Windscreen
The easiest spot: the lower left corner of the windscreen on the driver’s side, readable from outside. Check that the plate is not re-glued and shows no signs of tampering.
Driver’s door pillar
A sticker or plate on the pillar or door edge shows the VIN and manufacturer data. Many cars carry the same plate on the passenger side.
Engine bay
The VIN is stamped or printed on the bulkhead and, on some models, on the strut towers. This is an important spot because it is where numbers are usually tampered with.
Body and floor
On many cars the VIN is stamped into the body or frame: under the passenger seat, in the spare-wheel well or on a side member. The position depends on the model.
Paperwork
The VIN appears on the registration certificate, the sale contract, the insurance policy and the service book. Compare them with the plates on the car.