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Free Chassis Number Check

Check any Europe-registered vehicle instantly. Decode the Chassis Number / VIN, verify odometer history, safety recalls, theft status, and accident records — covering vehicles with WMI codes All manufacturer codes worldwide.

EUR 8.90 full report

14-day refund

60-second delivery

Free decode preview shown automatically when you enter the VIN.

Carlytics vehicle history report — checking a Europe used car VIN before purchase
900+ Data Sources
Including Europe government registries
35+ Countries
Pan-European vehicle coverage
Theft & Accident Check
Cross-border stolen vehicle databases

Why Check a VIN for Europe Vehicles?

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 assigned to every vehicle manufactured since 1981.

The chassis number encodes the manufacturer, country of origin, vehicle specifications, model year, 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 chassis number against 900+ databases across 47 countries — including 52M Czech inspection records, 830M UK MOT records, and national registries in Finland, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands.

What Is “Chassis Number / VIN”?

In Europe, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is known as the Chassis Number / VIN (locally searched as “chassis number check, chassis number lookup”). It is a standardized 17-character code that uniquely identifies every motor vehicle manufactured for sale in the EU. The VIN encodes the manufacturer (WMI), vehicle attributes (VDS), and production sequence (VIS).

Vehicles manufactured in Europe carry WMI codes starting with All manufacturer codes worldwide. However, many vehicles registered in Europe are imported from other EU countries (especially Germany), so the WMI may differ from the country of registration.

Common Scams When Buying from Europe

VIN/chassis number cloning: Criminals copy the chassis number from a legitimate vehicle onto a stolen one. Always physically verify the chassis number matches on the windshield, door jamb, and engine bay — and cross-reference against the registration documents.

Re-stamped chassis numbers: On older vehicles, the chassis 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 an incorrect chassis number in online ads to prevent buyers from checking the vehicle before viewing. Always verify the actual chassis number on the vehicle itself.

What Data Sources We Check for Europe

When you run a VIN check for a Europe-registered vehicle, Carlytics queries multiple authoritative databases:

900+ databases across 47 countries
52M+ Czech inspection records with mileage
830M+ UK MOT inspection records
Finnish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch registries
Swiss ASTRA type approval data
EU Safety Gate recall notifications
NHTSA VIN decode and recall database
European stolen vehicle databases

How a Europe VIN Is Structured

Every VIN — whether the vehicle was built in Europe or imported — follows the ISO 3779 standard:

PositionsSectionWhat It Tells You
1-3WMIWorld Manufacturer Identifier — identifies the maker and country of origin. Europe-made vehicles use All manufacturer codes worldwide.
4-8VDSVehicle Descriptor Section — encodes model, body style, engine type, and restraint systems.
9Check digitMathematical check digit to detect invalid or fraudulent VINs.
10Model yearEncoded production year (e.g., R = 2024, S = 2025).
11Plant codeIdentifies the assembly plant where the vehicle was built.
12-17VISVehicle Indicator Section — unique serial number for the specific vehicle.

VIN Check Europe — FAQ

Common questions about checking vehicle history in Europe

What is a chassis number?
A chassis number is a unique 17-character code stamped into every vehicle's frame. It's the same as a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). In German it's called Fahrgestellnummer, in French numéro de châssis, in Dutch chassisnummer. Every vehicle manufactured since 1981 has one.
Where do I find the chassis number?
The chassis number is located: (1) on the dashboard near the windshield base (visible from outside on the driver side), (2) on a sticker in the driver door jamb, (3) in the vehicle registration documents, (4) on older vehicles, stamped in the engine bay or under the rear seat.
Is a chassis number the same as a VIN?
Yes, chassis number and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) refer to the same 17-character code. 'Chassis number' is the traditional European term, while 'VIN' is the international standard term. Both identify the same code on the vehicle.
How do I check a chassis number for free?
Enter the 17-character chassis number in the search box above. Carlytics instantly decodes the vehicle specifications, checks for safety recalls, and provides vehicle identification — completely free. The full history report costs EUR 8.90.
Is a chassis number the same as a VIN number?
Yes — they're the same 17-character code, just different names. “Chassis number” is the older European term and “VIN number” is the international one. Across Europe you'll see it written as Fahrgestellnummer (German), numéro de châssis (French), chassisnummer (Dutch), numero di telaio (Italian) and numer nadwozia (Polish) — all the exact same code on the same car.
Can two cars have the same chassis number?
No. Every chassis number is unique to one vehicle for its entire life — that's the whole point of the code. If two cars appear to share one, it's almost always a clone: criminals copy a legitimate car's chassis number onto a stolen one of the same make and model. That's exactly what a stolen-vehicle and clone check is for — run the number here and we cross-reference it against European theft records.
How do I decode a chassis number for free?
Type the 17 characters into the box above and the free decode instantly reads the make, model, year, engine and body type straight out of the code, and flags any open safety recalls — no cost, no account. The full history report (mileage, theft check, accident records and market value) is EUR 8.90.
What does each part of a chassis number mean?
A chassis number has three parts. The first 3 characters (WMI) identify the manufacturer and country of origin. Characters 4–9 (VDS) describe the model, engine, body type and include a check digit. Characters 10–17 (VIS) hold the model year, the assembly plant and the unique serial number. It's always 17 characters and never uses the letters I, O or Q, so they're not confused with 1 and 0.
Is the chassis number the same as the engine number?
No — these are two different numbers and people mix them up all the time. The chassis number (VIN) identifies the whole vehicle and stays with it for life. The engine number is stamped on the engine block itself, describes that specific engine, and can change if the engine is ever swapped or rebuilt. On a registration document you'll usually see both listed separately. When you run a check here, you use the chassis number / VIN, not the engine number.
Where is the chassis number on the registration document?
On most European registration documents the chassis number is printed under a field labelled VIN, Fahrgestellnummer, numéro de châssis or chassisnummer — depending on the country. On a UK V5C logbook it's in the 'Vehicle details' section on the front page, listed as VIN/Chassis/Frame No. Don't confuse it with the document reference number (the shorter code used for online tax/keeper changes) — that's not the chassis number and won't decode.
How many digits is a chassis number?
A modern chassis number is exactly 17 characters — a mix of letters and numbers. It never uses I, O or Q (to avoid confusion with 1 and 0). Vehicles built before 1981 can have shorter, non-standardised chassis numbers that pre-date the international 17-character VIN format, so they won't always decode the same way.

Check Any VIN Now — Free

Enter any 17-digit VIN to instantly decode vehicle specifications, check for theft records, safety recalls, and odometer history. The basic report is free — upgrade to the full report for just EUR 8.90.

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.

NumberWhat it identifiesUse it to check a car?
Chassis number / VINThe 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 numberJust 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 numberThe licence plate. Tied to the car now, but can be reassigned or transferred and changes when a car is exported.Sometimes (UK plate lookup) — the VIN is more reliable
Document reference numberA 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

The chassis number 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 chassis number 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:

EnglishVIN / chassis number
GermanFahrgestellnummer / FIN
FrenchNuméro de châssis / VIN
DutchChassisnummer
ItalianNumero di telaio
PolishNumer nadwozia / VIN
CzechVIN-kód
SpanishNúmero de bastidor
PortugueseNúmero de chassi

Once you have the number

Enter your chassis 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: