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How to Find the VIN, Chassis Number and Engine Number of Your Bike?

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Did someone recently ask you about your bike’s VIN number or chassis number, and you were left wondering what they are? Well, it happens. Unlike mobile numbers or pin codes, we are not asked about these numbers so often, and therefore, they tend to slip out of our memory. Here, you will get the help you need to understand these numbers and where to find them.  

What is a Vehicle Identification Number?

Like every human being has a unique fingerprint, cars and bikes have a unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). No two vehicles have the same VIN till both are out in the market. First used in 1954 in the United States, VIN helps you identify the month and year in which a particular model was manufactured. It’s written close to the engine or on the dashboard on the driver’s side. It’s an alphanumeric code and usually of 17 characters.

However, the length can be as long as 19 letters as well. Different vehicle manufacturers use different techniques to create their VIN numbers. For the time being, you should know that each character has a meaning. For example, each character tells you about which country was the vehicle made in or which year and the month it was made in.   

Importance of the Vehicle Identification Number

Buying a vehicle is a dream for most Indians, but sometimes, people fall in the trap of some fraud dealers who try to sell old or stolen vehicles. The unsuspecting customer, due to lack of knowledge, gets duped and makes the payment. To make sure that you are not falling for any such scam, you should know how to decode the VIN number. It will give you information like the car or two-wheeler's unique features and specifications. You can also track its owner, registrations, warranty claims, and insurance coverage, using the VIN.

How to find a bike’s VIN?

You can find the VIN on registration certificates, titles, owner manuals, and even insurance cards. However, if you are not in the mood to dig out those papers, then you can check the steering neck of the bike. Turn the bike’s handles and you will find the VIN near the bike’s motor. However, it’s not a universal rule, and if you can’t locate it, it’s better to contact the dealer or a mechanic to figure it out.

What is a bike’s chassis number?

This might look like another hurdle. But, once you find the VIN, you can automatically locate the Chassis number as well. Prepare to be surprised, as the last six characters of a VIN are the bike’s chassis number. Often, VIN and the chassis number are used interchangeably too.

How to find the bike’s chassis number?

Well, as mentioned above, once you locate the VIN number, you get the chassis number.

How important is bike insurance?

It’s very important as rash driving, potholes, and road rage can make riding a bike a very risky business. A rider is more susceptible to injuries compared to someone inside a car with seat belt on. As per the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is compulsory for two-wheeler riders to have a valid third party bike insurance policy, and non-compliance of this rule can lead to heavy penalties. However, you should see it as a necessity rather than a rule, as it saves you from a lot of financial loss in case of an accident or theft. 

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

This blog has been written by

Kumar | Motor Insurance Expert | 36+ years of experience in insurance industry

A veteran in the insurance industry, Mukesh Kumar has the expertise of handling various functions like Business Development, Underwriting, Claims, Human Resources, Quality Management and Marketing. With rich knowledge of the industry, he loves to share his views on topics of insurance sector and takes special interest in educating people on advantages of having insurance.

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