Dirt Bike VIN Check (Where is the Vehicle Identification Number and How to Use it)

Just like street motorcycles and other vehicles, dirt bikes have a VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number. 

Dirt Bike VIN Check

What is a Dirt Bike VIN?

A dirt bike’s VIN is a unique set of numbers and letters that include information about:

• The year, make, and model of the dirt bike.
• The engine and transmission details. 
• Manufacturer information. 
• Location of manufacturer. 
• Specs of the bike. 
• Unique identifiers. 

For dirt bikes produced after 1981, the VIN will be a 17 digit code the conforms to a standard format. 

The VIN is a useful piece of information that can be used to track important event in a dirt bikes history, including:

• Owner history. 
• Recalls.
• Sale data.
• Title and registration details. 
• Major accidents and insurance claims. 
• Theft records. 

If you’re trying to make your off-road dirt bike street legal, the state DMV will require a VIN inspection and safety inspection. 

Where is the VIN on a Dirt Bike?

The VIN on a dirt bike is often found in the same location as a street motorcycle. 

The most common places to find a dirt bike VIN, include:

• Stamped vertically onto the steering neck. 
• On a VIN plate stamped or fixed onto the steering neck. 
• Stamped onto the frame near the engine mount.
• Under the seat.

You can also typically find the dirt bike’s VIN on its ownership documents and paperwork, such as the:

• Dirt bike title or MCO.
• Dirt bike registration documents or off-road permits. 
• Insurance policy documents. 

You’ll also notice an engine VIN stamped onto one of the engine cases. Most states only need to VIN stamped to the frame for registration and title purposes. 

How to Decode a Dirt Bike VIN

You can use your dirt bike VIN to decode information about the bike. 

Use our free motorcycle VIN decoder to find information including: 

• The year, make, and model of the bike. 
• The Series name. 
• The manufacturer name and location. 
• The bike type and class.
• The GVWR.
• Engine details including:
  • Number of cylinders.
  • Displacement.
  • Horsepower.

A dirt bike VIN decoder can be useful when:

• Researching used dirt bikes for sale. 
• Selling your dirt bike. 
• Looking for replacement and aftermarket parts. 

How to Check if a Dirt Bike is Stolen

The dirt bike’s VIN can also be useful to protect yourself from unknowingly purchasing a stolen bike. 

If the theft has been reported, the stolen dirt bike VIN may show up in a number of government databases. 

If the seller doesn’t have any ownership documents or the bike’s history sounds sketchy, it’s worth checking if it may be stolen. 

Some of your options include:

• Contact your local police department or highway patrol. 
• Checking the VIN through the NICB VIN check tool.
• Ordering a NMVTIS vehicle history report. 

It should be noted, due to the variety of registration and title laws for off-road dirt bikes by state, a stolen bike may or may not show up in the database. 

Always do your due diligence to protect yourself when buying a used bike. If something sounds fishy or too good to be true, it probably is.