what is the standard number of characters in a vehicle identification number

The standard VIN length is 17 characters—no more, no less, since 1981, and Australia follows the same playbook.

It’s a cocktail of letters and numbers, but you won’t see I, O, or Q lurking about—they’re banished for looking too much like 1 and 0.

Those 17 digits tell you where it was built, what it is, and its unique serial—usually lurking at the base of the windscreen or on the compliance plate.

If yours isn’t 17, it’s either pre-1981, misread, or someone’s been creative with the stamping tool.

Consult official documentation for exact figures.