VIN — the identifier that resolves most disputes

The number appears on the vehicle itself, on the certificate of conformity and on the registration document, and all three must agree. Its opening characters identify the manufacturer and the country of manufacture, which is why it answers questions a badge does not.

Why it matters when buying

For Chinese-branded cars the number settles two recurring arguments. The first is where the car was actually built, which increasingly is not China: several manufacturers assemble for Europe in European plants, and the number says so plainly. The second is which market the car was built for, which is the fastest way to identify a parallel import before any paperwork is examined.

It is also the key to service history, recall status and warranty entitlement. Whether an outstanding safety campaign applies to a specific car is a question answered by this number at an authorised workshop, and it is worth asking before purchase rather than after.

When buying used, the check is simple and non-negotiable: the number on the car, on the registration document and in the service records must be the same number, and any explanation offered for why they differ should end the conversation.

Related: CoC · parallel import · official importer