, covering vehicles with WMI codes S–Z (the ISO 3780 range for Europe).
EUR 8.90 + VAT full report
14-day refund
60-second delivery
Free decode preview shown automatically when you enter the VIN.
Quick answer
To check a chassis number online, enter the 17-character chassis number (VIN) in the form above. The free decode instantly shows make, model, year, engine and safety recalls. The full report (EUR 8.90 + VAT) adds cross-border mileage history, theft records and accident data, delivered in about 60 seconds with a 14-day refund.
Why Check the VIN of a European Vehicle?
A chassis number — also known as VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), Fahrgestellnummer (German), numéro de châssis (French), chassisnummer (Dutch), or numero di telaio (Italian) — is a unique 17-character code. The US has required it on every new vehicle since the 1981 model year, and most other markets use the same ISO 3779 format; Japanese-market cars often carry a shorter frame number instead.
It encodes the manufacturer, country of origin, vehicle specifications, the model year (on many VINs), and a unique serial number. By decoding these 17 characters, Carlytics reveals the complete identity and history of any vehicle.
Every country uses a different name for the same code: VIN in English, FIN or Fahrgestellnummer in German, VIN or chassisnummer in Dutch, numéro de série in French, numero di telaio in Italian, VIN-kód in Czech, and numer nadwozia in Polish.
Carlytics checks your VIN against 1,200+ databases across 47 countries, including 52M Czech inspection records, dated mileage records, and national registries in Finland, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Chassis number check by country
The chassis number stays the same wherever the car goes, but the record of who owns it sits with the country that registered it. Check the number with that register, then enter the 17 characters above: the decode reads the maker, the country of manufacture and the details the VIN encodes.
India
Where it is: Printed on the RC (smart card or RC book) as “Chassis No.”, and stamped on the car.
Official check: Parivahan’s “Know Your Vehicle Details” service (VAHAN) and the mParivahan app show the registration status and partially masked owner details by registration number.
On Carlytics: The free decode reads the maker from the first three characters (MA3 Maruti Suzuki, MAL Hyundai, MZB Kia, MAT Tata Motors, MD6 TVS, MBL Hero, ME4 Honda, MBF Royal Enfield) and shows two-wheelers as motorcycles.
Pakistan
Where it is: In the registration book and on the car. Many Japanese imports carry a Japanese frame number such as ZVW30-1234567 instead of a 17-character VIN.
Official check: Pakistani police and press guides describe the provincial Excise & Taxation online vehicle verification (MTMIS in Punjab) by registration number, and a stolen-vehicle SMS check by chassis number: CNO followed by the number to 8521. For a Japanese import, check the auction sheet by its frame number.
On Carlytics: Enter the 17-character VIN for the maker, the specification and the records held for it.
Nigeria
Where it is: On the vehicle papers and the customs documents, and on the car.
Official check: Confirm the customs duty status on Nigeria Customs CVMS or on VREG.
On Carlytics: A tokunbo car keeps the VIN of its first life, and the full report shows the records held for it in US, EU and worldwide databases.
Kenya
Where it is: On the logbook, and on the car. Many Japanese imports carry a Japanese frame number instead of a 17-character VIN.
Official check: Compare the chassis number on the logbook with the one on the car; for a Japanese import, check the auction sheet by its frame number.
On Carlytics: Enter the 17-character VIN for the maker and the specification.
United Kingdom
Where it is: On the V5C logbook as “VIN/Chassis/Frame No”, and on the car.
Official check: GOV.UK’s “Get vehicle information from DVLA” service shows the tax status and vehicle details by registration number.
On Carlytics: The decode and the full report run on the 17-character VIN.
European Union
Where it is: In field E of the registration certificate, and on the car.
Official check: Each country’s registration authority holds the registration record.
On Carlytics: For vehicles registered in Europe the full report verifies odometer history, safety recalls, theft status and accident records across 47 countries.
How to check a chassis number online before buying
Start with the number on the vehicle and its documents. Then use the online check to prepare the questions you will ask the seller before travelling or paying a deposit.
1. Copy and compare the VIN
Ask for a clear photo of the chassis number and the vehicle details on the registration document. Compare every character with the number in the advert. Use the VIN field, not the engine number, number plate or document reference.
2. Check the vehicle in the advert
Enter the 17 characters in the form above. Compare the decoded make, model and engine with the seller’s description. Keep the advert and your questions together so you can check the same details at the viewing.
3. Put the history in date order
Read the full report alongside inspection documents, service invoices and the current odometer photo. Record the date and unit for each mileage reading. Ask the seller to explain differences before you commit to the car.
Message to send the seller
“Please send a clear photo of the VIN on the car, the VIN and vehicle details on the registration document, the current odometer reading and the latest inspection or service invoice. You can cover personal details. I want to compare the vehicle and its dated records before arranging the viewing.”
See how to read the vehicle details and history in the sample report. For an imported car, use the document checklist for Germany, the Netherlands or Belgium. For a car registered in Europe, you can also start from our free VIN check for European cars.
