Where is the VIN on a car?

The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is usually stamped or plated in more than one place. The most commonly checked spot is a small plate visible through the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, without needing to open anything. It's often also on a plate or sticker inside the driver's door pillar, and stamped into the bodywork somewhere in the engine bay.

It's also printed on the V5C registration certificate, which is the easiest place to check it without crawling around the car.

Checking the VIN matches across all these locations, and matches the V5C, is a genuine and useful step when buying a used car - a mismatch is worth asking serious questions about.