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VIN Basics Blog

Feb 21 2012

Posted by:
DataOne Software

Decoding Vehicles to a Single Trim/Style: VIN-to-Trim/Style Matching Explained

US and Canadian VINS are required to contain a certain level of information about the vehicle, including year, make, model, body style, engine, restraint system, and GVWR. However, a lot of important vehicle details are encoded in the VIN by some OEMs, and not by others. Working with VIN data can be tricky business when they're used in different ways by the 40+ US passenger vehicle makes. This article explains a few key concepts related to VIN decoding and something called style matching, that are critical to working with VIN data successfully.

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Topics: VIN

Jan 30 2012

Posted by:
DataOne Software

Does Your Vehicle Really Need That Spare Tire?


Oftentimes we don't look for the spare tire in our vehicles until we are on the side of the road with a flat tire.  Once in that situation you may be checking frantically for it.  You check the trunk or rear cargo area, under the rear of the vehicle but it is nowhere to be found.  It may be that you are one of many consumers that have purchased a vehicle without a spare tire. AAA has noticed the growing trend of vehicles without spare tires and reports the trend is likely to continue in a recent article online

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Topics: Safety

Jan 13 2012

Posted by:
DataOne Software

Death of the Manual Transmission Leaves a Void

In recent years, there have been fewer and fewer vehicles offered with a manual transmission.  Automotive News recently stated in an article that only 5-7% of new vehicles sold in the US have a manual transmission.  This has resulted in more VIN decodes being transmission specific, which is a nice benefit to those of us doing VIN decoding.  However, the manual transmission will be missed by both me personally and by dealers everywhere.

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Jan 12 2012

Posted by:
Joe Kiley

Use VIN Validation to Improve Inventory Quality


If you're using an automotive data provider for VIN decoding, you probably have a few vehicles in inventory that your data provider cannot decode. Some of these might be classic cars, vehicles sold in Europe or Asia then imported into the US, Trailers, or other types of vehicles that your data provider simply does not support. However, it's likely that some of these vehicles cannot be decoded because the VIN number is just plain incorrect, usually due to human error when reading the VIN off the vehicle. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to determine a VIN is invalid. You can employ these methods to isolate your invalid VINs and either make automated corrections or go back to the field to get the correct VIN off your vehicle.

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Topics: VIN

Jan 11 2012

Posted by:
Jake Maki

10 Vehicle Details Not Decoded By The VIN Pattern

If you were alive in the late 1980s or early 1990s and heard mention of the spaghetti sauce brand "Prego," you almost certainly will think of their catchphrase "It's in there!" No matter what desired ingredient was asked about in Prego's TV ads, the response was, of course, "It's in there!"

We often have potential customers approach us hoping to determine a specific detail or attribute of the vehicle using only the vehicle identification number (VIN). Decoding a VIN can return a large amount of useful information. However, there are still many vehicle details that can't be determined from a basic decode of the VIN pattern alone. In other words, they are not all in there.

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Topics: VIN

Jan 10 2012

Posted by:
Jake Maki

Exceptions to the VIN Decoding Rules

If you have read any of our other articles on VIN decoding you know already that the VIN pattern has certain information that it is required to contain in the US and Canada.  However, if you acquire and review a VIN file, like VIN Basic, you will come across exceptions to even these basic rules.  Here are a couple of VIN rule exceptions that have led to questions from our customers in the past.

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Topics: Support, Automotive Data, VIN

Jan 9 2012

Posted by:
DataOne Software

Three Tips to Enhance Vehicle Marketing

As technology, solutions and inventory processes continue to evolve, automotive marketing companies face some interesting challenges when it comes to vehicle marketing. With so many classified sites representing dealer inventory locally, regionally and nationally – it can be difficult to “rise above the rest”. This is also (maybe especially) a challenge with Franchised automotive dealer websites which represent an auto dealers inventory direct.

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Topics: Auto Portals, Automotive Data, Marketing, Auto Manufacturers, Automotive

Jan 9 2012

Posted by:
DataOne Software

GM's OnStar offers proprietary API to Developers

Developers will receive access to Manufacturer General Motor's OnStar API which is called ATOMS (advanced telematics operating system) sometime in the first half of 2012. OnStar president Linda Marshall described the consumer benefits in terms of functionality comparable to computers, smartphones and tablets as a response to the growth in the mobile applications market for Android and iOS platforms.

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Topics: Automotive Data, Auto Manufacturers, Automotive, Vehicle Equipment

Nov 25 2011

Posted by:
Jake Maki

The Market's effect on a VIN

Market's-Effect-on-VIN-Number.jpg

VIN Decoding 101 Part 3: The Market Effect


Have you ever driven in England? How about in India or Japan? Many US drivers who have traveled abroad have a colorful and nerve-racking story about their experiences behind the wheel. These same people are probably confident, knowledgeable drivers in the US. In both situations, they are driving a car with much the same equipment and functionality. So what makes the experience of driving abroad so challenging and perilous? 

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Topics: Automotive Data, VIN

Nov 21 2011

Posted by:
DataOne Software

Non-traditional vehicle comparison

We came across this fun video, and while it is entertaining it also serves to really make the point that the right car for a potential buyer is really based on that buyers needs. Although we think few consumers will struggle to decide whether they will purchase a Ford Fiesta vs a Lamborghini - it is clear that vehicle comparison is a critical piece of vehicle marketing.

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Topics: Vehicle, Marketing, Automotive

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