Tool and guide
Check the VIN of a car from the US, Canada or Europe
Enter a VIN and we decode the make, model, year, engine and country of manufacture for free. Below we explain how to read a VIN yourself and where to check damage and mileage history before you buy.
Free VIN decoder
Data from the US vehicle database (NHTSA) and the EPA, and – for cars from outside North America – from the VIN itself.
The decoder shows the technical data encoded in the VIN and in manufacturers' databases. It does not show damage or mileage history – that is what a vehicle history report is for.
What a VIN is
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is the 17-character number the manufacturer gives every car. It never contains the letters I, O or Q, so they are not mistaken for the digits 1 and 0.
You will find the VIN on a plate by the windscreen (driver's side), on the door pillar, in the documents (the title in the US, the registration certificate in the EU) and in the auction listing. Before buying, compare the VIN in the listing with the one in the car's photos – a difference is a warning sign.
How to read a VIN, character by character
Every position in a VIN means something. The most useful are the first character (country of manufacture), the ninth (check digit) and the tenth (model year).
| 1 | Country of manufacture (e.g. 1, 4, 5 – US, W – Germany, J – Japan) |
|---|---|
| 2–3 | Manufacturer – together with the first character it forms the WMI code |
| 4–8 | Model, body, engine, safety systems |
| 9 | Check digit – mandatory in North America, catches typos |
| 10 | Model year |
| 11 | Plant where the car was assembled |
| 12–17 | The car's serial number |
First character – country of manufacture
| 1, 4, 5 | Yhdysvallat |
|---|---|
| 2 | Kanada |
| 3 | Meksiko |
| J | Japani |
| K | Etelä-Korea |
| L | Kiina |
| S | Iso-Britannia |
| W | Saksa |
| V | Ranska, Espanja |
| Z | Italia |
| Y | Ruotsi, Suomi |
Tenth character – model year
| F | 2015 |
|---|---|
| G | 2016 |
| H | 2017 |
| J | 2018 |
| K | 2019 |
| L | 2020 |
| M | 2021 |
| N | 2022 |
| P | 2023 |
| R | 2024 |
| S | 2025 |
| T | 2026 |
| V | 2027 |
What a vehicle history report shows
The decoder tells you what the car is. A history report tells you what happened to it. It usually includes:
- damage and incidents reported by insurers, including total losses,
- the title type (clean, salvage, rebuilt, flood) and its changes between states,
- odometer readings – they reveal a rolled-back odometer,
- earlier auctions, often with photos of the car before repair,
- thefts, the number of owners and registration states.
For an auction car, a report usually costs a fraction of even a small repair – and it can stop you buying a flood car or one with serious structural damage.
Free sources of VIN information
Some information you can check for free in official databases:
- NICB VINCheck
The US insurers' database – whether the car was reported stolen or as a total loss (salvage).
- NHTSA Recalls
Open safety recalls for the VIN – worth fixing before shipping or right after.
- NMVTIS
The official US register of titles and total losses; it lists approved report providers.
- GOV.UK – MOT history
For cars from the UK: the full MOT test history with the mileage from each year.
Warning signs
- The VIN in the listing differs from the VIN in the photos of the plate or windscreen.
- The check digit does not match (on a North American car).
- The model year in the VIN does not match the listing.
- The title is branded flood, water damage or "not actual mileage".
- The car was offered at auction several times in a short period.
- The VIN plate looks removed, glued on or damaged – a possible clone.
Cars from Japan – a chassis number instead of a VIN
Cars from the Japanese market (JDM) often have no 17-character VIN, only a shorter chassis number, e.g. JZA80-0012345. A VIN decoder cannot read it.
The history of such a car is checked on the auction sheet and the export certificate – a good exporter translates them before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
›Is a VIN check free?
Decoding the technical data from the VIN (make, model, year, engine, country of manufacture) is free here. A full history report – damage, mileage, past auctions – is paid, from report providers.
›What can I tell from the VIN alone?
The country of manufacture, the manufacturer, the model year, the plant and – on North American cars – whether the number is valid, thanks to the check digit. Engine and body specs come from manufacturers' databases, history from reports.
›How do I check whether a car from the US has been in an accident?
Check the title type (salvage means a total loss), the free NICB VINCheck database and a vehicle history report, which often also shows photos from earlier auctions.
›How do I know which country the car was built in?
From the first character of the VIN: 1, 4 and 5 are the US, 2 – Canada, 3 – Mexico, J – Japan, W – Germany. It matters for import: cars built in the US, Canada, Japan and the UK may qualify for 0% duty.
›Can a VIN be faked?
Yes – stolen cars are sometimes "cloned" with the VIN of another car. Compare the VIN in several places on the car and in the documents, check that the year and version match, and ask for an inspection if in doubt.
›Does the decoder work for cars from Japan?
Only if the car has a 17-character VIN. Most cars from the Japanese market have a shorter chassis number – their history is checked on the auction sheet.