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As I mentioned in another thread, I may be considering buying a van in the near future. I was doing a bit of digging regarding VIN numbers and found the following info on this page: www.carlight.co.uk/faq/date-built.html

Is the year code consistent for all manufacturers - I'm sure many second hand caravans may be sold as 1995 when they really 1993?

Does anuone have more info on VINs or links to pages to find out the details for each manufacturer?

Also found the following Police page regarding caravans

www.crimereduction.gov.uk/vehiclecrime40.pdf

Quote from 1st webpage follows

from 1992 onwards
As almost every manufacturer had a different numbering system, and to try to combat the growing number of caravan thefts, the Caravan Industry decided to adopt a universal numbering system . The VIN (Vehicle Identification Numbers) System has been employed from 1992 onwards.

The VIN system is a 17 character International Standard that specifies the content and structure of a vehicle identification number in order to establish, on a world-wide basis, a uniform identification numbering system for road vehicles and their trailers.

This 17 alpha-numeric code provides the following information:

• Manufacturer & Country of origin
• Single or Twin axle
• Model year
• Build number

The first part of a VIN is known as the WMI code (World Manufacturer Identifier) and comprises of three characters. The first two characters designate the country of origin and the type of product. The third character identifies the manufacturer and has been allocated by the National Caravan Council.

The WMI code for Carlight is SGC. The next character is either "S" or "T" which denotes either single (S) or twin (T) axle. The next three characters are all zeros on any Carlight Model. The next two characters are the N.C.C. manufacturers codes for Carlight which is CL. The next character shows the model year in accordance with the following VIN code:

The next four characters comprise of a number allocated by the factory; 2356, and then the build number makes up the last three characters. So for instance a VIN number of SGCS000CLT2356010 would show the caravan as a single axle 1996 model build number 10.

Very interesting. I am going to print this off. I bet a lot of people will get a surprise when they look at their vin plates.

Quote: Originally posted by xxtinaxx on 05/04/2005

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Very interesting. I am going to print this off. I bet a lot of people will get a surprise when they look at their vin plates.

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I don't know if the above is 100% correct and may vary from one manufacturer to another. I hope some of the more knowledgable folk on here (as I say, I know nowt about caravans myself) will confirm the details above by checking their own VINs.

I suppose the most important things are the year and manufacturer. Perhaps folk could list these and then someone could collate the info.

I believe only caravans manufactured by NCC members are recorded on the CRiS database (check out http://www.hpicheck.com/ ).

Imported caravans or caravans that are pre-92 can be registered too. We had our '91 Elddis done for extra peace of mind.

Caravans registered after '97 are also electronically tagged (as is ours as when you register a van yourself, you get a DIY etching kit for the windows and an electronic tag to hide somewhere in the van).

Imports and Pre-92 registered vans (like ours) do not carry a year identifier. The chassis number, manufacturer code and number of axles is still recorded in the 17 digit number, but the "year" character is replaced with, a "Q". Much like in the Car world, where cars of undeterminable age or built from more than one car (like kit-cars) carry a "Q" plate.

Our elddis has the CRiS number SGES000 ELQ0012345 (wher 12345 would be the serial number of the van)

As in the above Carlight example, SG (UK), E (Explorer Group - who make Elddis vans) S (Single Axle) 000 (alocated by CRiS) EL (Make i.e. Elddis) Q (Registered by owner/importer) 12345 (Manufacturers serial number)

Nez

Post last edited on 02/06/2005 20:39:59

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Step up to red alert!

But Sir, are you absolutely sure?
It does mean changing the bulb!

hi we have just bought a caravan coachman concept 1997 we had this query with the vin check going off the table above the vin no stated that the van was a 1995 not 1997 so we did a cris check which i found on this site it was 15.95 and was worth the money the van was a 1997 and they also check that it was not stolen or had any outstanding finance which was all clear

so thankyou to those that posted before

leesa

Hi all,

I work within the motor trade & all vehicles have to have a 17 alpha numeric VIN (vehicle identification number) more commonly called the chassis number.

For example WAUZZZ8E06A123456

WAU = Audi (Audi also use TRU & WUA for certain models)

 ZZZ = filler code (only in America does it differ from ZZZ)

8E = new Audi A4

0 = model & trim code

6 = year code 1 = 2001 etc. prior to 2001 it was alpha Y being 2000

A = plant of build code

123456 = sequential build number

One thing to bear in mind regarding the year of a car or caravan, the year identification number can be a bit misleading, insomuch as, typically motor manufactures, and quite possibly caravan manufactures, are now building 2007 models! so the new caravan you've bought or are going to buy may be a 2007 model bought in 2006 with a 2007 ViN number!

But equally you could buy in 2007 "ex demo" classified as new, but with a 2006 Vin number.

Hope this helps

GeorgeB

anyone any idea what year this would be from??? I'm desperate to find out and then I can try and get some definate info about the weight limits etc...

It is a shamal gt there is a plate at the bottom left hand side of the door
which has this on....

530268E

Many thanks for any info...

I agree with George...the year of manufacture of a particular model is not necessarily the year the caravan was first purchased new, and especially if they are built abroad since they could be sitting in compounds for months before they finally reach the caravan showroom and then several more months before they are sold...and does it really matter?

I have recently purchased a caravan which was described as a 1986 but there is no paperwork with it to indicate the year it was bought new. The chassis number is stamped in pairs of digits and the second pair of numbers say '84'. Could this be a 1984...and do I care? I bought it because I liked it and it had everything I needed, and it is in extremely good condition. It could have been made in Victorian times for all I care (did they have caravans then?). I bought it to use...not for it's potential re-sale value.