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<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s all in name\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s one of those phrases we\u2019ve heard time and again. That\u2019s rarely more true than in the case of your car, which \u2013 along with its make and model \u2013 actually has its own unique identity, often marked in more ways than you might realise. There are two major identifying ways \u2013 one is via your number plate, and the other is your Vehicle Identification Number (or VIN). You might well already be familiar with both of them, but this week on the blog we\u2019re going into detail about the key differences between the two.<\/p>\n
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We\u2019re sure you\u2019re familiar with your car\u2019s number plate; you likely even know it off by heart. It\u2019s not just a string of random numbers and letters though \u2013 each one gives a distinctive piece of information about your car. The first two letters show where your car was registered, with the very first standing for the general region and the second representing the nearest DVLA office. The two numbers in the middle, meanwhile, show us the age of the vehicle right down to a six month period. (Quite an unnerving concept when you think about it \u2013 imagine going about town with your own age permanently stamped onto a badge on your chest\u2026!) The last three letters are random, giving the car a unique identity.<\/p>\n
Your number plate serves some really simple purposes \u2013 basically, it can be used to track a car in the event of a crime or accident, allowing the police or government to find the owner or driver and take appropriate action. The first registration process been around since the turn of the last century when motor transport first really took off in Britain, and we\u2019ve been getting nasty surprises from speed cameras ever since.<\/p>\n
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The first thing to note about your car\u2019s VIN is that it\u2019s not the same as your number plate \u2013 it\u2019s a far longer string of numbers that gives information about your car\u2019s identity in even greater detail. It\u2019s a fingerprint, basically. It\u2019s usually 17 characters (or less, if it\u2019s been manufactured before 1981) that tells you the car\u2019s unique features and specifications. This includes:<\/p>\n
The VIN can be used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims and insurance coverage. It\u2019s also a key instrument in helping cut down on vehicle crime and theft. The fingerprint analogy actually works quite well \u2013 the VIN can\u2019t be changed, unlike registration plates (which are far more visible, but can be switched out far more easily). The VIN is registered and physically fixed to the car \u2013 often in several places \u2013 when it\u2019s first built, and is attached to it forever. This makes it even easier for officials to trace cars that have been lost, or are doing things they shouldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n
At Scrap Car Network, getting all the details down is important to us to \u2013 we make sure that when we scrap your car, we\u2019re working well inside the law<\/a>. This means that you can rely on a quality, responsible service. While we\u2019re on the topic, we\u2019re environmentally friendly, too! It\u2019s easy to get started on scrapping your car<\/a> \u2013 all you have to do is visit our homepage to enter your car reg and postcode, and within moments you\u2019ll be away!<\/p>\n