# Hidden 4th VIN on cars? Law & Order

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hidden-4th-vin-on-cars-law-order/684458>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 24, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hidden-4th-vin-on-cars-law-order/684458 "2014-03-24T17:03:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hidden-4th-vin-on-cars-law-order/684458/21 "2014-03-25T05:49:08Z")

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> [@N9IWP](#):
>
> Don’t know the answer to that, but when I got HIN (Hull Identification Number) for my home made kayak I was told to put one plate at the right (port) rear, and hide the other.
> 
> Brian

Just a nitpick:

Left, 4 letters, Port.

Right, more than 4 letters, Starboard.

Easy to remember this way for me. 🆒

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**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hidden-4th-vin-on-cars-law-order/684458/22 "2014-03-25T07:16:54Z")

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> [@GusNSpot](#):
>
> Just a nitpick:
> 
> Left, 4 letters, Port.
> 
> Right, more than 4 letters, Starboard.
> 
> Easy to remember this way for me. 🆒

This also works for running lights - the smaller word (red) is on port, the longer (green) is on starboard.  
All of the short word go to the left, longer ones to the right.

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