Lookup any vehicle’s history report with our VIN Check

With our VIN Lookup service, you give yourself the confidence to negotiate a fair deal on any vehicle. By providing you with the accident history, auction photos, cost of maintenance, market value, recalls and more, We put you in a stronger position to save money and keep your loved ones safe.

What is a VIN?

VIN represents an abbreviation for Vehicle Identification Number. The VIN number is the alphanumeric sequence that is made up of 17 digits and serves as a vehicle’s fingerprint as no two vehicles in operation have the same VIN. Unlike license plate numbers which can change over time, the VIN lives permanently with the car. This attribute makes the VIN number very important during the process of a VIN lookup.

What is a chassis number?

 The Chassis Number of a vehicle is itself a part of a VIN as the last six characters of the vehicle identification number are the vehicle’s chassis number. The VIN and the Chassis Number are most often used interchangeably. Hence, If you can locate a VIN on your vehicle, then, you can also find the Chassis Number as it is part of VIN.

Where to locate a VIN number on a car?

To check a VIN and do a lookup on the Vehicles Report, one must locate the VIN number on the vehicle itself. Here are a few locations where you can locate the VIN on a car. 

On the driver’s side door jamb:

You can locate the VIN on the driver’s side door jamb. It is easy to locate just like opening the driver’s door and finding it.

 

On the dashboard:

This is the most common place to find a VIN number. You can find the VIN number on a dashboard where the dashboard meets the edge of the windshield on the driver’s side.

On the front of the engine block. 

You can also locate the VIN number under the hood at the front of the engine block. Checking the VIN number on the engine is the best method for VIN number lookup.

Check your paperwork:

You can also find the VIN number on the vehicle’s title, registration, insurance papers, or owner’s manual. Sometimes VIN numbers are reported as “Chassis Number”, or the “Serial Number”.

Where to find the VIN number on a motorcycle?

The VIN number location on a motorcycle is different for various manufacturers. Usually, the VIN number can be located on the steering neck. You can also locate the VIN number by turning the bike’s handle to the left. You can also find it near the bike’s motor.

How to Read a VIN Number?

Vehicles manufactured in 1981 and beyond have VINs with the 17-digit format. Antique or Classic vehicles are known to have VINs that are less than 17 characters. Moreover, the 17 digits can be broken down into three sections:

  • The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI): This is represented by the first three digits of the VIN and symbolizes the country where the vehicle was manufactured and the type of vehicle it is.
  • The Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS): This section is constituted by the next five digits, indicating the vehicle’s brand, engine size, and type.
  • The Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS): This final section is represented by the remaining nine characters. The 9th character checks if the VIN is valid, the 10th character designates the model year, and the 11th character shows the car’s factory code (determined by each manufacturer). The last six characters represent the vehicle’s serial number and are unique to each manufacturer, though they usually indicate the order in which the vehicle was released from the production line.

What information does VIN Lookup provide?

A VIN Decoder service can give you access to the vehicle’s year, make and model. However, a VIN lookup is a very powerful tool to reveal a lot about a vehicle’s history in the real sense. These include the accident and damage history, mileage, number of previous owners, recalls, sale history, etc. This information would help both vehicle buyers and sellers to have a smooth business transaction and not have to be running from pillar to post to get the records individually.

Every Vehicle history report comes with over 60 individual checks. You can uncover the following vital information about any vehicle by using our VIN number lookup tool.

Title information

Our VIN check tool will find out how many times a new title was issued, which often indicates a new car owner. The report will reveal the current state of the title and the last title date. It is important to check title information to avoid auto fraud or theft of vehicles.

Brand History

By collecting data from insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, motor vehicle departments, and auto repair centers, our vehicle history will indicate and show how badly it was damaged. This VIN decoder tool will show you if the vehicle’s status is “salvage,” “junk,” “flood,” “collision,” or some other descriptive designation.

Odometer reading

Sometimes dishonest car dealers will roll back the odometer to show their customers that the car has fewer miles than it does. An ideal vehicle report should reveal the last known odometer reading for the car which will allow you to compare it to the reading on the car.

Auction Photos & History

A VIN report will reveal auction photos and history to verify if the vehicle was in an accident and how severe the accident was before repairs. Each auction report includes 10+ photos including the exterior, interior, and engine including damages of the vehicle.

Vehicle specifications

With our VIN check tool, you can find in-depth specifications such as model, trim, engine, exterior and interior options, transmission, fuel, standard safety features, audio system, airbags, braes, comfort features, convenience features, and security features. Our VIN report can help you find over 100 specifications on every model and make.

Market value

Our VIN report contains market value calculation using an advanced tool that considers current mileage and other data to provide an up-to-date market value. Vehicle depreciation and resale value can be then compared with other vehicles. The vehicle comparison is focused and covers similar models sold in the nearby locality to ensure relevance.

Loan & Lien Verification

Conducting a loan and lien check is necessary as this can impact the worth of the vehicle. If a lien check is carried out on time, then a better deal could be negotiated. Also, a vehicle with a loan and lien history will require clearance of all charges before title transfer to the owner. The ownership can be gained but the title will remain with the lender party until all unpaid dues are cleared.

Recalls

Vehicle recalls are becoming very common. A safety recall happens when the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) declares a vehicle unsafe to drive due to a defect in some or a part of the vehicle. When enough of these defects occur in a specific vehicle model, the NHTSA will ask the automakers to issue a recall on the vehicle so the defect can be fixed. Do a VIN lookup to know if the vehicle has had any recalls in the past. If there are defects, learn about their impact on safety and how to fix these issues.

Total Loss History

Vehicles that have been deemed “total loss” as a result of an accident or other damages (fire, floods, hail, etc.) can be cleaned up and sold again. This VIN lookup tool will reveal if this is the case with the car you want to buy. Avoid buying and driving a potentially unsafe vehicle.

Best times to buy and sell

We offer detailed data based on the market analysis for vehicles so the buyer and seller can find the best time to buy and sell any vehicle.

Depreciation Analysis

Depreciation is the largest cost in owning a vehicle, typically making up 40-50% of the total cost of ownership. Find out how much the vehicle will depreciate over 5 years. You will be able to see the searched VIN Number compared to other similar models and learn about the depreciation costs.

Warranty status

A VIN Decoder will reveal the type of warranty coverage and current status information. Check if the vehicle is still under or out of warranty.

Police reports

Each VIN search reveals vital information about any past reports concerning law enforcement agencies. It is essential to know if there are specific law enforcement reports associated with a vehicle as this impacts the current worth and resale value.

Safety rating

Use our crash rating guide to discover valuable information about the safety of the vehicle in a crash, including its technical capabilities to avoid accidents.

Insurance data

The VIN check also reveals a vehicle’s insurance claims details. Since an insurance claim has a major impact on the resale value of a vehicle, it is highly important to verify this by using the VIN Decoder tool.

Inspection Records

Records of the annual safety checks and emission inspections can be identified using the VIN check tool. This is a significant check to complete as previous inspection delays or failures can result in penalties based on local legislation.

Oops! No result from VIN lookup

Be sure to enter each digit correctly and bear in mind that VINs don’t contain O’ or ‘I’ letters. So double-check that these letters have not been substituted with the numbers ‘0’ or ‘1’.  If you do not have access to the VIN number for certain reasons, you can also use our license plate lookup tool to get a detailed vehicle history report.

Typically, vehicles that are manufactured before 1981 have shorter VINs than 17 digits and are likely not to give results from a VIN lookup. To obtain an antique or classic vehicle history, simply contact our staff via live chat or email for assistance.  

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