How to Check Your Car Make and Model Accurately

How to Check Your Car Make and Model

Are you looking to buy a new car but don’t know what type it is? Before making the big investment in a vehicle, it’s important to make sure that you know its make and model. Fortunately, verifying your car’s identity doesn’t have to be complicated

In this artical, weaversautocenter will give you all the tips and tricks you need for easily confirming your car’s make and model. Read on take one step closer towards perfecting the used car buying process.

5 Methods to Check Your Car Make and Model

Methods 1: Check the Title

A car’s title is the legal document that establishes ownership of the vehicle. The appearance and content of the title may vary depending on the state of purchase. Typically, it includes a decorative blue border with the state name at the top, along with details about the car. The make and model of the vehicle are usually located near the top of the document.

Usually, the vehicle’s make and model are located near the top of the document.

When it comes to your title, it’s important to include all the necessary information to ensure accuracy and clarity. This typically consists of the following details:

  1. VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): This unique identifier provides crucial information about the vehicle, such as its origin, make, model, and other specifications.
  2. Year of the car: Including the specific year helps establish the vehicle’s age and provides important context for potential buyers.
  3. Vehicle body: This refers to the type of vehicle, whether it’s a Sport Utility, Sedan, Hatchback, or any other body style. This detail allows buyers to visualize the car and understand its design.
  4. Mileage at the time of sale: Including the mileage gives potential buyers an idea of how much the vehicle has been driven and can be a factor in their decision-making process.
  5. Issue date: This is the date when the title was issued, providing a timeline of when the ownership of the vehicle was transferred.
  6. Seller’s name: Including the seller’s name adds transparency and helps establish the legitimacy of the title.

Methods 2: Check the Registration

 

The vehicle registration is another document that indicates the make and model of a car. The registration is issued by a state’s DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and contains all the information related to ownership and usage of the vehicle. It also provides important data about the car’s identity.

Unlike a title, registration isn’t necessary for taking possession of the vehicle; it’s only used for licensing and taxation purposes.

The make and model of a vehicle can easily be obtained from the registration document:

  • Along with other details such as body style
  • VIN number
  • Engine size
  • Cylinder count, etc.

Methods 3: Viewing Car’s Exterior and Logo

When it comes to determining the make and model of a car, no method is as simple as just taking a look at it. More often than not, the exterior details of a vehicle can tell you all that you need to know in terms of its origin.

For instance, Honda has become renowned for having distinct grille design with its logo embedded in the center. Additionally, the car’s logo is usually prominently displayed on the front or rear of the vehicle.

Common Logo in world:

Audi – Four overlapping circles

Honda – An H with a curved line under it.

Mercedes-Benz – Three-pointed star

Volkswagen – A V with four overlapping circles

Ram – A ram head symbol with two horns

Subaru – A star with six points

Toyota – Three overlapping ellipses

Chevrolet – An angular bowtie symbol

VinFast – A V with a wave pattern

Ford – An oval shape with the word ‘Ford’ written inside it

Porsche – A crest with a horse and the word ‘Porsche’ written inside it

Methods 4: Read the Manual of Owner

The owner’s manual is one of the best sources for determining a car’s make and model. This document usually contains all the necessary information needed to identify the vehicle, such as its VIN number, engine size, cylinder count, etc. Additionally, it will provide you with details on how to maintain and operate the car safely.

Methods 5: Search the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)

how-to-check-your-car-make-and-model-accurately

The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is the unique identifier of a car. It can be found in several locations, including the dashboard or engine bay. This 17-digit code contains information about the vehicle’s origin, body style, and other specifications.

Using this number, you can obtain detailed information about your car’s make and model through a reliable VIN decoder. It will provide you with the exact make and model of your car, along with other valuable details such as its engine size, body style, and more.

To find your car’s VIN, look for the stamped metal plate located in the driver’s side door jamb. Alternatively, it can be found on the windshield or at the bottom of the driver’s side dashboard.

You can find a website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) VIN decoder.

Using this website, you can enter your VIN number and get detailed information about the car’s make, model, engine size, body style, and other specifications. Additionally, it will tell you if any recalls have been issued for the vehicle.

What Does “Make” Mean on a Car?

The term “make” is used to refer to the manufacturer of a vehicle such as:

  • Audi
  • Honda
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Volkswagen
  • Ram
  • Subaru
  • Toyota
  • Chevrolet
  • VinFast
  • Ford
  • Porsche

The make of the car will determine how it looks, what features it has, and how it performs.

