How Honda Civic chassis codes help you identify your car

The automaker issues a specific chassis code for every model produced. It is through this code, you can identify the specifics, like the size of the engine, and the body type of the car, etc. Usually, the chassis code can be obtained from the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). In this article, we will elaborate on Honda Civic chassis codes.

But first let’s know what a chassis is and what is VIN?

What is the chassis of a car

The chassis of the car is the frame that bears the load of the car. It includes the engine, wheels, suspension system, and axle etc. If you own a car, you should be familiar with the chassis of your car. It helps you to maintain your car, to know what part might be causing problems, to know what parts are covered by a warranty or an extended warranty clearly.

The chassis is the frame of the car

The frame on which every other part is attached to – from the engine to the transmission components – is called chassis. Generally, the main frame is made of carbon steel. Nowadays special Aluminum alloys are being used to manufacture the car’s chassis, as they are lighter in weight, and cost-effective.

It is important to note that the seat belts, the seats, the windshield, the doors, the hood and bonnet, the top of the car and all of the electronic gadgets in a car like stereo are not parts of the chassis.

If you only had the chassis of a car, you would not know about the maker and the model of the car.  That’s why every chassis has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) stamped on it. The VIN will tell you whether it’s a Honda Civic chassis or not. All Honda Civic chassis codes are stamped on the chassis of the models for identification.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) consists of 17 alpha-numeric characters that are usually stamped into the chassis of every car. The VIN serves as an identification code for a car, and knowing this number is absolutely necessary for the car owners, when registering the car in an owner’s name. VIN is sometimes called the body number of the car. Every car has a unique VIN.

The first digit of the VIN represents the place where the car was manufactured. The second and third digits indicate the manufacturer of the car. The next four digits depict the car’s brand, engine type, and fuel type used in the car. The ninth digit represents the security code. The tenth digit highlights the year when the car was manufactured. The eleventh digit represents the plant where the car was manufactured. The last six digits represent a unique serial number of the vehicle.

VINs are designated by the manufacturer’s assembly lines. This number is stamped on the chassis of every vehicle. It maintains a fixed format and sequence for specific countries. For instance, cars manufactured in any European country will have a VIN like this: ISO-377, with exactly 17 characters.

The importance of VIN

All manufacturers and vehicle registration companies have databases meant to record these numbers. For validation and identification, all they have to do is type in the VIN and all relevant information about the car will be presented.

What information does this number hold

If you want to know about the Honda Civic chassis codes, let us tell you that the VIN depicts the type of car, the engine it has, whether it is an automatic or manual mode and the accessories it has. It also depicts the year the car was manufactured.

The importance of chassis codes

In the United States, a car is identified by the year of a model, for instance, if a Honda Civic car was manufactured in 1999, it would be called a 99 Civic Type R. In other countries, like Japan, the same car would just be referred to as an EK9. EK9 is the chassis code designated by the manufacturer.

Let’s check out different Honda Civic chassis codes.

Honda Civic chassis codes

• The EF9 is a 1988-91 Civic Hatchback model
• The EG6 is a 1992-95 Civic Hatchback model
• The EK4 is a 1996 Civic SiR Hatchback model
• The EK9 is a 1996 Civic Type-R Hatchback model
• The EM1 is a 1999 Civic Si Coupe (USDM) model
• The EP3 is a 2001-06 Civic Type-R Hatchback model

Conclusion

We have mentioned just a few Honda Civic chassis codes. Being an owner of a car, you must know the chassis code of your car. If the chassis code/VIN of the car is not visible, or contradict each other, you must contact the car dealer.