Wheel ScoutWhat a VIN decoder shows
Every car sold in the US since 1981 has a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number, and the maker reports what each character means to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Decoding the VIN reads those factory records back, so you can check a listing against what the car really is.
How to read a VIN, character by character
| 1 to 3 | The World Manufacturer Identifier: the country and the maker. A VIN starting with 1, 4 or 5 was built in the US, 2 in Canada, 3 in Mexico, J in Japan, K in Korea, W in Germany. |
|---|---|
| 4 to 8 | The vehicle descriptor: model, body, engine and restraint system, coded by each maker its own way. This is the part a decoder translates. |
| 9 | The check digit, worked out from the other 16 characters. If it doesn't add up, the VIN was mistyped or altered. |
| 10 | The model year (table below). |
| 11 | The plant that built the car. |
| 12 to 17 | The production serial number for that car. |
VINs never use the letters I, O or Q, so they can't be mixed up with 1 and 0.
Model year codes (the 10th character)
The codes repeat every 30 years, so A means 1980 or 2010. For cars and light trucks, if the 7th character is a letter, the car is 2010 or newer; if it's a number, it's 2009 or older.
Decoder or history report?
A decoder tells you what the car was when it left the factory. It can't tell you what happened after: a salvage title, a flood, an odometer rollback or a theft. That's what the history report is for. Decode first to confirm it's the right car, then check its history before you meet the seller.
The reports
The decode shows what the car is. The reports show what happened to it.
Basic history report
By VIN or license plate · official NMVTIS record · shows right away
- Salvage, junk, flood and rebuilt title brands
- Title history by state, with dates
- Odometer readings and rollback flags
- Total-loss records from insurers
- Theft check
- Market value for the car
Full vehicle history report
By VIN or license plate · Not instant: emailed or texted to you within two hours
- Every owner, how they used it (personal, lease, rental or fleet) and where
- Accidents and damage reports
- Title brands: salvage, junk, rebuilt, flood, fire, hail, lemon
- Odometer readings over time, checked for rollbacks
- Service and maintenance history
- Open recalls and common owner complaints for the model
VIN decoder questions
What does a VIN decoder tell you?
The year, make, model, trim, body style, engine, transmission, drive type and the plant where the car was built, from the maker's records at NHTSA. Wheel Scout also lists the safety recalls issued for that model year.
Does decoding a VIN show accidents or a salvage title?
No. A decoder only reads what the factory built. Salvage, flood and rebuilt titles, odometer readings and theft are in the $5 history report; accidents, owners and service records are in the $10 full report.
Where does the decoded data come from?
From NHTSA's Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing (vPIC), the federal database every maker reports its VIN codes to.
Why doesn't the decode match the listing?
Sellers often list the wrong trim or engine, sometimes by accident and sometimes to ask more. If the decode and the ad disagree, ask the seller about it before you go see the car.
Can I decode a VIN from a license plate?
Yes. Switch the box to License plate, type the plate and its state, and we find the VIN first.
Does it work on older cars?
The 17-character VIN started with 1981 models. Older cars used shorter, maker-specific numbers that federal decoders don't cover.
More ways to check a car
Find the deal, then check it.
Wheel Scout alerts you the moment an underpriced car posts on Marketplace, OfferUp or Craigslist near you, and runs the history right in the app.
The basic history report uses NMVTIS data from an approved NMVTIS data provider. NMVTIS records come from states, insurers and salvage yards; not every event is reported to it. Vehicle specs and recalls come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Wheel Scout is not affiliated with any marketplace or government agency.