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Know your car , Buying a used car , Paperwork and ownership · Updated 2026-10-18

Understanding the data plate and stickers on your car

Every car carries small plates and stickers that say what it is. They are easy to overlook, yet they are among the most useful things to read when you buy a used car or order parts. This guide shows where to look and how to make sense of what you find.

The manufacturer plate

The manufacturer or type plate is a metal or sticker label fixed by the maker. Common places are the door pillar, the edge of the driver's door, under the bonnet on the front panel or the bulkhead, and sometimes under a boot floor. Its exact location depends on the car, so check the owner's manual.

It generally shows:

• the vehicle identification number (VIN);
• the approval or type information;
• maximum permitted weights, such as total vehicle weight and sometimes axle loads or towing weight;
• sometimes engine and trim codes.

The weights are important if you carry heavy loads or tow, since exceeding them can affect safety and insurance. See towing and roof loads.

The VIN in more places

The VIN is the car's identity. It should be stamped or printed in several places, which must agree with each other and with the registration papers.

• Visible at the base of the windscreen on the driver's side.
• On the manufacturer plate.
• Stamped into the body or chassis, in a place that depends on the model.
• In the paperwork and in the car's electronic memory.

Learn what each part of the number means in reading a VIN, and decode one with our VIN checker.

Other stickers you may find

• Tyre information sticker: usually on the door pillar, fuel flap or inside the glovebox. It lists the tyre sizes and recommended pressures, often for different loads. See tyre pressure and tyre size tool.
• Paint and trim code: helps painters and parts suppliers find the right colour.
• Fuel type reminder: inside the fuel flap, which tells you what fuel to use. Using the wrong one can wreck a fuel system.
• Air conditioning label: shows the refrigerant type and quantity, usually under the bonnet.
• Service stickers: a small label on the windscreen or door pillar with the date or mileage of the last service. Treat as a hint, not proof.
• Airbag warnings: on the sun visor and seats, relating to rear-facing child seats; see child seats basics.

Checking a used car

When you view a car, look at the VIN in each place and compare it with the documents. This simple step catches a surprising amount of trouble.

1. Compare the VIN on the plate, the windscreen and the papers. All should match exactly.
2. Look at the plate itself. It should be evenly fixed, with clean rivets or an undamaged sticker. A replaced, scratched or glued-on plate needs an explanation.
3. Check that the data matches the advert: engine, fuel, trim and weights.
4. Look at the stamped number for signs of grinding, welding or re-stamping.
5. Find the tyre sticker and see whether the fitted tyres match.
6. Look at paint codes and body panels: panels in a different colour code or with overspray point to repairs; see signs of accident repair.

If numbers do not match, or something looks tampered with, walk away or ask the competent authority how to proceed. Do not take the seller's word for it. More checks are in documents when buying and the buying checklist.

Using the plate when you order parts

Parts catalogues are often sorted by VIN, since two cars of the same model and year may use different parts. Photograph the plate and keep it in your phone or your My Garage logbook, so it is at hand when you need it. Keep the VIN private, though: do not post it publicly in adverts or social media.

Keep a record

Take clear photos of the plate, the stamped number and the stickers when you first get the car, and store them with your other documents. If the plate is ever damaged or unreadable, you will still have a reference. It also helps when you describe the car to an insurer, a workshop or a parts seller, since you can read exact codes instead of guessing.

What to remember

• The manufacturer plate gives the VIN, approval data and weights.
• The VIN appears in several places and must match everywhere.
• Tyre, fuel and paint stickers save time and mistakes.
• A damaged, new or mismatched plate is a red flag.

Beginner Checklist Documents Inspection Used car VIN