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- Great Customers Review
- Fast and Accurate
MINI VIN Decoder
Not sure about a MINI’s specs and history in the UK? Hidden issues or missing details can cost you. Use our MINI VIN Decoder to access free vehicle specs and detailed car history records.
What is a MINI VIN Decoder?
A MINI VIN decoder breaks down the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Once the VIN is decoded, you can verify a vehicle’s specifications, including the year, make, model, body style, engine, and more.
With a VIN decoder, anyone can get reliable insights for buying, selling, or verifying the originality of a MINI vehicle.
How to Decode a MINI VIN?
To decode a MINI VIN manually, you must understand what each character represents. A MINI VIN consists of 17 characters and contains essential information about the vehicle. It indicates the manufacturer, the model, the production location, and other distinct characteristics.
Each VIN is unique to each vehicle, and can only be decoded to view data about a specific vehicle. Please remember that the letters I, O, and Q are excluded from VINs to prevent confusion with the digits 1 and 0.
Breaking Down the MINI VIN
Every vehicle has a 17-digit VIN, which is carefully divided into three main sections. Each section has a different purpose and provides specific information about the car. They are:
- World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) (Characters 1-3): Tells the manufacturer's name and country of origin.
- Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) (Characters 4-9): Includes details like engine type, model, and style of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) (Characters 10-17): Shows the year the vehicle was made, the plant where it was built, and its unique ID.
Now, let’s break down the 17-digit VIN.
1st Character:
This section identifies the vehicle’s country of manufacture. If it were manufactured in Germany, you would most likely expect the MINI VIN to begin with a W.
1 or 4
2
3
J
K
S
W
Z
USA
Canada
Mexico
Japan
Korea
England
Germany
Italy
2nd Character:
This identifies the specific manufacturer. Here are some of the examples.
WMI Code
Manufacturer
Country
WMW
MINI (BMW Group)
Germany/UK
WMZ
MINI (BMW Group)
Germany/UK (SUV model)
3rd Character:
This digit shows what kind of vehicle it is or which part of the company made it. For example, letters A, S, and X, or the number 1, can represent passenger cars, utility vehicles, or motorcycles.
4th to 8th Characters:
These numbers and letters give more details about the vehicle, such as its body type, engine type, model, and series.
9th Character:
The 9th character of a VIN functions as a check digit, verifying the authenticity and correctness of the entire VIN.
10th Character:
This tells you the model year of a specific MINI. Each year is represented by either a letter or a number that can be easily read and decoded using the table below:
Code/Year
- A 1980
- B 1981
- C 1982
- D 1983
- E 1984
- F 1985
- G 1986
- H 1987
- J 1988
- K 1989
Code/Year
- L 1990
- M 1991
- N 1992
- P 1993
- R 1994
- S 1995
- T 1996
- V 1997
- W 1998
- X 1999
Code/Year
- Y 2000
- 1 2001
- 2 2002
- 3 2003
- 4 2004
- 5 2005
- 6 2006
- 7 2007
- 8 2008
- 9 2009
Code/Year
- A 2010
- B 2011
- C 2012
- D 2013
- E 2014
- F 2015
- G 2016
- H 2017
- J 2018
- K 2019
Code/Year
- L 2020
- M 2021
- N 2022
- P 2023
- R 2024
- S 2025
- T 2026
- V 2027
- W 2028
- X 2029
Code/Year
- A 1980
- B 1981
- C 1982
- D 1983
- E 1984
- F 1985
- G 1986
- H 1987
- J 1988
- K 1989
- L 1990
- M 1991
- N 1992
- P 1993
- R 1994
- S 1995
- T 1996
- V 1997
- W 1998
- X 1999
- Y 2000
- 1 2001
- 2 2002
- 3 2003
- 4 2004
Code/Year
- 5 2005
- 6 2006
- 7 2007
- 8 2008
- 9 2009
- A 2010
- B 2011
- C 2012
- D 2013
- E 2014
- F 2015
- G 2016
- H 2017
- J 2018
- K 2019
- L 2020
- M 2021
- N 2022
- P 2023
- R 2024
- S 2025
- T 2026
- V 2027
- W 2028
- X 2029
11th Character:
The eleventh character shows the vehicle’s assembly or manufacturing plant. The locations are represented with these characters:
- A, F, and K = Munich, Germany
- B, C, D, G = Dingolfing, Germany
- E, J, P = Regensburg, Germany
- L = Greer, South Carolina, United States
12th to 17th Characters:
These characters make up the unique sequential number of the BMW, which indicates the production number as the car rolls off the assembly line.
How to Decode a MINI VIN?
Our MINI VIN Decoder allows you to decode any MINI’s VIN. Follow these steps to view free vehicle specifications.
