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Free VIN Decoder & Vehicle Identification Number Lookup

Enter a 17-digit VIN, hit Decode, and get factory specs and open recalls in seconds – free, no email required.

Try a sample VIN
  • Powered by official NHTSA & OEM data
  • Updated every 24 hours
  • Zero-cost – no email required

Instant VIN Lookup – How It Works

When you press Decode, our engine streams live data from NHTSA’s vPIC database and OEM technical bulletins. In under three seconds you’ll see build plant, engine code, safety recalls, and other key specs for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and semitrailers built since 1981 – entirely free, no signup.

Where to Find Your VIN

On most passenger vehicles the VIN sits at the base of the windshield on the driver’s-side dashboard. You’ll also find it on the driver’s-side door jamb, your registration card, and your proof-of-insurance slip. Motorcycles – steering neck below the bars. Semitrailers – left front of the trailer frame.

How many characters:
17 (digits and capital letters)
Where to find:
Dashboard on the driver's side
First digit stands for:
Country of manufacturer
Where to find a VIN number on a vehicle

VIN Decoder vs VIN Check – What’s the Difference?

VIN Decoder / VIN Finder gives you build specs and open recalls for the entire make-model-year – perfect for fast research.
VIN Check / VIN Assist digs deeper: title brands, odometer timeline, lien records, auction photos, and prior sale prices. Run it before buying any used vehicle.

Feature Free VIN Decoder Full History Report
Factory specs & build plant
Open safety recalls
Title brands & salvage history
Odometer timeline
Lien & theft records
Cost $0 Low one-time fee

Model-Year Codes 1980-2035

Every tenth character in a VIN reveals the model year. Use the table below to decode any vehicle from 1980 through 2035.

CodeYear CodeYear CodeYear CodeYear
A1980L1990Y2000A2010
B1981M199112001B2011
C1982N199222002C2012
D1983P199332003D2013
E1984R199442004E2014
F1985S199552005F2015
G1986T199662006G2016
H1987V199772007H2017
J1988W199882008J2018
K1989X199992009K2019
L2020M2021N2022P2023
R2024S2025T2026V2027
W2028X2029Y203012031
22032320334203452035

WMI Country & Manufacturer Codes

The first three characters – the World Manufacturer Identifier – pinpoint where and by whom the vehicle was built. Reference the continent-sorted table below to identify any WMI.

WMI Region Notes
A-H Africa AA-AH = South Africa
J-R Asia >J = Japan
KL-KR = South Korea
L = China
MA-ME = India
MF-MK = Indonesia
ML-MR = Thailand
MS = Myanmar
PA-PE = Philippines
PL-PR = Malaysia
RF-RG = Taiwan
S-Z Europe SA-SM = United Kingdom
SN-ST, W = Germany
SU-SZ = Poland
TA-TH = Switzerland
TJ-TP = Czech Republic
TR-TV = Hungary
TW = Portugal
VA-VE = Austria
VF-VR = France
VS-VW = Spain
VX-V2 = Yugoslavia
XL-XM = The Netherlands
XS-XW = USSR
X3-X0 = Russia
YA-YE = Belgium
YF-YK = Finland
YS-YW = Sweden
ZA-ZR = Italy
1-5 North America 1, 4, 5 = United States
2 = Canada
3 = Mexico
6-7 Oceania 6A-6W = Australia
7A-7E = New Zealand
8-0 South America 8A-8E = Argentina
8F-8J = Chile
8X-82 = Venezuela
9A-9E, 93-99 = Brazil
9F-9J = Colombia

VIN FAQs

Is the VIN check really free?

Yes – decoding factory specs and open recalls costs nothing. A paid Full History Report is optional if you need lien, odometer and title-brand data.

Can I decode a pre-1981 VIN?

Older VINs use 11–13 characters and weren’t standardised, so results may be limited. For best accuracy, request documentation from the seller.

What if my VIN shows an O or I?

The letters I, O and Q are never used in modern VINs. Double-check – it’s usually a zero or the number one.

How often is your data updated?

NHTSA vPIC and safety-recall feeds stream live; OEM bulletins refresh daily, so specs and recall status are always current.

Is personal data in a VIN report legal to show?

Yes. All personal identifiers are removed under DPPA and Canadian privacy rules. Reports reveal only vehicle-related facts.

About Our VIN-Data Pipeline

Where Our Information Comes From

We stitch together multiple government and private-sector data feeds to create both our free make-model-year report and the deeper, vehicle-specific Full History Report.

Data Feed Source Type What It Adds Update Frequency
NHTSA vPIC & Recall APIs U.S. federal (open) Factory specs, build plant, safety recalls Live stream
OEM Technical Bulletins Manufacturer portals Service bulletins, common failure points Live stream
Insurance & Auction Clearinghouses Private aggregators Total-loss flags, salvage dates, odometer snaps Daily
Warranty & Valuation DBs Industry partners In-service date, warranty status, MSRP & retail Live stream
Dealer-Reported Listings Franchise & independent Trim confirmation, option codes Live stream

VIN Finder & VIN Number Lookup – What’s Free?

Free VIN Finder — A vin number lookup free of charge that returns make-model specs, build plant, and open recalls for any 17-digit VIN. No email, no credit card.

Is VIN Assist really free?

Yes. VIN Assist is our free decoder that shows factory specs and open recalls. A paid Full History Report is optional if you need lien, odometer, or salvage details.

What does VIN Finder show?

VIN Finder pulls live NHTSA and OEM data to display make, model, engine code, build plant, and any active safety recalls – all in under three seconds.

What Is a VIN Number?

A Vehicle Identification Number is a 17-character ID stamped on every road-legal vehicle since 1981. It encodes where, when, and how the vehicle was built and acts as a fingerprint for recalls, title brands, and theft recovery.

Transparency & Compliance

Personal data is redacted per DPPA and Canadian privacy laws. We are not a government agency; we aggregate and enrich public data so you can search it in one place. Always confirm critical facts with the seller, a licensed mechanic, or your DMV before purchase.

Have Questions?

Reach out any time at [email protected].


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