The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is the unique 17-character code that identifies a single vehicle worldwide. It encodes the manufacturer, model, year and plant of production — effectively the vehicle’s “fingerprint”.
Where to find it
The VIN is stamped on the chassis and printed on the registration and logbook, usually also on a plate visible through the windscreen. It’s used for registration, insurance, recalls and parts management.
Why it matters for fleets
In connected vehicle tracking, the VIN is the activation key: to enable a vehicle for hardware-free fleet tracking via Cloud OEM, you simply enter the VIN — nothing to install. The manufacturer links the data feed to that vehicle and the platform starts receiving it. See also the guide to hardware-free tracking.
FAQ
How many characters does a VIN have?
A standard VIN has 17 alphanumeric characters (letters and numbers), encoding the manufacturer, vehicle attributes and a sequential serial number.
Why is the VIN needed for Cloud OEM?
Because it uniquely identifies the vehicle: by entering it, the manufacturer can link that vehicle’s data feed to the platform the fleet has chosen, activating tracking with no devices.