What Is “Chassis Number / VIN”?
The Chassis Number / VIN is the vehicle identification number: a standardized 17-character code (ISO 3779) that uniquely identifies one motor vehicle, whichever market it was built for. The VIN encodes the manufacturer (WMI), vehicle attributes (VDS), and production sequence (VIS).
Vehicles built in Europe carry WMI codes starting with S–Z (the ISO 3780 range for Europe). The WMI shows where a car was built, not where it is registered: a BMW built in the USA starts with 5UX, and many cars registered in one European country were imported from another (especially Germany).
Common Scams When Buying from Europe
VIN/chassis number cloning: Criminals copy the number from a legitimate vehicle onto a stolen one. Always physically verify that it matches on the windshield, door jamb, and engine bay, and cross-reference it against the registration documents.
Re-stamped chassis numbers: On older vehicles, the number may have been illegally re-stamped after theft. Look for signs of grinding, uneven stamping, or misaligned characters.
Incorrect chassis number in advertisements: Some sellers intentionally list a wrong number in online ads to prevent buyers from checking the vehicle before viewing. Always verify the actual number on the vehicle itself.
What Data Sources We Check
When you run a VIN check for a vehicle registered in Europe, Carlytics queries multiple authoritative databases:
How a VIN Is Structured
Every VIN, whether the vehicle was built in Europe or imported, follows the ISO 3779 standard:
| Positions | Section | What It Tells You |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier: identifies the maker and the country of manufacture. Vehicles built in Europe use S–Z; a European brand built elsewhere carries that country's code (e.g., 5UX for a BMW built in the USA). |
| 4-8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section: encodes model, body style, engine type, and restraint systems. |
| 9 | Check digit | Check digit: mandated only on North-American-market VINs (49 CFR 565); ISO 3779 requires none. |
| 10 | Model year | Model-year code, mandatory here on North-American-market VINs (e.g., R = 2024, S = 2025) and optional under ISO 3779. It is the maker's model year, which can differ from the year the vehicle was built. |
| 11 | Plant code | Identifies the assembly plant where the vehicle was built. |
| 12-17 | VIS | Vehicle Indicator Section: unique serial number for the specific vehicle. |
Chassis Number Check: FAQ
Common questions about checking vehicle history in Europe
What is a chassis number?
Where do I find the chassis number?
Is a chassis number the same as a VIN?
How do I check a chassis number for free?
Can two cars have the same chassis number?
What does each part of a chassis number mean?
Is the chassis number the same as the engine number?
Where is the chassis number on the registration document?
How many digits is a chassis number?
Quick answer
To check a chassis number free, enter the 17-character code in the form above. Chassis number and VIN are the same thing, and the free decode returns the make, model, year, engine, and any open safety recalls. The free decode does not include mileage, accident and damage records, or theft status: those come with the EUR 8.90 + VAT full report.
By Bertram Sargla · Founder, Carlytics · Last updated:
Chassis number vs VIN vs engine number vs registration number
These four terms get mixed up constantly, and picking the wrong one is the most common reason a lookup fails. Here's the plain-English version of what each is, and which one you actually need to run a check.
| Number | What it identifies | Use it to check a car? |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis number / VIN | The whole vehicle. A unique 17-character code that stays with the car for its entire life. "Chassis number" and "VIN" are two names for the same thing. | Yes, this is the one |
| Engine number | Just the engine block. Describes that engine's size and build. Can change if the engine is swapped or rebuilt. | No, won't decode the vehicle |
| Registration / plate number | The licence plate. Tied to the car now, but can be reassigned or transferred and changes when a car is exported. | Sometimes (Dutch and Danish plates on our number plate check). The VIN is more reliable |
| Document reference number | A shorter code on the registration paper used for online tax/keeper changes. Not an identifier for the vehicle itself. | No |
Where to find the chassis number on the car
It is stamped onto the car in more than one place, by design, so it's hard to fake. Check these spots, then cross-check the number against the registration document:
Base of the windscreen
Look through the windscreen at the bottom of the driver-side dashboard. There's a small metal plate, readable from outside the car. This is usually the quickest to find.
Driver's door jamb
Open the driver's door and look at the pillar or the edge of the door frame. There's often a printed sticker showing the VIN plus tyre and paint codes.
Engine bay / firewall
On many cars the number is stamped into the firewall, inner wing or a strut tower. Older vehicles in particular carry it here.
Under the rear seat / boot floor
Some manufacturers stamp it into the floor pan under the rear seat or in the spare-wheel well in the boot.
The same number, a different name in every country
Buying across borders, you'll see the chassis number written a dozen different ways on listings and paperwork. They're all the exact same 17-character code:
Lees je liever in het Nederlands? Gebruik de chassisnummer check in het Nederlands: hetzelfde nummer van 17 tekens, met de uitleg en het rapport in het Nederlands.
Once you have the number
Enter the number in the box at the top of the page for a free decode. When you're ready for the full history, these checks all run off the same 17 characters: