{"id":6282,"date":"2026-10-23T11:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T10:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scuderiacarparts.com\/blog\/?p=6282"},"modified":"2026-10-23T11:00:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T10:00:24","slug":"how-to-find-the-right-part-using-your-vin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scuderiacarparts.com\/blog\/how-to-find-the-right-part-using-your-vin\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find the Right Part Using Your VIN"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You can have two cars with exactly the same badge, engine and registration year, and yet you may still find that a brake calliper, headlight or suspension component from one won’t fit the other. On high-performance and luxury cars, the differences can come down to a facelift, an optional factory package or simply the point at which the car was built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s why your VIN matters. Your VIN identifies the individual vehicle, and if used correctly, it can help narrow down the parts that were fitted to your car when it left the factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how to find car parts by VIN, what the number can tell you and what to do if the answer isn’t quite as straightforward as you’d hoped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Your VIN Actually Tells You<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

A VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number, is a unique 17-character code assigned to a vehicle. You can think of it as the car’s individual reference number, rather than its model name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Three Parts of a VIN<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Section<\/strong><\/td>Characters<\/strong><\/td>What it identifies<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
World Manufacturer Identifier<\/td>1\u20133<\/td>Manufacturer and country\/region<\/td><\/tr>
Vehicle Descriptor Section<\/td>4\u20139<\/td>Vehicle characteristics<\/td><\/tr>
Vehicle Identifier Section<\/td>10\u201317<\/td>Individual vehicle information<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 10th character generally identifies the model year, while the 11th identifies the assembly plant. The exact information encoded in other positions varies between manufacturers, but many have used the eighth character to identify the engine type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You won’t find the letters I, O or Q in a standard VIN. This is to prevent confusion with the numbers 1 and 0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don’t need to decode all 17 characters yourself. For parts lookup by VIN, the important thing is having the correct number and using a system that can interpret it against the relevant vehicle and part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What a VIN Does Not Tell You<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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A VIN is extremely useful \u2013 but it isn’t a complete history of a car. It identifies the vehicle as built by the manufacturer. It won’t necessarily know about a replacement engine, aftermarket modifications, accident body and repair parts<\/a> or components that have been changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if your car has been significantly modified from its original specification, a VIN is a starting point, rather than an absolute guarantee. That’s worth remembering when buying an older or previously repaired performance car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to Find Your VIN<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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