Council Directive 93/34/EEC (repealed)Show full title

3. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER U.K.

The vehicle identification number consists of a structured combination of characters assigned to each vehicle by their manufacturer. Its purpose is to enable any vehicle to be identified unambiguously via its manufacturer — without any need for any other information — for a period of 30 years. The identification must meet the following requirements:

3.1. the vehicle identification number must be entered on the manufacturer's data plate. It must also be hammered or punched in such a way as to avoid obliteration or change on the chassis or frame at a point such that it can easily be accessible, and it must be situated on the right half of the vehicle; U.K.

3.1.1. the vehicle identification number must be in three parts as indicated hereafter: U.K.

3.1.1.1. the first part consists of a code assigned to the vehicle manufacturer enabling that person to be identified. The code shall consist of three characters (letters or digits) issued by the competent authorities in the country in which the manufacturer has his registered address in line with the practice of the international agency acting on the authorization of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The first character designates a geographical area, the second a country within a geographical area and the third character a particular manufacturer. Where the manufacturer produces less than 500 vehicles per year the third character is always a 9. In order to identify that manufacturer the authority referred to above shall also issue the third, fourth and fifth characters of the third part; U.K.

[F1 3.1.1.2. the second part consists of six characters (letters or digits) for the purpose of describing the general characteristics of the vehicle (type, variant, and in the case of mopeds, version); each characteristic may be represented by several characters. If its manufacturer does not use one or more of those characters the unused spaces must be filled by alphabetical or numerical characters, the choice being left to the manufacturer;] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Directive 2006/27/EC of 3 March 2006 amending for the purposes of adapting to technical progress Council Directives 93/14/EEC on the braking of two- or three-wheel motor vehicles and 93/34/EEC on statutory markings for two- or three-wheel motor vehicles, Directives of the European Parliament and of the Council 95/1/EC on the maximum design speed, maximum torque and maximum net engine power of two- or three-wheel motor vehicles and 97/24/EC on certain components and characteristics of two- or three-wheel motor vehicles (Text with EEA relevance).

3.1.1.3. the third part consists of eight characters, the last four of which are required to be numerical and, in combination with the two other parts, must enable a particular vehicle to be clearly identified. Any unused position must be filled by a 0 in order to obtain the requisite total number of characters; U.K.

[F2 3.1.2. the vehicle identification number must, wherever possible, occupy a single line. The beginning and end of this line must be marked by a symbol which is neither an Arabic numeral nor a capital Latin letter, nor must it be possible to confuse this with any such character. U.K.

By way of an exception and for technical reasons it may also occupy two lines. However, in this case there must be no breaks within any of the three parts and the beginning and end of each line must be marked by a symbol which is neither an Arabic numeral nor a capital Latin letter, nor must it be possible to confuse this with any such character.

The introduction of said symbol within a line between the three parts (Point 3.1.1) is also authorised.

There must be no spaces between the characters.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Commission Directive 1999/25/EC of 9 April 1999 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 93/34/EEC on statutory markings for two- or three-wheel motor vehicles (Text with EEA relevance).