In addition to the destructible label and glass VIN etching, there is a third layer of identification used especially on imported vehicles: the VIN etching mask, as provided for in CONTRAN Resolution No. 691/88.
What is the VIN etching mask?
It is a template used to etch the last eight digits of the chassis number directly onto vehicle components, such as windows, ensuring the mandatory marking of the VIN (vehicle identification number) even on parts that do not originally have this marking from the factory.
Why does this requirement exist?
Imported vehicles do not always arrive in Brazil with the standardized identification required by national regulations. Etching the last digits of the chassis number on key vehicle components—such as the windows—closes this gap, ensuring consistent identification throughout the car's structure, not just on the original label or plate.
Difference between VIN etching and destructible labels
They are complementary solutions, not replacements:
- A destructible label (ETA), required by Resolution 968/2022, is self-adhesive, fragments when removed, and carries the complete VIS with additional security elements.
- A VIN etching mask, as stipulated in Resolution 691/88, is used to physically mark — not stick on — the last digits of the chassis number onto vehicle components, as a second layer of permanent identification.
Who needs this solution?
Importers and distributors of vehicles that bring in units without complete factory chassis markings are the main stakeholders in this process, as it enables the regularization of the identification required for registration and sale in Brazil.
A complete identification chain
Destructible label, glass VIN etching, and chassis VIN etching together form a redundant identification chain: if one layer fails or is tampered with, the others still preserve the vehicle's traceability. This is the package that VIN Brasil offers to automakers and importers seeking full compliance with Brazilian automotive regulations.