Free VIN decoder
Enter a 17-character VIN to see the year, make, model, trim, engine and where the car was built, straight from the official NHTSA database.
Source: NHTSA Product Information Catalog (vPIC). Shows how the car was built, not its title or accident history.
Get an offer for this car Known problems and recalls by modelWhat the 17 characters mean
Every car sold in the US since model year 1981 has a 17-character VIN in a format set by federal rule (49 CFR Part 565).
- 1–3, world manufacturer identifier: the country and the company that built the car.
- 4–8, vehicle descriptor: model, body, engine and restraint system.
- 9, check digit: a calculated digit that catches typos and fake VINs.
- 10, model year, and 11, assembly plant.
- 12–17, serial number of that individual car.
Selling a junk car? Buyers ask for the year, make and model, and some ask for the VIN to check the title. Decoding it first means the offer you get is based on the right car. See how to junk a car and the car title guide.
Questions people ask
- Where do I find my VIN?
- On the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield, on the driver door jamb sticker, and on your title, registration and insurance card.
- Is this VIN lookup really free?
- Yes. It uses the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public vPIC database. We don't ask for your name or email.
- Does a VIN decoder show accidents or title brands?
- No. A VIN decoder shows how the car was built. Title brands such as salvage or junk come from title history reports, which use the federal NMVTIS database.
- Why does my VIN not decode?
- Check for typos. VINs never use the letters I, O or Q, and cars built before 1981 used shorter, non-standard VINs that most decoders can't read.