Find a battery by VIN number
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Short answer: the VIN (chassis number) identifies your car more precisely than the number plate: make, model, engine and model year. Type it into the battery finder by VIN and you will see only the batteries that fit your car, with the right polarity and technology.
Where to find the VIN
- Registration document. The vehicle identification number field. The most convenient place: no need to go to the car.
- Base of the windscreen. A plate visible from outside, in the lower corner on the driver's side.
- Driver's door frame or engine bay. A sticker or stamping in the metal; on some models, under the passenger seat or in the boot.
It has 17 characters. The first three identify the manufacturer (VF1 Renault, WVW Volkswagen, VSS SEAT, WBA BMW, ZFA Fiat…); the fourth to ninth describe model, body and engine; the tenth is the model year (for example "L" = 2020, "M" = 2021, "N" = 2022, "P" = 2023, "R" = 2024, "S" = 2025); the last six are the serial number. It never contains I, O or Q, to avoid confusion with 1 and 0.
How to find the battery with the VIN
- Copy the 17 characters into the VIN finder. Upper or lower case does not matter; no spaces.
- Confirm the vehicle we show you (make, model, engine and year). If your VIN does not pin down the engine, we will ask you to choose it.
- Choose the battery. The first ones in the list are the ones owners of that model buy most; all of them match the original dimensions, polarity and technology.
When the VIN beats the number plate: imported or re-registered cars, very new vehicles not yet in the registration database, fleets and company cars, and whenever the car is not in front of you but the paperwork is.
If the VIN does not identify the engine
Some manufacturers encode the engine in the VIN and others do not. If several versions appear, pick the one with your engine (it is on the registration document: power in kW, cubic capacity and fuel). And if you prefer another route, there is the number-plate finder and the search by make and model under car batteries; all three methods are explained in which battery does my car take.
Frequently asked questions
What is the VIN or chassis number?
It is the 17-character code (letters and digits, never I, O or Q) that uniquely identifies each vehicle. It encodes the manufacturer, the plant, the body and engine type, the model year and the serial number.
Where is the VIN on my car?
On the registration document (V5C in the UK, section E on Spanish documents), at the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, on a plate or sticker in the driver's door frame and, on many cars, stamped in the engine bay.
Is it better to search by VIN or by number plate?
They give the same result when the registration is properly recorded. The VIN is more reliable for imported, re-registered or very new cars, and it never changes even if the plate does.
Do you store my VIN?
It is used only to identify the vehicle and show compatible batteries; if you place an order, it stays linked to that order so we can handle the warranty and any questions about that purchase.
Find your battery by VIN
17 characters and we tell you which battery your car takes, with express 24h delivery on orders placed before 18:00.
Search by VIN →