


At some point, we knew we needed to cry uncle and get back to selling car parts, and so we did. Snopes had nothing to say on the matter and a search on Google patents didn’t shed any light, either. True or false? Unfortunately, we don’t know.

The VIN, we are assured, “soon evolved” into today’s system. Steve apparently didn’t fully understand the value of his invention, as he apparently wrote it down on the back of a bar napkin and sold the idea to a far shrewder tavern patron for $1,000. Myth busting is fun and, if you look online, you’ll find plenty of places willing to tell you that a man named Steve Maxwell “invented” the VIN. According to DMV.org (a privately owned, non-governmental site), “deciphering these codes is a hobby for some car enthusiasts, including collectors who want to own one of the first or last cars to come off an assembly line.” Plus, of course, it’s a great way to understand the history of your vehicle–or the vehicle you’re thinking about buying. The main purpose of the VIN is to definitively identify a specific vehicle, but its usage goes beyond that. That changed in 1981, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began requiring standardized VINs for any vehicle that took to the road.Īs far as the number’s location in your vehicle, NHTSA says the VIN must be inside the vehicle, and visible through the windshield when you’re looking through the left windshield pillar. VINs first existed in 1954, but their length and code values were not yet standardized. We empower buyers through awareness, security, and knowledge by bringing you the most accurate and up-to-date vehicle information.Ĭlick on the logo below to perform Jeep Wrangler VIN research for any make or manufacturer.The VIN (vehicle identification number) of your car has been described as its fingerprint–no other vehicle can have the exact same one, even if the other vehicle is close enough to yours to be its “twin.” It’s also been compared to your car’s social security number. It's our mission to provide easy to understand information for all makes and models. Exposing vehicle history through EpicVIN’s Jeep Wrangler VIN Decoder helps avoid the stress of buying a damaged vehicle and can save thousands of dollars on repairs and weeks of time without access to your mode of transportation. Inform yourself and protect your safety by uncovering vital details about your next big purchase. A search for Audi, Toyota, BMW, or any other manufacturer will reveal all available models and help guide your purchase. Consider the vehicle that best suits you and check any model of that vehicle. Check Jeep Wrangler by VIN with the EpicVIN universal VIN decoderĭon’t spend time and money repairing hidden issues of your used purchase when you can simply research a vehicle’s history to ensure it’s in the condition reported by the seller.ĭon’t have a VIN yet? No problem.
