The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the manufacturer's own ID, found stamped onto a plate under the bonnet, under the carpet by the driver's seat and/or etched on to the windows. Vehicles which are approved for sale in the EU have 17 digit VINs. Imports from outside Europe, such as Japan, may have short VINs. If you see a VIN which starts with the letters SABTVRO, take special care, because this VIN is assigned by a vehicle registration office when the original identity of a bodyshell or frame cannot be determined.