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Read moreCheck vehicle information with Yamaha VIN
Looking for the VIN?
Here is there you’ll find it:
Manufacturers have used numbers to identify their vehicles since the 1980s. Yamaha wasn't an exception in this matter. Most manufacturers had nine months to implement this new rule in their assemblies. So, if you, for example, buy a bike, it will probably come with a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number); you can ask the seller for more information about the bike by using a VIN decoder.
The Yamaha VIN Decoder, for example, can help you track down your bike or ATV. This tool is typically connected to a searchable database containing extensive entries about the year, make, model, engine type, and other specifications of all Yamaha motorcycles and ATVs. You can use the decoder to identify and track individual Yamaha vehicles for safety recalls and theft prevention purposes.
EpicVin's online tools make it easy to run a DMV VIN check and help you verify seller information. We also offer history reports that can help you avoid buying problem vehicles.
Why do customers prefer the Yamaha VIN decoder? When you're shopping for a vehicle, knowing the factory information encoded in this number tells you exactly how a vehicle was equipped at the factory. This helps you find the exact motorcycle or ATV you want. Don't have the number? We also offer license plate lookup, which finds the VIN in government records and provides you with needed information.
One of the first things you should do before you purchase a vehicle is order a vehicle history report. This is an official NMVTIS source that provides a detailed look at the vehicle's history, including information about its ownership, accident history, and legal status. By knowing about these issues upfront, you can make sure that you make the right choice.
The VIN code is found on both the frame and engine of Yamaha motorcycles. If you see any scratches or changes to the VIN, use this motorcycle VIN decoder to check whether it's genuine. If there isn't a VIN code on your bike, don't buy it even if the price is low!
Here are the two main places to look for the VIN:
The Yamaha VIN Decoder for ATVs is used to check the type of engine, the engine specs, and the type of fuel you can use. Compare the code on your registration card with the code on all locations on the bike. If you see any differences, it means that not all the parts are original. If the codes are the same, then it means that this bike has genuine parts produced in Japan.
The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a great tool to help you check the history of your Yamaha vehicle. It conveys all the important information about your bike, including accident history, engine type, and year manufactured.
What does the vehicle identification number mean? Each manufacturer has a different way of encoding this number. Here's how Yamaha formats each character in their VINs.
1st Character – Manufacturing Country
The first character in a Yamaha VIN tells where the motorcycle was manufactured. The VIN of a Yamaha motor vehicle that starts with a “J” means that it was made in Japan. On the other hand, the number “1” means it was made in the U.S. and the number “2” means it was made in Canada.
2nd Character – Manufacturer
The second character is “Y”, which stands for the motor vehicle manufacturer—Yamaha.
3rd Character – Vehicle type
The third character of the VIN code indicates the vehicle type or manufacturer division in which a particular vehicle was produced. For example, an “A” means it's an ATV, a “C” means it's a motorcycle, and an “E” means it's a snowmobile.
4th to 8th Characters
These five characters are known as the “vehicle description code”. They include information such as the type of engine, model name, body style, and other details.
9th Character – Check Digit
The ninth character is the security character that confirms the vehicle identification number (VIN) is valid. It is generated from a mathematical formula with a weight factor table by the Department of Transportation.
10th Character – the Year of the Yamaha Vehicle Model
The tenth character stands for the year of the Yamaha vehicle model. It applies to the years 1980 and later and is coded as repeating cycles of alphabet letters (with I, O, Q, U, and Z omitted).
11th Character – Assembly Plant
The 11th character of the VIN refers to the plant where the Yamaha was assembled.
12th to 17th Characters
The last six characters of a production serial number indicate the date of manufacture.
The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a great tool to help you check the history of your Yamaha vehicle. It conveys all the important information about your bike, including accident history, engine type, and year manufactured. Whenever you plan to buy a new or second-hand Yamaha vehicle, always use a VIN decoder before signing papers. Here are some example numbers:
Locations vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, there are three places you can find the code on most vehicles:
- Look through the windshield at the dashboard. On the driver’s side, you should see a small metal plate with the number stamped into it.
- Open the driver’s door. Look at the front and side of the door pillar for an I.D. sticker. It usually has the manufacturer’s logo on it. The code should be on this sticker.
- Open the hood. You may see a sticker on the firewall or near the passenger’s side strut tower. Some cars have the number engraved in one of these areas.
Since this number is used to identify the vehicle on official documents, you can also find it on the title, the window sticker, and on insurance policies.
We also decode numbers for RVs, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. If you need to decode an RV number, make sure it’s the one issued by the chassis manufacturer, not the RV outfitter.
No. Canadian and Mexican cars usually use the same format. Other countries use their own formats.
It’s up to the manufacturer to determine what they want to include for some parts of the number. For example, some companies don’t include information about transmissions or trim levels.
Usually, no. A few manufacturers stamp the code into the engine. If the VINs on the engine and car match, then it’s the original engine. On most vehicles, there isn’t anything that ties an engine to a specific vehicle. At most, looking up the vehicle on our website will tell you if a different type of engine was installed. For example, if someone swaps a V8 into a Ford Mustang, our site will tell you it originally came with a V6.
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