How to find your item serial number, IMEI, vehicle identification number

Find the IMEI of your phone
This is also applicable to tablet with physical SIM card slot
You can find the 15-character IMEI:
  • Tap All Apps in the Favorites tray on any Home screen and > Settings > About, About phone, About tablet, or About Device > Status or Phone identity
  • On an iPhone or iPad Go to Settings > General > About > IMEI.
  • Dial *#06#
  • Check the SIM card tray
  • Check the device box
  • Check the back of your device
Find the CSSN/serial number of your tablet
If your tablet have a physical SIM card slot, it has an IMEI. Use the instructions above to find the IMEI.
  • Tap All Apps in the Favorites tray on any Home screen and > Settings > About phone, About tablet, or About Device > Serial number
  • On an iPad Go to Settings > General > About > IMEI or serial number.
  • Check the serial number on the back of your device
  • Check the CSSN number on the device box
  • Note that the CSSN and the serial number are the same 8-character number.
Find the serial number of your Windows PC
Windows doesn’t display your PC’s serial number anywhere in its interface, and neither do popular system information tools. But you can often find a PC’s serial number with a simple command, a peek in your BIOS, or on the hardware itself.
Run the WMIC Command
  • Open a Command Prompt window to get started. On Windows 10 or 8, right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt. On Windows 7, press Windows + R, type cmd into the Run dialog, and then press Enter.
  • At the Command Prompt, type the following command and then press Enter:

