Why Do You Need My VIN?

WV & OH ONLY

"I'm getting a car insurance quote in West Virginia. Why does the agent need my VIN when I already told them the year, make and model?"

I know it feels like a lot of hoops just to get a price.

You can often start a quote without a VIN, but you need it to get a number you can rely on, because it identifies the exact version of the car. Year, make and model leave out details like series, body type and engine, and those can change what a car costs to insure. It's 17 characters, and it takes about ten seconds to send.

I'd make this simpler if I could. I ask for the details because I want you to have the best rate, and not a guess.

One VIN goes a long way here. Send it to us once and we can run that exact car with 13 companies, and you can see which of them likes that version best.

No sense hiding it, I want you to call. Comparing two cars? Send me both VINs. The cheaper car to buy isn't always the cheaper car to insure.

WV & OH ONLY

It's federal law, and 49 CFR 565.15 lays it out:

Positions 4 to 8 are the ones I care about. On a passenger car, they have to cover make, line, series, body type, engine type and restraint devices. On a truck, they cover make, model, series, chassis, cab type, engine, brakes and weight rating.

And no two vehicles get the same one over a 60-year cycle that started in 1980. Your VIN is your car and nobody else's.

Because they're different machines that happen to share a name. More engine can mean more speed. Fancier wheels, headlights and electronics cost more to replace. Different versions also tend to attract different drivers.

Here's one way to see it. The Highway Loss Data Institute ranks collision claims by vehicle, with 100 as average. In its 2020 to 2022 model year report, three Ford Mustang two-doors had these relative claim frequencies:

Three cars and three very different results. Don't read too much into that low number, because frequency only tells you how often claims happen, and not what each one costs. A car that rarely gets a claim can still be expensive when it does. The point is that "a Mustang" isn't enough information.

It works with pickups too. In that same report, the F-150 SuperCrew came in at 83 and the F-150 SuperCrew 4WD at 73.

It helps, especially on a car that's still on the lot and has options the VIN doesn't spell out. Send both if you have them.

You can, and for a first look it's fine. The West Virginia Insurance Commissioner's 2024 auto report tells shoppers to give an agent make, model and year, and also says make, model, engine size, safety features and modifications all affect premiums. Those last ones are the details a year and model alone can miss.

Yes, and it's free. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's VIN decoder reads what the manufacturer reported to the government. Type it in and see what comes back. It's also a decent check on a used car, to be sure it's the version the seller says it is.

• Through the windshield on the driver's side. Federal rules put it inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glass.
• Your registration or title
• Your current insurance card or declarations page

Mixed up a character? That's what position 9 is for.

Send me the VIN. That's really all it takes to get started.

WV & OH ONLY

Next in the series: Part 18, Does the Color of My Car Change My Insurance?