Key takeaways
MecaVIN identifies a vehicle's exact trim level from its license plate: 34 brands covering over 75% of vehicles on the road — hundreds of millions of vehicles identified instantly.
MecaVIN identifies the exact trim level of a vehicle from its registration number. The database covers 34 brands representing over 75% of vehicles on European roads — hundreds of millions of identifiable vehicles. Identification is immediate and requires no vehicle documents. The report specifies the trim level, engine, production date, and original equipment.
MecaVIN Coverage
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Brands covered | 34 |
| Share of vehicles on the road covered | Over 75% |
| Identifiable vehicles | Hundreds of millions |
| Referenced engines | 8,301 |
| Trim-to-equipment associations | 59,643 |
| Accepted entries | VIN or registration |
| Processing time | Immediate |
Identify a Vehicle
Enter registration or VIN — immediate identification
The registration number appears on the vehicle's license plates and in section A of the V5C (registration document).
Why Is the Trim Level Required?
The trim level designates the exact equipment level of a model: a Peugeot 308 comes in Active, Allure, or GT trim levels, with different equipment. The trim level determines resale value, insurance quotes, and replacement part compatibility.
Methods to Find a Trim Level
| Method | Result | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Registration document (section D.2) | Type approval code | Does not display the commercial trim name |
| Auto parts websites | Part compatibility | Provides neither the trim level nor equipment |
| SIV / CNIT decoders | Range, phase, CNIT code | Provides neither the trim level nor equipment |
| Dealership | Exact trim level | Travel required, waiting time, single brand |
| MecaVIN (manufacturer data) | Trim level, equipment, production date | Paid report |
Contents of a MecaVIN Report
A MecaVIN report contains:
- the vehicle's commercial trim level
- the original engine and power output
- the production date
- factory-fitted equipment
- original options with their brand-new value
Data Origin
MecaVIN traces the registration number back to the VIN using European registration databases, then queries the technical databases of manufacturer networks. Coverage varies depending on the brand and production years: European manufacturer vehicles produced since 1990 are the best covered. Certain parallel import vehicles and very old series cannot be identified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you find the trim level with just the license plate?
The registration number allows you to retrieve the vehicle's VIN, which provides access to the trim level and original equipment. MecaVIN performs this process automatically for vehicles registered in Europe.
Does the registration document indicate the trim level?
The registration document does not indicate the commercial trim level. Section D.2 contains a technical type-approval code, detailed in the article on the registration document's section D.2, which does not distinguish between two trim levels of the same model without the manufacturer database.
What is the difference between trim level and engine?
The engine (for example, 1.2 PureTech 130) describes the motor. The trim level (for example, Allure or GT) describes the equipment level. Both pieces of information appear in a complete identification report.
How to verify the trim level advertised by a seller?
An identification report establishes the trim level and equipment actually fitted at the factory. A discrepancy between the advertisement and the report provides a factual argument for renegotiation.
Does the VIN provide more information than the registration number?
The VIN and registration number lead to the same report: the registration number serves as an entry point to retrieve the VIN. The 17-character structure is explained in the article decoding the VIN, and the process using the VIN in finding the trim level with the VIN.
Identification Examples
| Vehicle | Identified Trim Level |
|---|---|
| Citroën C3 | Exclusive (2010-2016) |
| Peugeot 208 | GT Line (2019-2023) |
| Peugeot 308 | Allure (2013-2021) |
Each identification retrieves the exact trim level recorded by the manufacturer, even when multiple generations of the same model share trim levels with the same name.
Additional illustration