    wmic bios get serialnumber

    You’ll see the computer’s serial number displayed beneath the text “SerialNumber”. This command uses the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool to pull the system’s serial number from its BIOS.
    If you don’t see your PC’s serial number, blame your PC’s manufacturer. The number will only appear here if the PC manufacturer saved it to your computer’s BIOS or UEFI firmware. PC manufacturers don’t always fill in the number properly. In that case, you’ll see something like “0” or “To be filled by O.E.M.” instead of an actual serial number.
Check the BIOS
You may also be able to find the serial number in the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings screen. This technique won’t get you a serial number if the wmic command didn’t, since the command pulls the serial number from the BIOS. However, checking the BIOS could be helpful if you can’t actually sign into Windows to run the wmic command.
  • There’s a different process for accessing the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings screen on each PC. Either way, you’ll have to restart your PC.
  • To access your BIOS, you’ll need to press a key during the boot-up process. This key is often displayed during the boot process with a message Press F2 to access BIOS, Press <DEL> to enter setup, or something similar. Common keys you may need to press include Delete, F1, F2, and Escape.
  • Access the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings screen and look around for a Serial Number somewhere on a system information screen. It’ll be in a different place on different PCs, but you can usually find it somewhere on the Main or System screen.
Find the Serial Number On the PC’s Hardware, Box, or Elsewhere
If you don’t see a serial number after running the wmic command or if you just can’t turn the PC on or don’t have access to it, there are several other places you might find the serial number:
  • If you have a laptop, flip it over. On some laptops, you’ll see the number on a sticker. On others, you’ll see the number printed directly on the metal or plastic the laptop is made from. If your laptop has a removable battery, the serial number is sometimes on a sticker inside the battery compartment, under the battery.
  • If you have a desktop PC, look at the back, top, or side of the case for some sort of sticker. The sticker may also be on a sticker inside the case, so you might have to open it up.
  • If you can’t find the serial number on the PC itself, look online for instructions specific to your model. The manufacturer’s website should tell you exactly where to look.
  • If you registered your PC with the manufacturer or received warranty service, the serial number should be included in the registration documentation, warranty service receipt, or email confirmation for the service.
  • If you still have the original product box, it usually has the serial number printed on it, often on the same sticker with the bar code.
Find the serial number of your Apple MacBook, iMac
  • Choose About This Mac from the Apple menu () in the upper-left corner of your screen. About This Mac shows an overview of your Mac, including the serial number, its model name, the name and version of its operating system.
  • If you see an About This Macwithout the serial number displayed, double-click the version number beneath OS X to reveal the serial number.
  • Open the System Information (or System Profiler) app from the Utilities folder of your Applications folder, or click the System Info (or More Info) button in About This Mac. Select Hardware on the left side of the window, then find the model name and serial number on the right.
  • If you can't use About This Mac or System Information because your Mac doesn't finish starting up, look for a serial number or model name on the outside of your Mac, or on its original packaging, receipt, or invoice. If necessary, get help from an Apple service provider near you.
Find the VIN of your car, bus and truck
A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is like your car’s fingerprint. Every car should have a unique number that can be used to identify it. Check for the VIN at various places on the car. You can also find the VIN on many car documents, such as the title or registration. Because thieves will tamper with the VIN label, you should carefully inspect it before buying a used car.
To check if the VIN label has not been tampered with, the VIN will either be printed on a plate or on a label. Either should be securely fastened to the dashboard. There also shouldn’t be any scratches on the VIN label or on the surrounding area, such as the windshield or dashboard. Also look for signs that the windshield may have been removed in order to pull off the VIN plate. For example, there may be loose molding or excessive glue on the windshield.
  • Check the dashboard. Most VIN plates appear on the lower left-hand side of the dashboard. Sit in the driver’s seat and look on the dashboard in front of the steering wheel. Alternately, you might be able to see the VIN easier by standing outside the vehicle and looking through the windshield.
    The VIN should have 17 characters if the car was manufactured after 1981. Vehicles manufactured before that date had VINs from 11 to 17 characters. A typical VIN might read 1HGBM22JXMN109186.
  • Look in front of the engine block. Pop open the hood and check the front of the engine. Some manufacturers affix a body plate that contains the VIN or a partial VIN (typically the last eight characters). This plate should be attached to the firewall inside the engine compartment.
  • Check the front of the car frame. Sometimes, the VIN will appear on the car frame, near the windshield washer container. You should crouch down in front of the car on the driver’s side and check.
  • Pick up the spare tire. The VIN sometimes appears underneath the spare tire, which is usually in the trunk. Pick up the tire to check.
  • Check the driver-side door. The VIN should also appear on the Federal Safety Certification Label which is in all new cars. This label should appear on the driver’s side door in the following places:
    On the driver-side doorpost - With the door open, check the spot where the door latches. It should be near the seatbelt return.
    Inside the driver-side doorjamb - Open the door and look straight ahead. The VIN should be inside the doorjamb, where the mirror is located when the door is shut.
  • Peek in the rear wheel well. Crouch down beside the car, near the rear wheel on the driver’s side. Look up into the well, above the tire. The VIN might be located there, inside the wheel well.
  • Find the VIN on Paperwork or vehicle documents. You can find the VIN on the vehicle documents, it will appear in different parts of the documents, but should be on the front of the title, registration document/card, and insurance documents.
    The VIN should also appear in the owner’s manual that came with the car. If the car is new, you should have the manual. However, you might not have it if you bought a used car.
  • Call the dealership or manufacturer. Call if you’ve looked everywhere but couldn’t find the VIN. Give them the make and model of your car and ask where the VIN is located. They should be able to help.
  • Have a mechanic inspect the car. A mechanic might be able to spot whether the car is a fake better than you can. For example, the mechanic can easily find the VINs on a car and make sure they are consistent. The mechanic might also be able to tell if the VIN plate or label has been tampered with. If you are buying a used car, always insist on taking it to a mechanic before you make an offer to buy the vehicle.
Find the VIN of your motorcycle and bicycle
  • Check the steering neck. The VIN location is generally the same for motorcycles and dirt bikes - on the steering neck. Though some are located on the motor near the bottom of the cylinders. Turn the handlebars to the left and look on the right side of the frame where the steering head goes through the frame. It's etched on the metal vertically.
  • Check the frame. The VIN is can also be found on the frame relatively plain site. Other areas to locate the VIN for your motorcycle or bicycle include down through the slit in the plastic hood. You'll probably need a flashlight but it'll be located on the cross beam connecting the front struts.
  • Find the VIN on Paperwork or vehicle documents. You can find the VIN on the vehicle documents, it will appear in different parts of the documents, but should be on the front of the title, registration document/card, and insurance documents.
    The VIN should also appear in the owner’s manual that came with the motorcycle or bicycle. If the motorcycle or bicycle is new, you should have the manual. However, you might not have it if you bought a used motorcycle or bicycle.
  • Call the dealership or manufacturer. Call if you’ve looked everywhere but couldn’t find the VIN. Give them the make and model of your motorcycle or bicycle and ask where the VIN is located. They should be able to help.