VIN check
The first characters of a VIN show where the manufacturer is registered. That matters for Romania, because where the car was built decides whether import duty is 0% or 10%.
First VIN character
| 1, 4, 5, 7F–70 | USA |
|---|---|
| 2 | Canada |
| 3 | Mexico |
| J | Japan |
| KL–KR | South Korea |
| W | Germany |
A VIN shows the manufacturer, not the exact factory. US-market Audi Q5s, for example, start with W but are built in Mexico. Before bidding we check the door label and the documents.