Free VIN decoder
Read the build sheet from the VIN.
Year, make, model, engine, plant, and safety equipment from the VIN. Instant, and free.
Decode a VIN
A valid 17-character VIN opens the full record.
17
Characters, since 1981
Free
No account required
Build sheet
Year, make, model, and plant
Check digit
Caught before you continue
VIN structure
What each stretch of the VIN means
1–3
Who built it
World Manufacturer Identifier. Country and manufacturer.
4–8
What it is
Body, engine, restraint, and series codes. Each maker defines these.
9
Check digit
A math check. If it fails, the VIN was mistyped or altered.
10
Model year
One character. The same letter repeats every 30 years.
11
Plant
Which factory finished the vehicle.
12–17
Sequence
The unit’s place on that plant’s line.
What you get
The car as it was built
- Year, make, model, trim, and body style.
- Engine size, cylinders, horsepower, and fuel.
- Drive type and where the plant was.
- Air bags, belts, and the safety equipment on file.
- Recall campaigns listed for that year, make, and model.
What it is not
Not a history report
A decode will not tell you about crashes, flood titles, or how many people owned it. When you need that, run a vehicle history report. The VIN page links straight to the request, with the number already filled in.
Ordering an engine or transmission? Call (973) 917-3042 with the VIN. We match the build, not just the badge on the trunk.
Brands
We cover all the brands in the database
Ford
Chevrolet
Toyota
Honda
Nissan
Jeep
Ram
GMC
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Kia
BMW
Mercedes-Benz
Audi
Volkswagen
Lexus
Subaru
Dodge
ChryslerWhat is a VIN?+
A Vehicle Identification Number is the 17-character ID assigned to a car or light truck. Since 1981 the format has been standard, so the same positions mean the same kind of fact on a Ford or a Honda.
Where do I find it?+
Look through the windshield at the driver’s side of the dash, on the driver’s door jamb sticker, or on the title and registration. Those three should match.
Is this free?+
Yes. The decode is free. No account and no payment. A history report — accidents, title brands, owners — is a separate request.
What does the decode include?+
Year, make, model, trim, body, engine, drive type, plant, and the safety equipment on file.
What does it leave out?+
It does not show accidents, owners, odometer readings, or title brands. Those live in a vehicle history report. The check digit can catch a bad transcription. It cannot prove the VIN plate on the car is original.
Which vehicles does it cover?+
Cars and light trucks, with the fullest records for vehicles built for the U.S. market. A gray-market or very new model may come back with only part of the build sheet.
Do you keep the VIN I enter?+
The VIN is used to decode the build sheet and is not saved as an account or a mailing list. Don’t send a VIN you are not allowed to look up.
The result looks wrong. What now?+
Compare the VIN with the door sticker one character at a time. If the characters match and the build sheet still disagrees with the car, call us and we’ll look at it with you.