“What trim is my car?” is a question that comes up whenever you want to buy specific parts for your vehicle or you are just curious. Many people even mix up models with trims and use the words interchangeably.
However, the difference is that models are types of a particular brand, and trims are different kinds of models of the same brand. We’ll discuss how to tell the trim of a brand through various means.
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How to Tell the Trim of Your Car?
To tell the trim of your car, first look into the car manual, especially the first few pages and you might find it there. Also, you can check the title or registration of the vehicle or check the exterior for unique emblems. Another place to look is the glove box.
Contact the Car’s Manual
The first place you should always check the car trim is the manual. The manual contains every information you need to know about the car – from gas consumption to replacing the wheel bearings. Thus, the manual should have the trim level of your car and the model. Some manuals are quite bulky, especially if the car is complex; therefore, finding the trim can be quite challenging.
However, here are a few places to check. Flip to the “Specifications” or “Technical Specifications” section of the manual and look for any information that gives details of your car. Look up details such as the transmission type, the type and size of the engine, the car’s model name and the available features. Some car trim levels are designated by abbreviations such as CV, LXR, RT, GT, etc.
Thus, look out for such abbreviations, especially when they are connected to the model of the car. If you still can’t find the trim, then call the manufacturers. They might be able to direct you to where you can find the trim in the manual.
Check the Car’s Title or Registration
Another great place to see the trim of your vehicle is the title or registration. These documents contain details about the car that help the authorities to identify and retrieve it in the case of theft. They contain the model of the car, the year, VIN number, name and address of the owner, whether it’s been in an accident, etc. You can check the “Vehicle Description” section for these details and your car’s trim.
Look out for abbreviations or codes next to the car model and use the “Key/Legend” nearby to decode them to determine the trim. For example, if you use a Toyota Corolla, you might find “Toyota Corolla LE” in the “Vehicle Description” section. Now, the word “Toyota” is the make of the car, followed by “Corolla,” which designates the model. The “LE”, which is the trim level, can only be decoded if you use the “Key/Legend” found in the documents.
According to the key, LE stands for Luxury Edition, and this differentiates it from the XLE trim, which is the Executive Luxury Edition.
Check the Car’s Exterior
If you can’t find the registration or title and don’t have the time to look for it, check the vehicle’s exterior. Some trim levels feature unique badges that can easily be identified. Therefore, look for such emblems or badges on the front grille, sides or the trunk of the car. The badges may contain abbreviated letters that spell out the trim level of the car, such as SE, LXR, or BT.
Also, look for specific features of the car to help you identify the trim. One such feature that distinguishes the trim levels of various car models is the front grille. A few companies that use the front grille to differentiate trim levels have different grille designs. Usually, higher trim levels have more intricate designs, while lower ones have basic designs.
You can also check the design of the wheels to help you tell what trim it is. The wheels of higher trim levels come with bigger and better designs as compared to lower trims. However, note that you’ll still need to check for the name of the trim, even after observing these features. There are several ways to know the name of the trim, including asking mechanics or drivers who own similar vehicles.
Inspect the Car’s Interior
Another great place
to determine the trim of your vehicle is to check the interior. Look around the dashboard and console and compare it with the features of other trim levels. As a general rule, upscale trims have more sophisticated dashboards and consoles than lower trim levels. The same can be said of the infotainment system in different trim levels.
The upholstery and seats of a vehicle can give its trim level away. Generally, cars that have leather upholstery, ergonomic car seats, better finishing, etc., are of luxurious trims. Manufacturers produce these vehicles to target the affluent in society by promising comfort and better safety.
You can also observe the interior accents of the car to know which trim level it belongs to. For example, if your car has wood designs, chrome pieces, or aluminum features, it probably is in a higher trim level. Check for logos and unique designs on the car seats, floor mats, or the steering wheel. Interestingly, the cargo space of the car can also tell the trim level as well.
Check the VIN for Possible Clues
Reading the VIN
helps you to decode a lot of information about the vehicle, and this includes the trim level. The VIN, which stands for Vehicle Identification Number, is a unique number that differentiates vehicles. It is usually located on the windshield on the left side (driver’s side) or in the registration documents. The VIN has 17 characters, which indicate the model, manufacturer, type of engine and trim level, but these are not readily understood; you need to decode them.
