May 29, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
What Is a Salvage Title and How to Spot One in a VIN Report
A salvage title means the vehicle was declared a total loss by an insurer. Here is what that means, how it appears in VIN history reports, a...
VIN & Vehicle Reference Articles
Authoritative guides on Vehicle Identification Numbers, car buying, auto insurance, vehicle history reports, manufacturers, and more.
May 22, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
Understanding VINs on Electric Vehicles: What Changes and What Stays the Same
Electric vehicles use the same 17-character VIN standard as conventional cars. But the vehicle descriptor section encodes EV-specific detail...
May 15, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
BMW VIN Numbers: How to Decode Any BMW or Mini VIN
BMW AG uses WMI codes starting with WBA and WBS for vehicles assembled in Germany, plus US codes for its Spartanburg plant. Here is the full...
May 8, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
GM VIN Numbers: Decoding Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac VINs
General Motors uses dozens of WMI codes across its brands and global plants. This guide covers the GM VIN structure for all major brands.
May 1, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
Ford VIN Numbers: How to Decode Any Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury VIN
Ford Motor Company uses a consistent VIN structure across its brands. This guide covers every Ford WMI code, plant code, and how to interpre...
April 24, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
Honda VIN Numbers: Decoding Every Honda and Acura VIN
Honda operates plants across North America and Japan. This guide covers every Honda and Acura WMI code, model year convention, and plant cod...
April 11, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
Assembly Plants and VINs: Where Your Car Was Actually Built
Position 11 of every VIN encodes the assembly plant. Learn which plants produce which vehicles, and why plant of origin matters for quality...
April 2, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
VIN Cloning and VIN Fraud: How Criminals Use Your Vehicle's Identifier
VIN cloning is one of the most common forms of vehicle fraud. Learn how it works, how to detect it, and how to protect yourself when buying...
March 24, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
VIN and Auto Insurance: What Your Insurer Does With Your Vehicle Identification Number
When you get an insurance quote, the insurer runs your VIN through multiple databases. Here is exactly what they look up and how it affects...
March 15, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
How to Run a VIN Check Before Buying a Used Car
A VIN check before purchasing a used car can reveal accident history, odometer rollbacks, title problems, and open recalls. Here is the full...
March 6, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
Toyota VIN Numbers: How to Decode Any Toyota or Lexus VIN
Toyota uses multiple WMI codes across its US and Japan plants. This guide breaks down every section of a Toyota VIN and explains what each c...
February 25, 2026 · Long Pattern Editorial
Country of Origin vs. Country of Assembly: What Your VIN Actually Tells You
The first character of a VIN reveals where a vehicle was assembled — not where the brand was founded. Here is what that distinction means fo...