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:
With new beginnings comes new things. If you're looking at upgrading your car, or even buying your first car, there are many things you should consider first.
You'll need to decide what style of car you'd like, the features it'll be equipped with and, for those that are picky, even its colour. These will all impact your final decision, so make sure you do your research wisely before buying a new used car, starting with a CarHistory report.
With all that in mind, take a look at some of the most popular car trends of 2016.
Surprisingly, colour plays a large role in the buying process of a car.
PPG conducted research that found almost 60 per cent of participants considered colour a major factor when looking at their desired vehicle1.
Colour trends per region were also revealed, with white continuing its reign as the most popular car colour in America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
Black and silver followed shortly after, proving that classic colours are always in season.
With smartphones being a thing of normalcy and surgically attached to the hands of many, it's no wonder that digital integration with your vehicle is an absolute must when browsing.
Integration also allows you to be able to connect other devices, such as an mp3 player or GPS. Newer models of cars may come with this feature inbuilt, but you can easily purchase a range of devices to wirelessly connect with your tech.
This is a handy tool, especially as all Australian states require that phones are either used hands-free or placed in a commercial cradle if you wish to make a phone call or even listen to music2. The rules differ for each state so make sure you know all the laws and regulations.
A 360-degree camera is featured at the top of Autrader's list of 2016 automotive trends, as reported by CTV News3.
Cameras can help increase your scope of vision for parking, especially when reversing into tight spots or parks that have plants or high curbs in the way.
It's great for new learners just starting out who are unused to being behind the wheel.
Buying a car should never be a hasty decision. Make sure you know the basics, especially when it comes to used cars.
If you can afford it in your budget, then definitely consider a car with inbuilt tech integration and cameras - it'll make your driving experience so much easier and enjoyable.
1PPG Industries, Automotive colour trends. Accessed December 2015.
2Vic Roads, Mobile phones, technology & driving. Accessed December 2015.
3CTV News, What will be the top automotive tech trends of 2016? Accessed December 2015.