How to order car parts by VIN (chassis number)

Where do I find the VIN on my car?

In four places. The easiest is the registration card (istimara), where it is printed as the chassis number. On the car itself it sits on the driver-side corner of the dashboard under the windscreen (read it from outside), on the sticker on the driver's door pillar, and on your insurance policy. Check that it has 17 characters and contains no I, O or Q. Those letters are never used in a VIN, so they cannot be confused with 1 and 0.

What does the VIN say about my car?

Every position has a meaning. The ones that matter for parts:

• Positions 1 to 3: manufacturer and country of assembly.
• Positions 4 to 8: model, body type and usually the engine code, in an order that differs by manufacturer.
• Position 9: a check digit that validates the number.
• Position 10: model year. Letters A to Y stand for 2010 to 2030, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z (A=2010, B=2011, C=2012, D=2013, E=2014, F=2015, G=2016, H=2017, J=2018, K=2019, L=2020, M=2021, N=2022, P=2023, R=2024, S=2025, T=2026), and digits 1 to 9 stand for 2001 to 2009.
• Position 11: assembly plant.
• Positions 12 to 17: the car's serial number.

The model year in position 10 can differ from the year you bought or registered the car. Parts are tied to the model year.

How do I find the engine size from the VIN?

The engine code is usually in position 8, but every maker uses its own codes and there is no universal rule. Two reliable ways: ask the dealer's parts counter with your VIN, or read the engine size off the registration card. Do not guess from the letter alone for parts that change with engine size, such as filters, spark plugs and A/C and cooling parts.

How do I order a part by VIN, step by step?

1. 1Get the original (OEM) part number. Give your VIN to the dealer's parts counter and ask for the number of the part you need, or read it off the old part; most genuine parts have their number printed on them.
2. 2Search the number on Speero. Every part number has its own page showing the original number, the specifications and the available sellers, genuine and aftermarket side by side.
3. 3Or select your car. If you do not have the number, set the make, model and year, or the plate number, and Speero filters every part to your car.
4. 4Match before ordering. Compare the number on the part page with the one the dealer gave you, and note the side (left or right) and the trim where stated. We check fitment before shipping, and if the part does not fit, returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery.

When is the VIN alone not enough?

In three cases. Parts that have a side, such as mirrors, headlamps and control arms, need left or right specified. Exterior body parts such as bumpers and grilles vary by colour code and trim, with or without sensor holes. And some parts change part way through the production year, which is common with brake pads and rotors. In these cases state the side and trim with the VIN, or search by the original part number.

Which makes benefit most from the VIN?

American makes that sell the same model with different engines and drivetrains, such as Ford and GMC. And the most common Toyota and Hyundai models, which come in several trims within one year. On all these pages you pick the model and year and see only the parts tied to them.