The easiest way to decode the VIN is by using many of the numerous VIN decoding apps on the internet. However, VIN decoder apps may be fraudulent and can give inaccurate information, just like any other information on the internet. Thus, you can follow the steps to help decode your car’s VIN on your own. You can also look up the vehicle trim level list of your car on the internet.
Identify characters in the VIN that correspond to trim levels. For example, the eighth character in a VIN can designate car trims. However, note that this varies from one manufacturer to the other. The best is to contact your car’s manufacturer to help you interpret your car’s VIN and identify its trim level.
Visit the Dealership or the Manufacturer’s website
If all else fails, visit the car dealership or any authorized service center and speak to the staff there. They may have documents that spell out the features of your vehicle, including the model and trim level. Remember to take the car’s registration along to help them identify the car’s trim because some trims are very similar and have minute differences. Thus, it is difficult to tell them apart by merely observing their physical attributes.
You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to check the trim of your car. Take a detailed look at the various pictures of the cars on display and compare them to your vehicle. This process is quite tedious and time-consuming, especially if your car’s model has a lot of trims. However, some websites have a box where you can enter your car’s details, and the trim would be provided.
Ask Online Forums for Answers
Many car brands have online forums that discuss issues related to that specific manufacturer. Thus, you can ask them to help you to identify your vehicle’s trim.
You’ll need to take pictures of your vehicle and include detailed features to help users identify it. However, beware that most forums are not moderated by representatives from the car brands; therefore, their information may be inaccurate.
What Are Some of the Common Trim Designations?
Some of the common trim designations are Base, LX, EX, SE, Sporting, Touring, XLT, XLE, Limited and GT. Others are TRD, AMG, RS, Platinum, Premium and SLE. However, these abbreviations differ depending on the manufacturer. Thus, consider them a general rule of thumb.
The Common Trim Abbreviations and Meanings
The Base model is usually the first trim level and doesn’t come with any abbreviations. It only carries the name of the brand and model and has all the core features of the model. However, a few manufacturers, such as Honda, use the letters LX (luxury) as a designation for its basic trim level. Next is EX (extra), which indicates a trim that is a level above the Base trim, often used by Honda.
The SE, which stands for Sports Edition, indicates a sporty trim and is an upgrade of the LX and EX trims in many car brands. Instead of SE, other brands, such as Dodge and Chevrolet, use GT (Gran Turismo) to indicate their sporty models. Companies like Ford use XLT, which means Extra Luxurious Truck, to designate higher trim level SUVs and trucks. There’s also the Special Luxury Edition (SLE), which also indicates higher trim levels.
Mercedes Benz uses AMG for its high-performance road cars, while Toyota designates its high-performance and off-road models TRD (Toyota Road Development). Chevy also brands its sportier models RS (Rally Sport). Meanwhile, some brands don’t use abbreviations but full words to indicate various model trim levels. For example, the words “Premium” and “Platinum” indicate the highest trim level in most car brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Car Companies Have Different Trims?
Car companies have different trims because they want to produce vehicles that’ll meet consumer demands and pockets. Those who like to travel in style can opt for the Luxury or Premium trims, while those who are on a budget can afford the Basic trims.
Those who prefer cars that can travel rough roads can purchase the offroad, and consumers who enjoy sports vehicles can enjoy the Sports Edition trim.
Conclusion
To draw the curtains, we’ve discussed how to know the trim of your car and what the popular trim abbreviations mean.
Here’s a recap of all that we’ve highlighted in this article:
- One way to tell the trim of your vehicle is by going through the car manual and checking the “Specifications” or “Technical Specifications” section.
- Another way is to observe the exterior of your vehicle to identify branded letters, logos, emblems and badges that can give you a clue to the trim level.
- Checking the seats, upholstery and general interior decor of your vehicle can also help you identify the trim level.
- You can also check the VIN, but that is a bit complicated because you’ll need to decode the VIN before you can tell the trim level.
- However, visiting the website of the car company or a dealership is straightforward, as they can tell you the car’s trim level pretty quickly.
Asking questions and providing pictures of your vehicles on online forums or browsing the internet for car trim examples can also help identify the trim of your car. Otherwise, use apps that can tell your car’s trim simply by entering the VIN and other required details.
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