Where does a vehicle recieve its VIN

Greatscott

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Hey everyone.
So as the title says, where does a vehicle recieve its vin number?
Is it from the factory?

The reason I ask is because I ordered a civic 3 weeks ago. They told me because the hatch is made in the UK, it might be 6 to 12 weeks for delivery, which I accepted.
They told me, once they recieved the VIN, they would give it to me for insurance purposes.

During the deal the general manager of the dealership told me he found the model I wanted on the boat already and that I could possibly have it by months end.
He wont know the official delivery date until he receives the VIN.

I started wondering, how could he know the model I want is currently on a boat, but not know the VIN number associated with it.

Is a vin number allocated to a vehicle when it hits the country it's going to be sold in? Or at the factory, dealership, etc?

Cheers.
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I could be completely wrong here so someone please correct me if so but i would assume the car receives a Vin before it even leaves the factory considering that there is a place on the bottom drivers side windshield where you can see it. And maybe the dealer didn't see a car in the specific configuration you wanted in stock anywhere near you but then did some research and found one on its way on a boat. Like i said im not sure but that's my hypothesis.
 

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I believe the VIN is assigned before the car is built.
I don't know about what information the General Manager can see before the car is allocated to him.
 

L8apex

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The VIN is applied to the vehicle at production. Although since I’m not sure when in the production process it receives the VIN, that statement might not be entirely accurate. Since the VIN determines everything about the vehicle (except color), it might be more accurate to say that the vehicle is built around what’s specified in the VIN.

Regardless, by the time it leaves the factory, the VIN and the car are one. I can’t say for sure why the GM couldn’t give you the VIN if he/she knew it was on the boat, but I have a couple of ideas.

1-With the first half of the VIN, they could match the spec and trim that you ordered. So you can easily find one that matches. The unique serial number is the last six numbers. So while they might have the spec you want on the boat, there might be different specs that match it, in different colors for example.

2-Typically dealers order cars and they will be alotted x number of cars, and they should know those VINs at the time of order. Complete VINs. They might be holding on to releasing the VIN until the car actually arrives on the lot?
 
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Greatscott

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The VIN is applied to the vehicle at production. Although since I’m not sure when in the production process it receives the VIN, that statement might not be entirely accurate. Since the VIN determines everything about the vehicle (except color), it might be more accurate to say that the vehicle is built around what’s specified in the VIN.

Regardless, by the time it leaves the factory, the VIN and the car are one. I can’t say for sure why the GM couldn’t give you the VIN if he/she knew it was on the boat, but I have a couple of ideas.

1-With the first half of the VIN, they could match the spec and trim that you ordered. So you can easily find one that matches. The unique serial number is the last six numbers. So while they might have the spec you want on the boat, there might be different specs that match it, in different colors for example.

2-Typically dealers order cars and they will be alotted x number of cars, and they should know those VINs at the time of order. Complete VINs. They might be holding on to releasing the VIN until the car actually arrives on the lot?
Thanks for this. I was thinking the same thing about releasing the VIN when the vehicle made it to the lot.
 


B0nez

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It is definitely at the factory for the reasons already mentioned. I finished negotiating the OTD price for my new car yesterday and they told me it hasn't been built yet, but will be built and in transit between 3.19.19 - 3.23.19. They explained that they should have the VIN no later than 2.25.19 at which time I will be able to put down the deposit as they cannot take a deposit without a VIN to attach it to.

Seems odd your GM wouldn't be able to get the VIN as it has already been built and shipped.
 

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According to the NHTSA in the United States, VIN's are assigned by the manufacturer. This is more than likely the case world wide as well. VIN numbers are much like birth certificates for vehicles. With classic cars for example VIN numbers with matching engines can mean many thousands of dollars in the value of a vehicle. Or the first production model of the '69 Camaro for example could be worth millions.

Plus, it is my understanding that there are places where these numbers are placed in secret locations allowing law enforcement to identify stolen vehicles. Or vehicles previously involved in crimes.

https://vehicleidentificationnumber.com/nhtsa_vehicle_identification_number_imported_vehicles.html
 

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I just watched some videos showing Honda assembly plants. They say the VIN of a car and the serial numbers of the body, engine, transmission etc. it will have are determined before the car even starts being assembled. It is all already planned before body parts are stamped from flat sheet metal cutouts.
 

wantcivXhb-si

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Hey everyone.
So as the title says, where does a vehicle recieve its vin number?
Is it from the factory?

The reason I ask is because I ordered a civic 3 weeks ago. They told me because the hatch is made in the UK, it might be 6 to 12 weeks for delivery, which I accepted.
They told me, once they recieved the VIN, they would give it to me for insurance purposes.

During the deal the general manager of the dealership told me he found the model I wanted on the boat already and that I could possibly have it by months end.
He wont know the official delivery date until he receives the VIN.

I started wondering, how could he know the model I want is currently on a boat, but not know the VIN number associated with it.

Is a vin number allocated to a vehicle when it hits the country it's going to be sold in? Or at the factory, dealership, etc?

Cheers.
Hey have you got a VIN or even better, the car itself yet? I am counting 5 weeks and 3 days so far with no word of the car being made, shipped to Canada, etc, just trying to figure out timings based on your experience :)
 
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Greatscott

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Hey have you got a VIN or even better, the car itself yet? I am counting 5 weeks and 3 days so far with no word of the car being made, shipped to Canada, etc, just trying to figure out timings based on your experience :)
No, no word yet. Im on 6 weeks so far. I'm hoping soon.
 

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The VIN exists on paper even before the first panels of the body are welded!
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