VIN decoder
Enter a full 17-character VIN and look it up in NHTSA's vPIC database.
Output · 0 VINs
Live APIEnter a VIN, then select Decode VIN.
- Source
- NHTSA
- Input
- 17 characters
Related tools
Guides
This VIN decoder sends a 17-character VIN to NHTSA's vPIC service and shows what comes back. That can be the make, model, model year, vehicle type, body, engine size, fuel, transmission, drive type, series, trim, and the city and country of the plant. How much you get depends on what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA, so some VINs come back thin.
How to use the VIN decoder
- Type all 17 characters into the Vehicle identification number box. You'll usually find the VIN at the base of the windshield, on the driver's door jamb, or on the registration.
- VINs never contain I, O or Q, so if you see one, it's almost certainly a 1, 0 or 0.
- Press Decode VIN.
- Read the fields NHTSA returned. Empty ones are left out.
What the decoder returns
Each result has a badge. Valid VIN means NHTSA decoded it with no error codes. Decode warning means NHTSA flagged something, such as a check digit that doesn't match, and its message is shown under the VIN. You can still get partial details with a warning.
Why a VIN returns little
The decode only knows what the manufacturer reported to NHTSA. Vehicles from before 1981, when the 17-character format became standard, and models never sold in the US often come back with gaps. That says more about the database than about the VIN.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the decode come from?
NHTSA's vPIC (Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing) API, through its DecodeVinValues endpoint.
Does it work for every vehicle?
No. It works best for vehicles built for the US market from 1981 on. Coverage depends on what each manufacturer submitted.
Is my VIN stored?
Your VIN goes through our server to NHTSA. The server caches NHTSA's answer for up to seven days so repeat lookups are faster. A VIN identifies a vehicle, not its owner, and the decode shows no owner or history details.
Built and maintained by Bipul Kumar. Found a wrong number or a broken result? Tell me and I'll fix it.