VIN Decoder & Lookup

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique code (usually printed in a single line) assigned to every vehicle at its manufacture. It's a 17-character string of letters and numbers without spaces. To avoid confusion, the VIN doesn't include the letters Q (q), I (i), and O (o) — those look very similar to numbers 0 and 1.
The VIN has several sections, each telling a specific "story" about the vehicle. For example, the make and model of the vehicle are encoded in one section, the country and factory of manufacture, and the year in another.

Many data registries use VINs to record details of the vehicle's history, so there are many situations when you want to check a vehicle's VIN. If you're interested in buying a used car, always do a VIN lookup to get the vehicle history report and find records of any accidents it's been involved in, any repairs it's been through, and the ownership history. The VIN decoder will tell you if the manufacturer has ever recalled the vehicle or parts and whether those repairs were made. And finally, law enforcement agencies do a VIN check to identify vehicles that have been stolen.

On most passenger cars, you can locate the VIN on the driver's side of the dashboard. It's easier to see it if you stand outside the car and look through the windshield. Another place is the driver's side door pillar. To locate it, open the driver's door and look for it around the area where the door latches to the car. On a motorcycle, the VIN is usually found on the steering neck below the handlebars (but sometimes it's printed on the motor or the frame near it.) To see the VIN on a semitrailer, look at the front part on the left side. And remember - you can always look it up on your vehicle's title or liability insurance documents.

Most of the time, you'll need to perform a VIN lookup when purchasing a used vehicle. To decode the VIN of the car, truck, or motorcycle, enter it in the field above to receive an instant report on its manufacturer, brand, make, model, body style, engine size, assembly plant, and model year. This information is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) based on the data submitted by the manufacturers.
Note: the VIN decoder/lookup is designed for use with vehicles manufactured after 1981. If your vehicle was made before 1981, its VIN will likely only contain 11 characters, not 17.