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
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 CodesThe 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 = Yugoslia 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.
How do I check a VIN code?Enter your 17-character VIN code in the search box above and click Decode. Our VIN number lookup tool will instantly return factory specs, build plant details, and any open safety recalls.
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 FromWe 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 - Our VIN number lookup tool is completely free and returns make-model specs, build plant, and open recalls for any 17-digit VIN. No email, no credit card. Use it to check any VIN code in seconds.
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 & CompliancePersonal 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.
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