Acura VIN decoder

What is an Acura VIN?

Due to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiative, all vehicle manufacturers accepted a new VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) format in 1981 to help identify their cars. New regulations mandated that each vehicle manufacturer use a 17-character combination to encode detailed information about specific models.

Acura's VIN might seem like a random jumble of numbers and letters. However, it encodes not only car specifications but also information about ownership changes and accident history that you can unveil using a VIN decoder. This information could be especially useful for buyers aspiring to own an Acura – the luxury division of Honda Automobiles, established a few years after a new standardized VIN format was accepted.

In the early 1990s and 2000s, Acura gained a stronghold with impressive reliability records and one of the best price-to-luxury ratios in the segment. At one point, Acura even outsold established rivals, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but due to a lack of clear vision and investments, Acura now faces challenges in regaining its lost success.

Where to search for the VIN?

A vehicle’s VIN number is located in multiple places and can depend on the brand. However, there are specific common locations where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.

The easiest way to find Acura’s VIN number is to look at the vehicle's title and registration documents. However, there are a few additional places that you can also check:

• Check the dashboard – you should be able to see the VIN through the driver’s side windscreen of your car.
• Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door frame. On the frame, you should see another small metal plate or a sticker containing the vehicle's specs and the VIN number.
• Open the glovebox and look for the service history book. If the car was bought from the dealership, it might have a book with maintenance information, a dealership stamp, and, of course, the VIN number.

What is Acura VIN decoder?

One of Acura's most significant advantages is its impressive reliability record. However, even if Acura's engineers have mastered the art of building the world's most reliable car, this achievement can be undermined by the previous owner's actions.

Infrequent engine oil changes and careless behavior can seriously impact the longevity of a used Acura. The second-hand market is filled with numerous examples that seem to be on their last legs, yet their sellers often paint a completely different picture. This is where using Acura's VIN decoder to perform a VIN lookup becomes invaluable, as it can help distinguish truth from falsehood.

Simultaneously, it allows you to see mileage records, potential theft history, ownership changes, and more.

How accurate is the information provided by the Acura VIN decoder?

Data provided in Acura’s history report is collected from law enforcement, insurance companies, state registries, and other reliable data providers. It means that every vehicle history report offers detailed and up-to-date information, ensuring a comprehensive overview of the vehicle's history.

How to decode a VIN number - Acura VIN breakdown

Each Acura VIN has four sections: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), Security Check Digit, and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). Each part spills the details about the car, giving you a clear picture of the chosen specs.

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The World Manufacturer Identifier in Acura's VIN has three characters, which have different meanings. The first character indicates the country where the vehicle was built. As Acura is the luxury division of Honda, these cars are made in four different plants worldwide.

The next digit in the Acura VIN shows the manufacturer. Given Acura's close ties with Honda, this digit specifies whether the car is exclusively made by Acura or by Honda, as with models like the Acura MDX.

Lastly, the third position in the WMI indicates the specific division within Acura responsible for manufacturing the vehicle. In the Acura VIN, this position can be 4, U, or N.

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The second segment of the VIN number provides information about the characteristics of the Acura vehicle, including the model, engine, and body type. The following table will explain how to identify the Acura model.

The 7th digit in the Acura VIN encodes the body style and the transmission that is paired with that specific body type.

The 8th character in the Acura VIN represents the equipment level of the vehicle. Depending on the manufacturing year, the same number or letter may carry different meanings. Look at the example below:

Security Check Digit

The 9th character of the VIN represents the Security Check Digit, functioning like a unique fingerprint for the identification number. This single-digit number also serves as a safety feature designed to detect and prevent potential errors in the VIN.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The VIN's final segment (10th-17th characters) holds such details as the model year, assembly plant, and a unique serial number.

The 11th character in the overall VIN sequence reveals the vehicle's assembly plant. Depending on the model and its manufacturing year, the car could have been produced in Japan, the US, or Canada factories.

The last 6 characters in a VIN are always digits that form a sequential production number.

Is an Acura VIN decoder available for a free VIN check?

You can use the Acura VIN decoder for free Acura VIN number check to confirm such details as the vehicle’s model or body type. However, for a detailed understanding of the car’s history, it’s recommended to get a full vehicle history report.

By opting for the complete report, you’ll gain valuable insights into the vehicle's mileage log, accident history, and other valuable data, sourced from reliable sources, including government registries and insurance companies.

Start your free VIN lookup to get a basic overview of your vehicle’s details. For a more comprehensive report, consider purchasing the full vehicle history

List of Acura models

• CL
• CSX
• EL
• ILX
• INTEGRA
• LEGEND
• MDX
• NSX
• RDX
• RL
• RSX
• SLX
• TL
• TSX
• VIGOR
• ZDX

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