Opel VIN decoder

What is Opel VIN?

Opel VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every car in a manufacturing plant. It helps identify a vehicle and works as a digital footprint.

A VIN encodes general information about a car, such as its manufacturer, country of origin, model, body type, engine size, and manufacturing year. Additionally, whenever a vehicle is serviced, sold to a new owner, involved in an accident, or brought for a technical inspection, its VIN is used to register these events on various databases.

Therefore, knowing a car’s VIN allows you to use a VIN decoder to trace its accident history, mileage rollbacks, ownership changes, maintenance, and other important details. A VIN decoder is essential for anyone looking to buy a used Opel or provide buyers with more transparency when selling their vehicle.

Opel is a well-known German car brand. The company has been making vehicles since 1862. It offers a variety of cars, including compact ones, sedans, SUVs, and electric vehicles. Opel is especially popular in Europe, where its cars are known for their performance, design, and advanced technology.

Where to search for the VIN?

A vehicle’s VIN number is located in multiple places and can depend on the brand. However, there are specific common locations where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.

Here’s where you can find it in Opel cars:

• Dashboard. Many cars have a VIN plate on the driver's side dashboard, visible through the windshield from the outside.
• Under the hood. Look for a VIN plate under the hood, usually next to the latch.
• Front end of the frame. On older Opel cars, you might find the VIN accessible via the wheel well, towards the front end of the frame.
• Driver's side door pillar. Some vehicles have a VIN plate on the inner side of the driver's side door pillar.
• Next to a spare wheel. Check for the VIN under the trunk lining near the spare wheel.

What is Opel VIN decoder?

In today's informed automotive market, more and more buyers are recognizing the importance of the VIN lookup when buying a car. Some sneaky second-hand car sellers try to make extra money by altering the mileage, hiding accidents, or even changing the VIN to hide theft.

Running a thorough VIN check is crucial in navigating this tricky terrain. With the unique VIN, you can access a detailed history report of the car you're interested in, uncovering any hidden issues. This report can then be compared to what the seller has told you.

If anything raises concerns (e.g., questionable accident history), you have the power to discuss it with the seller or explore other options confidently. Using the VIN lookup gives you peace of mind and helps ensure an authentic car-buying experience.

How accurate is the information provided by the Opel VIN decoder?

The Opel VIN decoder is a powerful tool that gives you accurate information about a vehicle. It gathers data from different sources like law enforcement databases, state registries, and insurance companies to provide details about past accidents, mileage fraud, thefts, and other valuable information.

Car history data is collected from over 900 different databases – if there’s a history record concerning a specific event, the Opel VIN decoder will most likely find it.

How to decode a VIN number - Opel VIN breakdown

In 1954, American automobile manufacturers employed a vehicle identification number to describe and distinguish each of their manufactured motor vehicles. During the early days, VINs came in various configurations and variations, which were specific to each manufacturer.

In 1981, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) introduced a standardized 17-character VIN number. It required that no cars have the same VIN number to easily identify each.

While it's theoretically possible to decode a VIN by understanding the meaning of each character, doing so can be quite cumbersome compared to using the Opel VIN decoder.

Nevertheless, grasping the significance of a few characters can swiftly unveil basic information about a car.

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

Every Opel VIN starts with the WMI section, which consists of the first 3 characters. The first character identifies the country of origin of a vehicle.

Here is the list of characters and the countries they represent:

The second character signifies a car's manufacturer, in this case, Opel.

The third character reveals a vehicle's true identity. A "1" denotes a passenger car, “2” – an SUV, “3,” “4,” and "5" signifies a multipurpose vehicle, "6" unveils a truck, and "7" unravels an incomplete vehicle.

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The second part, known as the VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section), comprises 5 characters with crucial information about a car's model, engine, body style, and safety features. Notably, a distinct character is assigned to each engine type in the VIN number, enabling you to identify if the engine was replaced at any point.

Security Check Digit

The 9th character of a VIN serves as the Security Check Digit, playing a vital role in ensuring the VIN's validity. This unique number varies across different VINs since it's derived from the special US Department of Transportation formula encompassing all the VIN's characters.

If any of the VIN's characters are altered, the Check Digit will change accordingly, safeguarding against unauthorized modifications.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The final section consists of 8 characters, but when manually decoding a VIN, the 10th and 11th are the most important.

With just a quick glance at the 10th character, you can unveil the model year:

The 11th character of the Opel VIN denotes the assembly plant, while the remaining 6 characters always consist of digits that create a sequential production number.

Is an Opel VIN decoder available for a free VIN check?

Yes. The free version of the Opel VIN decoder can help you learn about a car's model, specifications, and other basic details. However, purchasing a vehicle history report is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of a car's history.

The reason history reports come with a price is that they involve collecting data from diverse sources, meticulously processing it and presenting it in a user-friendly format. This process ensures that customers receive accurate and easy-to-understand information about a vehicle's past, including its ownership history, accident records, mileage fraud, title status, and more.

This transparency in the vehicle's history empowers buyers with the knowledge they need to choose their next car confidently.

List of Opel models

• Opel Adam
• Opel Agila
• Opel Ampera
• Opel Antara
• Opel Astra
• Opel Calibra
• Opel Cascada
• Opel Combo
• Opel Corsa
• Opel Crossland X
• Opel Frontera
• Opel Grandland X
• Opel GT
• Opel Insignia
• Opel Kadett
• Opel Karl
• Opel Meriva
• Opel Mokka
• Opel Monterey
• Opel Movano
• Opel Omega
• Opel Signum
• Opel Sintra
• Opel Speedster
• Opel Tigra
• Opel Vectra
• Opel Vivaro
• Opel Zafira

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