Find the best VIN decoder for your next car.

A vehicle identification number identifies a particular vehicle. A decoder interprets the information a manufacturer encodes, such as the vehicle family, model year or engine details where available. It does not itself contain a list of accidents or every mileage reading.

A basic decoder may be free. A history service searches separate records linked to that vehicle. Depending on the market and data supplied, a report may include title events, recorded mileage, insurance losses or photographs. Coverage varies; an empty section does not establish a clean history.

Start with the country where the car was registered, including earlier countries for an import. Compare the provider’s relevant coverage, sample report, billing terms and refund conditions. For a US vehicle, title and salvage records may be particularly useful; in Europe, national inspection and registration sources differ by country.

Check the vehicle documents and the locations described in its owner’s manual. Many modern cars have a visible VIN near the windscreen and a label around a door opening, but the stamped identifier’s location varies. Compare identifiers across the vehicle and documents. Standard 17-character VINs do not use the letters I, O or Q; older chassis numbers may be shorter.

Inspect the car, review invoices and ownership documents, check recalls and arrange an independent mechanical inspection when appropriate. A history report can reveal records worth investigating; it cannot guarantee the vehicle’s condition. Use our pre-purchase inspection checklist.