VIN is short for Vehicle Identification Number. In this article, we provide some clarity on what a VIN is, how you can do a VIN # lookup, and what information you can obtain by decoding it. If you own a vehicle or a motorcycle you have probably heard of the term 'VIN.' Although a car's VIN provides important information, many people may not exactly be sure what this acronym stands for or when they are actually supposed to make use of it.