The vehicle identification number (VIN) is composed of 17 characters (digits and capital letters) that act as a unique identifier for the vehicle. A VIN displays the car's unique features, specifications and manufacturer.
The VIN can be found in a couple of places including on the car's registration label (1), on the compliance plate in the engine bay (2) or on the passenger side windshield (3), or on one of the door posts (where the door latches when it is closed) (4). See the image below:
After a spate of luxury car manufacturers released SUV models at the end of 2016 and the beginning of this year, one of them has picked up a significant accolade. The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace was awarded the World Car of the Year, beating out close rivals the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Audi Q51.
Mid-sized SUV crossovers were the flavour of the awards show, and now that these cars have been on the market for a few months, you might find a used one to add to your collection. Of course, before you make a decision, you need to check that it has nothing lurking in its past with a CarHistory report.
Why do car awards matter when choosing your next used car?
For anybody unsure of what car they should purchase, a quick look at the World Car awards could point out a few sound options. The World Car of the Year is always going to be popular, but looking at other models that scored highly could narrow your list down further (especially if your budget can't accommodate a Jaguar).
Some cars that didn't crack the top three include the:
Some people make a decision to buy a car based on how it looks. Nobody wants to spend money on something that makes them feel uncool driving around the city. The Jaguar F-Pace took home the World Car Design of the Year too, making it the best overall and best designed car of 20171, so it clearly looks the business.
If you have a need for speed, Porsche is a great manufacturer to check out.
Luxury cars in the awards spotlight included the World Luxury Car of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the World Performance Car of the Year (awarded to two cars tied at 781 votes), the Porsche Cayman and Porsche Boxster1. If you have a need for speed, Porsche is a great manufacturer to check out.
Environmentally friendly cars are always in the spotlight, and one of the most popular hybrid cars over the last decade, the Toyota Prius, took home the World Green Car of the Year with its Prime variant, outscoring the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model X1.
If you're in the market for a used car, but don't know where to start your search, check out the World Car awards from 2017 and past years to find models that really impressed judges. Before you settle on one, make sure you look at the car's history with a CarHistory report.
1. CarsGuide. Jaguar F-Pace wins 2017 World Car of the Year. Accessed May 2017.