The VIN code is like the DNA of your car. It hides information about its origins, accidents and legal problems. Learn how to read it, check it for free and know when to be alert. Buying a used car without checking the VIN is like signing a contract blindly – and the consequences can be expensive.
The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique identifier for each vehicle. It consists of 17 characters, usually alphanumeric. Each position has its own meaning – it indicates the manufacturer, model specification, year of manufacture, factory serial number, etc. The VIN is unique like a birth number, it cannot be changed at will, and is stamped in several places on the vehicle (e.g. under the windscreen, door frame or engine compartment) and is also shown on the registration certificate.
Legally, the VIN is a compulsory entry in the vehicle register under the Act on the Conditions of Operation of Vehicles on Roads; without a VIN, a vehicle cannot be legally registered or operated on roads.
The VIN also serves as a means of evidence in the investigation of theft, claims, litigation or advertising claims – helping to verify the identity of the vehicle and the history of service and repairs. From a legal perspective, the VIN is therefore indispensable to the buyer’s right to check the nature and origin of the vehicle. The seller is also obliged to correctly state and disclose this code in the contract.
The VIN can be found in several places: most often on the chassis plate or driver’s door frame, under the windscreen, on the engine or in the engine compartment, and during manufacture it is usually printed in the bodywork.
It is important to check that the VIN on the registration certificate corresponds exactly to the one on the vehicle. If this is not the case, it may indicate deliberate tampering. Altering the VIN is a criminal offence and means the vehicle is not eligible for registration, just as legal ownership becomes an issue. Every buyer should check the VIN on the registration and on the vehicle before signing a contract of sale.
A forged or mismatched VIN code is not just a minor inconvenience. A vehicle with a fake VIN cannot be registered, will not pass the MOT test and you risk not only financial loss but also prosecution if you unknowingly resell the vehicle. We can arrange cancellation of the purchase contract, refund of the purchase price, recovery of damages and representation before the courts and the police.
The VIN code is not just a technical series of characters, it offers access to the entire history of the vehicle. The VIN can be used to obtain basic technical data (make, model, year of manufacture, equipment, body type), history of owners and operators, MOT, emissions and service records. Thanks to the VIN, you can obtain information from public registers free of charge: for example, from the State Vehicle Register or via the Citizen’s Portal, you can find out the vehicle type, engine capacity and other technical parameters, and in justified cases, the owner of the car.
Paid services such as Cebia or CarVertical will then provide you with information on accidents, leases, repossessions or theft based on the VIN.
Legally, we always recommend using one of the available tools before you sign any car purchase contract. This will prevent risks associated with overdriven odometers, hidden repossessions or leases that you may not be aware of if you are relying solely on an advertisement.
Before buying a used car, every buyer should proceed systematically: first ask for the VIN code and verify it for free (see above). Check that the VIN matches the information on the registration certificate. Then check the odometer history via a government app – differences of more than a few thousand kilometres may indicate tampering.
Next, verify that the car is not encumbered by a lease, foreclosure or has been deregistered . If there are discrepancies, you can cancel the contract, seek damages or take criminal legal action – especially if the VIN was intentionally altered or listed incorrectly.
Tip: Imagine the situation: someone scrapes the side of their car against a pole, but instead of a simple declaration to the insurance company, they report that it was a major accident. But such insurance fraud can have far-reaching consequences. Find out what you could face for it.
Cars imported from abroad often pose a greater risk than those bought in the Czech Republic. When you buy a car from Germany, Italy or the USA, you may encounter various complications. VIN reports vary from country to country – in some countries they are less clear, in others they are incomplete. Also, the designation of emission standards may be different, which can make it difficult to register your car here.
There are also mistranslations of data and sometimes key information is missing, for example about accidents or the origin of the vehicle. Another risk is posed by cars that have been converted or have an altered or false VIN code. A common scam is when a completely different car is registered under one VIN – it looks good but its identity does not match.
When checking cars from abroad, we therefore recommend combining several sources of information, not only international databases such as CarVertical or autoDNA, but also Czech tools such as the Citizen Portal.
If you import a car from abroad, you must officially register it with us and enter it in the vehicle register.
A sales contract that contains a VIN code that does not correspond to the actual state of the vehicle is a serious legal problem. Under the Road Traffic Conditions Act, a car with an incorrect or invalid VIN cannot be registered in the Vehicle Register. Such a car is illegal under the law and cannot be operated on Czech roads.
For the buyer, this means that he has no legal certainty – he will not get a technical certificate, he will not register the vehicle and he will not get a compulsory liability insurance. If it is found that the VIN has been deliberately altered, it may be a criminal offence. In this case, you have the right to cancel the contract, claim a refund and possibly damages.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, we can help you to prepare all the necessary steps – from cancellation of the contract to possible recovery of damages through the courts. There have been cases where buyers have lost not only their money, but also their car, because it turned out in hindsight that the vehicle was stolen and the VIN belonged to another car. Such a car is then seized by the police and returned to the original owner.
Checking the VIN is an essential step when buying a used car – to neglect it is to risk money and legal problems. The VIN code will help you to discover the true origin of the vehicle, its technical parameters, ownership history, records of MOTs, emissions, accidents, repossessions and leases. Verification should always include a comparison of the VIN on the bodywork and on the registration certificate, using free state registers and paid services such as Cebia or CarVertical. Be particularly wary of imported cars, where the history may be less traceable and the risk of fraud higher. If the VIN does not match or is altered, the vehicle cannot be registered or legally operated – and the purchase contract is legally actionable. Thus, by verifying the VIN, you are not only protecting yourself from a rolled-up odometer, but also from criminal consequences and financial loss.
Use international databases such as Interpol, the Czech Stolen Vehicle Register or paid services such as Cebia. If the vehicle has a theft record, it will usually appear in paid reports. If you have the slightest suspicion, contact the police or a lawyer.
The VIN should be stamped evenly, in the correct depth and font. Characters must not be intermittent, blurred or illogically placed. An experienced technician will recognize an inexpert break. If in doubt, have the vehicle checked by an authorised workshop or MOT tester.
Missing or illegible VIN in the TP is a major problem. The vehicle cannot be legally registered or operated. The solution may be to verify the vehicle’s origin and apply for the correct VIN. However, we always recommend consulting an attorney first.
The emission standard (e.g. Euro 4, 5, 6) can be determined from the VIN using manufacturers’ decoders or in paid outputs from databases such as autoDNA. For some makes, authorised garages can also do this based on the VIN. The emission standard is sometimes only listed in the TP.
Yes, the VIN is publicly available (e.g. visible on the bodywork) and it is not illegal to check it. Using it to verify information about a vehicle – for example, before purchase – is a common and legal practice. However, it is important not to disseminate sensitive information without the owner’s consent.
Our team of experienced attorneys will help you solve any legal issue. Within 24 hours we’ll evaluate your situation and suggest a step-by-step solution, including all costs. The price for this proposal is only CZK 690, and this is refunded to you when you order service from us.
Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 10 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
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