Chevrolet Silverado VIN Decoder

So, you have decided to buy a new or pre-used Chevrolet. In order to be able to buy a good car, you need to have all the info about it and then make a decision. In this job, your only friend is the online tool. That just in seconds will provide you with all the details about it.

This tool usually works for machines built after 1981, as they have 17 characters. But before it was only 11 or not have at all. It may seem like a random set of characters. But in reality, they all combine with each other and each has meaning.

Review

The Silverado is an excellent pickup. It has numerous powerful engines, can pull and carry the same weight or even more than competitors, and has a roomy interior with simple technology. However, against tough competition in the pickup with the full-size sector, this Chevy's dazzling characteristics fade.

What is VIN?

The ISO international institute creates the standard form that the US and most of Europe use. The one feature is that it should have 17 symbols, which are letters and digits. But this is just the appearance and the real meaning is quite deeper. So, the importance is that this gives full information about the automobile. For example, the details about the body or transmission, or the repaired and replaced components. You have an opportunity to know about the damages and was stolen or not.

How does this work?

When the production starts the automakers issue the identification number. And every single one gets its own. Since this is similar to a fingerprint and it never repeats.

When the product passes the stages the manufacturer makes a record about it. This helps customers to follow all the stages that their order passed.

In addition, they can know the arrival. It is quite easy as they give them by the same order: XXXX74 is before XXXX75and XXXX76 is after that.

After this when finally the customer gets the vehicle, the next stage of records starts. In other words, every time when they want to change the oil, or anything in the machine needs to be repaired. And the owner takes it to the service the techniques after finishing the work, make a record. Where describe all the jobs in detail. As a result, step by step, and after months and years, we have a full history of the vehicle.

What information does it provide?

The identification numbers are divided into 5 sections. Each of them has several members and they have different meanings. Here is the detailed explanation.

  • In the first group, there are 3 symbols, that represent the country of origin, the model, and the type or company division of the automaker.
  • The second contains 5 characters, which are the describing ones. They indicate info like engine, transmission type, restraint system, body type, and model.
  • The third is actually the 9th in the sequence. It is also the checking digit. It usually identifies the invalidation.
  • The fourth has 2 symbols 10th and 11th and they represent the model year and the plant code.
  • The last 5th has 6 digits and they are for the sequence numbers of the automaker.

What is a VIN?

As we said early after 1981 every automobile has its identification code. That needs to be 17-character long, contain letters and digits. Typically, you can find it on the dashboard, above the wheel, on the doorjamb, or doorframe on the driver’s side. But, if you don’t have access to the cabin or you just aren’t able to find it. There is an alternative option to search in documents like an insurance card. And that’s all then you just need to decode it.

How to use a decoder?

The easiest part is to use a decoder. You just need to enter the code in the searching area, after waiting, some minutes and that’s all you have the full history in your hands. If you are curious, how does this all happen? It is quite simply the NHTSA (Administration of National Highway Traffic Safety) that gathers the info from companies and then provides it to you by the online tools.