Knowing the make and model of your car can help you buy replacement parts or understand its maintenance requirements more easily. Additionally, it can provide crucial information if you’re looking to buy or sell the car.

What Does “Model” Mean on a Car?

The “model” of a car refers to the specific type of car. It is usually listed after the make on the registration or title document, such as Accord or Corolla.

Knowing the exact model of your car can help you find parts that are compatible with its design and features. Additionally, it gives potential buyers an idea of what features the car has and its age.

For example, a Honda Accord LX is the 6th generation of the Accord model. It has features such as:

  • Six airbags
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Automatic climate control
  • Multi-view rear camera

What Does “Trim” Mean on a Car?

The “trim” of a car refers to the specific version or variant of a model. It is usually listed after the make and model on the registration or title document, such as LX or EX.

Trims are used to distinguish different variants within the same model, usually based on features and engine size. For example, an Accord LX would have a slightly different engine size than an Accord EX.

Knowing the trim of your car can help you find parts that are compatible with its design and features. Additionally, it gives potential buyers an idea of what extras the car has, as well as its age.

For example, a Honda Accord LX is equipped with features such as:

  • Six airbags
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Automatic climate control
  • Multi-view rear camera

It also has a 2.4L inline 4 engine, which is slightly larger than the 1.5L turbocharged engine found in the Accord Sport trim. The larger engine provides better performance and fuel economy.

What Does “Body Style” Mean on a Car?

The “body style” of a car refers to the type of vehicle. It is usually listed after the make and model on the registration or title document, such as sedan, coupe, SUV, etc.

Body styles are used to distinguish different types of vehicles within the same model. For example, a Honda Accord can come in either sedan, coupe, or hatchback body styles.

Knowing the body style of your car can help you find parts that are compatible with its design and features. Additionally, it gives potential buyers an idea of what type of vehicle they’re looking at as well as its age.

Here are the common body styles for cars recently available in the market:

  • Sedan – A four-door car with a trunk.
  • Coupe – A two-door car with a truncated roofline.
  • SUV/Crossover – A vehicle with higher ground clearance and body cladding, usually bigger than a sedan.
  • Hatchback – A two or four door car with a liftgate and fold-down rear seat.
  • Convertible/Cabriolet – A vehicle with a removable hard or soft top roof.
  • Van – A large, multi-passenger vehicle used for transporting cargo or passengers.
  • Limousine – An extra long sedan used for luxury transportation.

FAQs

What is the app to check the model of a car?

CarLens is an app that can help you identify the model and make of a car. Just upload a picture of the vehicle in question, and CarLens will use advanced algorithms to detect the make and model within seconds. It also provides other useful information like the estimated year of manufacture and engine type.

How do I find out what car model I have?

You can use Hyundai VIN decoder to find out the make and model of your car. Just enter your VIN number in the search box, and you will get detailed information about the car’s make, model, engine size, body style and other specifications. Alternatively, you can also use CarLens app to help identify the models of cars through images you upload of them.

Is Chevrolet the make or model?

Chevrolet is the make of a car. The model refers to the specific type of Chevrolet vehicle, such as the Corvette, Silverado, Camaro, Impala, etc. Each model has its own distinct features and specifications that separate it from other models in the same make.

What is my cars model year?

The model year of a vehicle is the year it was manufactured. It is usually printed on the title, or you can find it using the VIN decoder website mentioned above. You can also look for the car’s serial number, which can be found in several locations including the dashboard and door jambs. The first two digits of this serial indicate the model year.

For example, if the serial number begins with ‘17’ then it was manufactured in 2017.

What is model year and VIN?

Model year is the year in which a vehicle was manufactured. It is an important point of reference as it helps to indicate the age of the car, and also gives buyers an idea of its features. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the other hand, is a unique 17-digit alphanumeric code that contains information about the make and model of the car, and is usually found stamped on a metal plate in various locations such as the dashboard or engine bay. It can also be used to check for recalls on the vehicle.

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is applicable to vehicles manufactured in or after 1981. Prior to 1981, the VIN format lacked standardization and exhibited variations across different manufacturers.

Conclusion

Knowing your car’s make and model can be a helpful tool when trying to buy, sell, or repair a vehicle. Whether you’re using VIN decoder sites or taking advantage of informational materials provided by the maker, there are numerous ways to go about identifying your car’s identity. Taking the time to look into what type of car you own can provide pieces of vital information that could come in handy during many life moments related to vehicles.

We hope that this article from Weavers Autocenter has been useful in helping answer any questions you may have had about double-checking your car’s identity! As always, if you have any other queries or comments please leave a comment below and we will be more than happy to address them.

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