Free VIN decoder
Find out exactly what a car is from its VIN: year, make, model, trim, engine and where it was built. It's free and you don't need an account.
What a VIN decoder can tell you
Every VIN is built to a standard. The first three characters identify the maker and the country, the next five describe the model, body and engine, the ninth is a check digit, the tenth is the model year and the eleventh is the assembly plant. A decoder reads those codes against the specifications manufacturers file with NHTSA, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That makes it the fastest way to confirm a listing is honest about the basics. If a seller advertises a V8 and the VIN decodes to a V6, or the year is off by two, you've learned something before driving anywhere.
What it can't tell you
A decoder knows what the car was when it left the factory. It knows nothing about what happened after: accidents, flood or salvage titles, how many owners it has had, or whether the odometer has been rolled back. That history is what a Carfax report is for.
Where to find the VIN
Look through the windshield at the driver's side of the dashboard, or on the sticker in the driver's door jamb. It's also printed on the title, the registration and the insurance card.