Vehicle VIN Decoder & Lookup
VIN decoder provides detailed vehicle specifications including year,make,model, trim,engine specifications, colors and more
How You Can Decode your VIN?
- Step 1: Find your VIN
- Step 2: Enter the VIN you want to decode on the field provided above alongside your email and phone number
- Step 3: And our AI powered VIN decoder will do the VIN check and present you with the vehicle specifications and a detailed vehicle history report
Where Can You Find the VIN Number on a Car?
Before using any VIN decoder, you’ll need to locate your vehicle’s identification number. Most cars place the VIN in a few standard spots, making it easy for owners, buyers, and inspectors to find. Here are the most common locations:
1. Driver’s Side Dashboard
The easiest place to check is the top of the dashboard on the driver’s side. Stand outside the vehicle and look through the windshield—your VIN should be visible on a small metal plate near the corner.
2. Driver’s Side Door Jamb
Open the driver’s door and look along the door frame or door pillar. Many manufacturers place a sticker or metal label here that includes the VIN along with other vehicle details such as tire pressure recommendations and the manufacturing date.
3. Under the Hood
Some vehicles also have the VIN stamped or labeled inside the engine compartment. Common spots include the front of the engine bay, the firewall, or metal components near the radiator support.
4. Vehicle Frame (Older Models)
On older or classic vehicles, the VIN may be engraved directly onto the front end of the chassis—often around the inner wheel arch or other structural areas.
5. Vehicle Documents
If you can’t find the VIN on the car itself, you can always refer to your official paperwork. In the US, the VIN will appear on your vehicle title, registration, and insurance documents.
What You Get After Decoding a VIN
- Find Accident records
- See The Actual mileage
- Find Auction images
- See The Theft Records
- Check For the Title Records And Owners History
- Check For Loan/Lien Records
- Check For Auction Records
- See Upcoming Maintenance Requirements
What Each Digit of a VIN Means?
- First character: This represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured.
- Second character: This represents the manufacturer’s name.
- Third character: With this character, you can find out the vehicle’s type or division. The first three digits of a VIN number are known as the World Manufacturer Identifier or WMI.
- Fourth to eighth character: This sequence of characters tells you about a vehicle’s engine size and type, vehicle brand, model, series, and body style.
- Ninth character: The ninth character provides you with the security check digit. This single digit is used to verify the accuracy of the VIN number.
- The fourth to ninth digits are known as the Vehicle Descriptor Section or VDS.
- Tenth character: This character represents a vehicle’s model year.
- Eleventh character: This character tells you of the assembly plant where a car was produced.
- Twelfth to seventeenth character: This sequence of characters represents a vehicle’s serial number. These six digits make every single vehicle in the world different from the other.
- The tenth through seventeenth digits is known as the Vehicle Identification Section or VIS.
Here are further examples on the meaning of the various characters of a VIN, using 3 VINs as examples.
| CHARACTER | DENOTATION | 2T1LR32E66C557572 | JTMRFREV1D5028137 | 5FNRL38737B050355 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Country | Canada | Japan | USA |
| 2nd | Manufacturer | TOYOTA | TOYOTA | HONDA |
| 3rd | Vehicle Type | Passenger Car | MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV) | MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV) |
| 4th | Body Type | Hatchback/liftback /notchback | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) | Minivan |
| 5th | Engine | 1ZZ-FE | 2AR-FE | J35A7 |
| 6th | Series | ZZE132L/ZZE13 | ASA42L/ASA44L | |
| 7th | Restraint | 3L /ZZE134L | ||
| 8th | Model | Corolla Matrix | RAV4 | Odyssey |
| 9th | Check Digit | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| 10th | Model Year | 2006 | 2013 | 2007 |
| 11th | Plant | CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO, CANADA | Toyota Motor Corp., TAHARA PLANT, TOYOTA CITY, AICHI, JAPAN | LINCOLN, ALABAMA, UNITED STATES (USA) |
| 12th-17th | Serial Number | 557572 | 028137 | 050355 |
The 10th character of the VIN explains the year the vehicle was made. The table below will help you decode the year of manufacture for any VIN.
| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | L | 1990 | Y | 2000 | A | 2010 | L | USA |
| B | 1981 | M | 1991 | 1 | 2001 | B | 2011 | M | 2021 |
| C | 1982 | N | 1992 | 2 | 2002 | C | 2012 | N | 2022 |
| D | 1983 | P | 1993 | 3 | 2003 | D | 2013 | P | 2023 |
| E | 1984 | R | 1994 | 4 | 2004 | E | 2014 | R | 2024 |
| F | 1985 | S | 1995 | 5 | 2005 | F | 2015 | S | 2025 |
| G | 1986 | T | 1996 | 6 | 2006 | G | 2016 | T | 2026 |
| H | 1987 | V | 1997 | 7 | 2007 | H | 2017 | V | 2027 |
| J | 1988 | W | 1998 | 8 | 2008 | J | 2018 | W | 2028 |
| K | 1989 | X | 1999 | 9 | 2009 | K | 2019 | X | 2029 |
Decode VIN By Make
Decode VIN By Make
FAQ about VIN Decoder & Lookup
VIN is an acronym for “Vehicle Identification Number. It is a unique alphanumeric code assigned by manufacturers to every vehicle, and the 17 digit code is arranged in such a way that it can give detailed vehicle information, when decoded. When a VIN is decoded it usually gives insight on the vehicles brand, body style, engine size and type, model, series, etc. You can also run a vin check using our service.
Yes. Every VIN is unique to a specific vehicle, and no two are identical worldwide.
Yes, you can decode basic vehicle specs for free. However, full history details—such as accidents, ownership records, and recalls—typically require a paid report.
Common reasons include incorrect characters, a missing digit, or entering a VIN from a pre-1981 vehicle (older vehicles used shorter formats).
All vehicles manufactured after 1981 use a standardized 17-character VIN. Vehicles older than that may have 5–13 characters.
English