VIN vs Chassis (Frame) Number: What's the Difference?
People use "VIN", "chassis number" and "frame number" interchangeably, but they are not always the same thing. The distinction matters when looking up parts in some markets.
The difference
In most modern vehicles the VIN is the single 17-character identifier used everywhere. In some regions and on some makes (notably certain Japanese-market vehicles), a separate chassis/frame number is used for parts identification, formatted differently from a global VIN.
Which one to use
Always start with the 17-character VIN where one exists. Where a make uses a frame number for its catalog (some Toyota, Nissan and Honda models), the EPC will accept that instead. VINsearch supports both where the manufacturer's catalog does.