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Holden Ss VIN Number
Use this guide to find the VIN on your Holden Ss, understand what it tells you, and start the right parts enquiry for your exact vehicle.
The SS is the V8-powered performance flagship of the Holden Commodore range, sitting above the Berlina and Calais on equipment focus but tuned for outright pace rather than luxury. It ran across virtually every Commodore series from the VN SS of 1988 through the VT, VX, VY and VZ, then the VE and VF, spawning the sportier SS-V grade and a matching SS Ute, and remained a mainstay of Australian muscle motoring until the local range ended.
Where to find your Holden VIN
On most Holdens the 17-character VIN can be found in several places — check whichever is easiest to read:
- At the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, visible from outside the car.
- Stamped into the floor of the driver's or front-passenger footwell, under the carpet or trim flap.
- On the compliance / identification plate in the driver's door opening or in the engine bay.
- On your registration papers and registration certificate.
A Holden VIN is 17 characters and never uses the letters I, O or Q. The 10th character is the model-year code; because the model year can run ahead of the build date, cross-check it against the build month and year on the compliance plate.
The compliance plate also lists paint, trim, engine and transmission codes. Those codes are what pin down an exact panel colour or interior match, so it helps to send them with your enquiry. Holdens built before 1988 may not carry a 17-character VIN at all — on those cars use the body / compliance plate and the chassis and engine numbers instead.
On this model
Identification on the SS follows the parent Commodore of the same series rather than any SS-specific scheme, so the first job is to confirm which series you have. On VT through VZ cars the build plate is located on the radiator support panel in the engine bay, while VE and VF cars carry it on the passenger-side front strut tower. Read the series and the option coding from that plate to verify the car is a genuine V8 SS rather than a rebadged or base model, and cross-check the engine and driveline. Having the plate details to hand lets a supplier match parts to the exact series and specification, which matters far more on the SS than on a base Commodore.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the VIN on a Holden Ss?
Check the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, the floor of the driver's or passenger footwell, the compliance plate in the door opening or engine bay, and your registration papers. The exact spot can vary by year and body style.
How long is a Holden VIN and what does it tell you?
A modern Holden VIN is 17 characters and never uses I, O or Q. It identifies the vehicle, and the 10th character is the model-year code — cross-check it against the build date on the compliance plate.
My older Holden does not seem to have a 17-character VIN. Why?
Holdens built before 1988 generally pre-date the 17-character VIN. Use the body / compliance plate and the chassis and engine numbers to identify the car instead.
Can I ask for parts once I have my VIN?
Yes. Send the VIN plus any paint, trim, engine and transmission codes from the compliance plate and we will check availability for your exact vehicle.
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