Enter the VIN
Enter the 17-digit VIN on the form above along with your email address and phone number.
Click “Check Vehicle.”
After completing the form, click the “Check Vehicle” button to begin the process.
Get Vehicle Specifications
Use our tool to check vehicle specifications for free.
If you want more information, you can also do a full VIN check to see if the car has any accident history, unpaid finance, mileage issues, and other important records.
Where’s the VIN on a MINI?
The MINI VIN is located in several areas of the car for easy access, and you just need to take a close look to find it. Some common locations are:
- Registration Documents : The VIN is often printed on the vehicle’s registration or insurance paperwork.
- Dashboard : Look through the windshield on the lower-left corner of the dashboard on the driver’s side.
- Driver’s Side Door Jamb : Check the sticker or plate on the inside edge of the door.
- Engine bay : The VIN may be stamped or engraved on the engine block, usually located on the front side near the serpentine belt.
Why Conduct a MINI VIN Check?
The UK’s used car market has grown rapidly over the past few years. Statistics showed that one in three used cars sold has hidden information, such as a salvaged title, rolled-back odometer, or theft records.
Here are the reasons why you should decode the MINI VIN.
Outstanding Finance
It’s useful to know if the car has outstanding finance, so you’re not left dealing with someone else’s debt after the purchase.
MOT History Check
Looking at the MOT history can give a sense of the car’s past condition and how well it may have been looked after.
Avoid Purchasing Stolen Vehicles
This check helps you see if the car has ever been reported stolen in the UK, which could save you from future legal trouble.
Detect Potential Odometer Fraud
Unusual mileage changes might suggest tampering—a common issue with used cars—so it’s worth looking at.
Identify a Write-off Car
If the car was written off before, this check shows the insurance category, which may help you understand its past damage.
V5C Logbook Records
Checking when the log book was issued might reveal useful signs about the car’s background or anything odd.
Check Auction Status
Some cars go through auctions due to damage or other reasons—this report explains this and includes photos for better insight.
Ownership Records
Knowing how many people owned the car before can hint at how it was treated and maintained over the years.
Free VIN Decoding Vs. Full Car Check Report
Our car check tools can conduct free and paid VIN decoding, which gets you the vehicle history report. While our VIN decoder free check provides limited information, the paid version offers premium access to the complete car check report.
Free VIN Decoding
A free VIN decoding is a good starting point before you get the premium car report. The free car report can provide basic information about the vehicle to match the seller’s description on the listing.
Here’s what you’ll see with our free VIN decoder.
Year
Body style
Colour
Gears
Make
Trim level
Engine size
Fuel type
Model
Transmission
Engine cylinders
Displacement
Vehicle type
Vehicle class
Engine specs
Emission standard
Number of doors
Number of seats
Displacement
Emissions
Full Car Check Report
Our full car check report gives you more insight into the car’s history and condition, which you need to know before you decide to buy the MINI.
Here’s what you’ll find in our full car report.
High-risk records
Written-off check
Stolen records
Outstanding finance
Mileage history
Scrapped records
Auction history
Plate change history
MOT history
Ownership records
Logbook checks
Colour change history
Tax Status
Imported checks
Exported checks
Vehicle Registration
Do a Through Car Research Before Buying
Smart Car Check provides a comprehensive platform beyond decoding UK VINs. You’ll find specialized tools to make your car check process easier and ensure you get the required details.
Registration Number Check
Retrieve vehicle details using the registration number.
MOT History Check
Access past MOT records to evaluate the car’s condition.
Insurance Write-Off Check
Identify vehicles previously classified as total losses.
Tax Check
Confirm tax status and compliance.
Stolen Car Check
Verify if the car is flagged as stolen in databases.
MPG Check
Determine the fuel efficiency and performance of the car.
Motorcycle VIN Check
Get specific data and history for motorcycles.
Car Value Check
Estimate the current market value of the vehicle.
Car Outstanding Finance Check
Verify if a car has an outstanding finance or loans.
Get our Smart Car Check Mobile App
Are you looking for the best car history check UK? Make a smart decision with Smart Car Check App. Perform a Reg. number check in the UK to uncover any past problems and hidden history that the seller will not tell you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get the full VIN number?
The 17-character VIN is shown on your vehicle’s registration document. Additionally, you can find it on the car itself, either on the manufacturer’s plate in the engine area, on a door pillar (where the door closes), or on the passenger side of the front windshield.
How to do a VIN search to decode the VIN number?
You can click on the form and fill out the details with the VIN, email address, and phone number. Click on the button and wait for the report to be generated.
Can I lookup specs by VIN number?
Yes, you need to decode the VIN first to get the vehicle’s specs. After you click on the form and enter your VIN, you can get the car specifications for free.
