You've seen it on your registration papers, you've seen it on your insurance documents, and you've seen it on your title-but what does 2FMZU62E02ZB78590 mean? The short answer is-it's your Vehicle Identification Number or "VIN." Read further for the more detailed explanation of what a VIN is. A VIN number is a 17-character alphanumeric identifier or a manufacturer's serial number. Each character in the VIN number has a significant meaning. Together, they create a number that tells everything about the vehicle and its unique history.

Every major city has its own public transportation system-some are flawless, while others leave a lot to be desired. With so many buses, trains, and taxis in existence today one would think that most people would take a pass on owning a car and use their local transportation system. Not so. Statistics show that the car is still the most popular form of transportation in America today and it is an absolute necessity in many suburbs, rural areas and small towns. While most people would prefer a brand new car over a used one, not everyone can afford a brand new car. Because of this, the used car business is multi-billion dollar a year industry-but so is the automobile repair business.

There are literally millions of cars on the road today with thousands of different makes and models tooling around the streets and highways of America. While cars may come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors, many cars look exactly alike, the truth is-no two vehicles are exactly alike. The one thing that all cars in America have in common is the very thing that makes them so different from one another. It's the Vehicle Identification Number or "VIN number" that will ultimately tell the major differences between two vehicles that may look alike to the untrained eye. Each VIN number tells a story, but many decades ago the VIN number served only one simple purpose.

If you have ever been in a car accident, you know the feeling of your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping even if you don't have any injuries. It is difficult to think clearly about the event and the things you need to do immediately following the collision. Below is a checklist of the important items you should document to ensure that the claims process is handled as quickly and smoothly as possible. Feel free to print out this page or jot the items below and keep it in your glove compartment-we hope you will never need it.

Since around 1980, the standard for VIN numbers has been a 17 digit alphanumeric code that represents a vehicle's country or origin, manufacturer, manufacturing division, vehicle description, and accuracy of VIN, model year, assembly plant and serial number. But what were VIN numbers like before 1980? One of the major differences between then and now is that it was not mandatory for the VIN numbers of yesterday to include 17 characters. Most were simply serial numbers that represented the make, model, and year of the vehicle, while others went the extra mile to include characters to correspond with assembly plant and type of engine.

Before looking into discounts, make sure you do a thorough job comparison shopping. Get at least three quotes from three different companies because rates vary greatly from insurer to insurer. Be sure the policies for which you are getting quotes have the same deductibles and the same terms so you can accurately compare rates. Most auto insurance companies offer discounts to their drivers under certain conditions. To get the most bang for less bucks, go through the following items on the checklist below to see if you qualify for one or more discounts!