Wheel ScoutHow to scan a VIN
On a computer?Point your phone's camera here to open the scanner on your phone.Where to find the VIN
Scan a license plate
Tap Scan, switch to Plate and fit the plate inside the box. The scanner reads the plate number, and often the state printed on the plate. Check both, then tap Find the car: we find the car's VIN from the plate and show you the car before you pay anything. A plate lookup shows the car, never the owner.
When it won't scan
- Glare: tilt the phone a little until the reflection moves off the sticker or the glass.
- Distance: hold the phone about a hand's width from the sticker, and fill the box with the barcode or the plate.
- Dark: on phones that offer it, tap Light.
- Still nothing: tap Take a photo, or type the 17 characters.
The picture never leaves your phone. The scanner reads it right on the device; only the VIN or plate it finds is sent, when you look the car up.
The reports
You see the car before you pay. Pick the report you need.
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 scanner questions
Do I need an app to scan a VIN?
No. This scanner runs in your phone's browser: Safari on iPhone, Chrome on Android. Open wheelscoutapp.com/vin-scanner, tap Scan and allow the camera.
Can I scan a license plate to find the VIN?
Yes. Tap Scan, switch to Plate and fit the plate in the box. Check the state, tap Find the car, and we find the VIN from the plate. You see the car before you pay anything, and never the owner's name.
Why won't my VIN barcode scan?
Usually glare, distance or light. Tilt the phone to lose the reflection, hold it about a hand's width away, and tap Light if your phone shows it. If it still won't read, scan the windshield VIN, tap Take a photo, or type the 17 characters.
Do you keep the pictures?
No. The picture is read on your phone and never uploaded. Only the VIN or plate number is sent, when you look up the car.
What does it cost?
You pay only if you want a report: $5 for the official NMVTIS title record, $10 for the full history. The car, its specs and its recalls show before any payment.
Which barcodes does it read?
The Code 39 and Code 128 barcodes on door stickers, the QR and Data Matrix codes on newer labels, and the barcode on some states' registration cards.
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.