How to Check Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and Their Functions
30 May, 2023
How do you identify the difference between one car and another? Color, shape and design can indeed be the difference between one car vehicle and another. Car license plates also vary. But all those distinctions can easily be faked. Therefore, if you want to know the authenticity of a car, then what you have to check is the car’s chassis number.
What is a Car Chassis Number?
The chassis number is a sign that shows the original vehicle. This mark is the default from the manufacturer so it is difficult to change or counterfeit. Usually, this description of the chassis number is clearly written on the vehicle’s BPKB. You can use this number to ensure that the car you are buying is not modified. The position varies, depending on the design of the car.
For example, for chassis car models. Means the position of the frame number is on the chassis. As for the monocoque model, the chassis number is located under the front seat upholstery. For those that start with MHF, it means Indonesian production, while foreign production starts with something other than this combination.
The Functions of the VIN or Chassis Number
What is the use of the chassis number of this car? Here are some of them:
1. Facilitate Vehicle Identification
The main purpose of having a car chassis number is to identify the vehicle. Car chassis numbers generally consist of 17 letters and numbers combined. There are code prefixes such as MHF which we touched on a bit earlier. The code identifies that the vehicle is domestically assembled.
2. Vehicle Administrative Requirements
Every time you want to pay vehicle tax, renew your vehicle registration, and other needs, you must go through a physical check of the vehicle. This physical check is carried out by ‘rubbing’ the chassis number section. The purpose is to match the vehicle with the letters. Only after being matched means the tax administration process can be carried out. Of course it would be inconvenient if it turns out that the chassis number is different from the one in the document.
In addition, you can also check the chassis number to find out the authenticity of the STNK. All you have to do is match the engine number on the STNK with the car’s frame number. If the chassis number matches the engine number on the STNK, it means the STNK is genuine.
3. Knowing the Vehicle Status
The status of the vehicle, both ownership records and track records, can be seen from the chassis number. This can happen because there is a series of 17 letters and numbers that make up the chassis number.
For example for Indonesia, the VIN used is based on ISO 3779 which is divided into 3 parts. The first three digits are the WMI (World Manufacturer Identification) or vehicle origin identification. While the next 4-9 digits are the VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section) which describes the engine number. So do the last eight digits which represent VDS.
4. Evidence of Vehicle Legality
Indonesian law shows that illegal vehicle ownership is a crime. The existence of a car chassis number shows that the vehicle has proven legality. It’s not a fake vehicle because the chassis number on the engine and documents match. This will make the administration process easier, the owner will also be free from criminal charges.
How to Check Car Chassis Number?
There are several ways you can check the car frame number, including:
1. Check On The Vehicle’s Body
Check the car body to see what the engine frame number is. To identify the location, do the following:
For European cars, the chassis number is in several parts. Starting from near the firewall machine, between the doors, under the seat, to the hood. For Japanese cars, the chassis number is on the chassis. Can also be in the middle area, front, to the back of the body.
2. Check Vehicle Documents
This method is classified as manual but very easy (especially if the vehicle has complete documents). See the description of the car frame number in the following documents:
- Vehicle Registration Certificate
- BPKB
- Car invoice
- Care manual
- Workshop repair records, and the like
For information on the car chassis number, it will be clearly stated on the identity section. For the sake of validity, you can match what is stated in the document with the chassis number on the machine.
3. Online Checking
Apart from these two methods, it turns out that the car frame number can be checked online using only a mobile phone. The method:
- Download an application to check car chassis numbers such as DKI Jakarta Ranmor & Tax Checks, or an official tax check application according to your area of origin. For vehicles in Central Java, for example, you can use the Sakpole application on the Google Play Store.
- Make sure you are logged in with your Google account, register by entering your National Identity Number and vehicle police number.
- The NIK entered must be the same as the ownership recorded on the vehicle documents.
- There is a “Search” icon, click on the icon to see the results.
- Information about the vehicle chassis, tax, until the complete police number is listed.
For other regions, they actually already have their own services for checking taxes up to the chassis number. Here are some applications to official sites in several regions to check car chassis numbers online:
- The SIGNAL (National Digital Samsat) application can be used for the Yogyakarta, Banten, and Bali areas.
- bapenda.jabarprov.go.id/infopkb (for vehicles with West Java area police numbers).
- info.dipendajatim.go.id/esamsat (for vehicles with East Java area police numbers).
That’s a complete review of how to check the car Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or chassis number and its functions. It turns out that apart from checking manually, you can also check online through various applications.
