Stamped on the body and components of your automobile product are various numberings, stampings and identification numbers that you may have difficulty locating from time to time. These identification stampings are vital to ascertain both for reasons of registration, identification after as well as prevention of theft and lastly vital for both your mechanic or yourself as a backyard garage mechanic to identify your model or parts type in order to source out or replace vital spare and replacement engine parts and components or even just to work on the model itself.

Yet to find these numbers and registration records can often be as difficult and varied as the homeowner who kept hiding her garbage cans from site on her property until one early morning she received a knock at the door with a big burly man telling her "Ok lady this time you win , where have you got them hidden ?"

What are the various parts and vehicle identification numbers and records on most vehicles and where can they be found or located - well at least easily?

First of all is the general specific registration or perhaps what might be termed unique serial number of your automotive unit which is singly referred to as the "VIN" or "Vehicle Identification Number". This very important identification number is usually stamped on a plate attached to the left side of the dashboard just inside the windshield on the driver's side of most vehicles. As well the all important V.I.N. also appears on the Vehicle's Certificate of Title and Registration. It basically contains information and data including such as where the vehicle was manufactured ( country for example necessary for import tax purposes in these days of NAFTA the North American Free Trade Agreement currently between the US , Canada and Mexico), the model year and body style.

Next in line is the "Body Code Plate". This metal plate is located in the engine compartment often located on top of the radiator support. Like the Vehicle Identification Number the VIN, the Body Code Plate contains valuable information concerning the production of the vehicle itself - whether it is truck, car, SUV or automotive product of most forms. As well supplementary information and data may be detailed concerning the way and manner in which this particular unit is equipped. This plate is especially useful for dealers and auto body shops for matching the color and type of paint during auto body repair work. Interestingly in automotive historical terms it is of interest to note that in restored vintage automobiles you may see very evident also proud code plates under the hood listing the various American auto manufactures with their company geographic city address more than proudly and emphatically listed on the code id plate - as it nowhere else in the world but Detroit Michigan were cars produced to this type and quality levels.

Next in line to locate may be the vehicle safety certification label. This label is affixed generally to the rear face of the driver's door itself. This marking contains the name of the manufacturer, the month and year of production, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the certification statement. Note however if the vehicle has been involved in a collision and the door replaced , repaired or even repainted then this record may not correlate exactly to your unit or model or may be not easily evident or read - being covered over by a new paint job unavoidably.

Additionally when it comes to the engine itself there are a number of basic engine serial and identification records. These include the engine identification number which is usually stamped on a machines boss on the engine block. Note and taken into account though that on older vehicles the engine may have be swapped , replaced with a rebuilt or replacement engine and in the case of some premium sports and high performance vehicles even upgraded to a larger or different size or type of power plant.

In addition you may need in the course of repairs need to obtain either the trans axle identification number (TIN) or alternatively a Transaxle Serial Number or numbers.

Lastly it is not out the possibility as well that a vehicle control emissions label which usually can be located under the hood of the vehicle often on the front edge of the hood out of the underside.

Good hunting for the vehicle and component registration and serial numbers scattered across your vehicle, its body, engine and various components.