How to use the VIN Decoder & VIN Check
- Enter the VIN – 17 characters – letters I, O and Q are never used.
- See the car – Specs, recalls and the right history checks for your country.
- Mark & download – Tap panels on the diagram and save a PNG or PDF report.
About VIN Decoder & VIN Check
Type or paste a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to check that it is valid (length, allowed letters and the check digit) and decode it. For cars built for North America the free NHTSA vPIC database returns make, model, model year, trim, body style, engine, fuel, drive type, transmission and the plant where the car was built, and we list open safety recalls for that make, model and year. For VINs from Korea, Europe, Japan and elsewhere we still decode the country, the manufacturer and the possible model years from the VIN itself. Accident, mileage and ownership history are only held in paid or official databases, so we never invent them – instead we link to the official services for your country. Mark scratches, repairs and replaced panels on the car diagram and download a PNG or PDF report.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the VIN?
On the lower corner of the windscreen on the driver's side, on the sticker in the driver's door frame, and on the registration document and insurance papers.
Does this show accidents or mileage?
No. Accident, mileage and ownership history are kept by insurers, registries and paid services. We show what the VIN itself and NHTSA say, and link to official history checks for your country.
Does it work for cars outside the USA?
Yes for the basics: country, manufacturer and model year come from the VIN. Full specs and recalls come from NHTSA and are most complete for cars sold in the USA and Canada.
What is the check digit?
The 9th character. It is calculated from the other 16 so typos can be caught. It is required in North America and China; many European and Korean domestic VINs do not use it.
Is my VIN stored?
No. The lookup is passed to NHTSA without your IP address and kept only briefly in memory to answer repeat lookups faster.
Is the VIN Decoder & VIN Check free?
Yes, completely free with no signup and no daily limit.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It works in any modern browser on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac.
Related tools
Missing a tool or feature? Suggest a tool · Report a problem