Enter a 17-character VIN to see what the number itself reveals: the manufacturer, the model year and where the car was built. Free, with no registration.
Search the full list of makes we cover.
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-character code that identifies one specific vehicle. Cars built since 1981 use this standard format, and every part of the code has a meaning.
Characters 1 to 3. Shows who built the vehicle and in which region.
Characters 4 to 8. Describes the model, body type and engine. The exact meaning is set by each manufacturer.
Character 9. A control value that helps confirm the VIN is valid. It is used mainly in North America.
Character 10. A code for the model year of the vehicle.
Character 11. Identifies the plant where the vehicle was assembled.
Characters 12 to 17. The production sequence number of this vehicle.
Three quick steps, no account needed.
Type the 17-character VIN from the car, the registration documents or the listing.
The structure of the VIN is checked and its parts are read, such as the manufacturer prefix and the model year.
You get the factory basics for free. For accident, mileage and theft records you can order a full report.
A VIN does not contain accident, mileage, theft or ownership records. Those come from separate databases.
Confirm the car is what the seller says it is: the make, the model year and where it was built.
Make sure the details in your listing match the VIN, so buyers have no reason to doubt it.
Check the factory details before you arrange transport or paperwork across borders.
Verify the vehicle details before you insure a car or file a claim.
The decoder reads the VIN itself. A full report searches databases for the history behind it.
Contents depend on the vehicle and the data available in each market.
Guides and tools that help you judge a car before you pay.
Damage, mileage, theft and ownership records in one place.
Learn moreCompare recorded mileage readings over time.
Learn moreSee theft and recovery records before money changes hands.
Learn moreRecorded damage events, affected areas and estimated repair costs.
Learn moreRecorded ownership changes and how the car was used.
Learn morePractical tips for checking a used car before you buy.
Learn moreYes. Decoding the basic factory data from a VIN is free and needs no registration.
Typically the make, the model year and the country of manufacture, read from the structure of the VIN. How much more it can show depends on the manufacturer and the VIN.
A VIN is a unique 17-character code assigned to a single vehicle. Road vehicles built since 1981 follow the same standard format.
Usually on the dashboard near the windshield, on the driver's door frame, and in the registration document or insurance papers.
No. Accident, mileage, theft and ownership records are not stored in the VIN itself. They come from separate databases and are part of a full vehicle history report.
The VIN format is international, so cars from many countries can be decoded. The level of detail depends on the manufacturer and the market.
Vehicles built before 1981 often have shorter VINs in a different format, and these usually cannot be decoded in the standard way.
They are left out so they cannot be mistaken for the numbers 1 and 0.
Enter the 17-character VIN and see the factory basics in seconds.