Get a Free VIN Report

What is a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?

A VIN is like your car's social security number combined with a thumbprint. A unique, 17-digit code used to identify your vehicle and keep tabs on it. The numerals and letters that comprise your VIN actually do have specific meanings, referencing your car's make and models, certain features and so on. The first digit, for instance, identifies your vehicle's country of origin.

Where is the VIN located on the vehicle?

Stand outside the vehicle and check the driver's side dashboard. Or, open the driver door and look for a sticker on the door jamb. You can also find the VIN written on the vehicle's title, insurance documents, and proof of registration. If the automaker stamped the VIN somewhere weird, you can usually find out where it is by checking the owner's manual.

My VIN's not decoding, now what?

If you have a legitimate VIN, it should decode, so the problem is usually typographical. Double check the VIN, make sure you have a 17-digit-long string of numerals and letters. Scan your VIN for the letters O, I, and Q, or o, i and q, in lower case. The VIN format doesn't include these letters, because they're too easily mistaken for the numbers 0, 1 and 9. So try replacing the necessary digits and trying again.

Who needs a vehicle history report?

Anyone who has any stake in a vehicle could get some use out of that vehicle's history report. First and foremost, that means buyers and sellers. If you're buying a used vehicle, you owe it to yourself to run the VIN and make sure that your new-used car doesn't have any major issues the seller forgot to mention. If you're selling a used car, having the report handy will prove to the buyer that it's worth the asking price.

What does a free vehicle history report cover?

A standard report from Vehicle History will be several pages long, and will cover all the critical details on a used car. This data will be pulled from a number of industry and government sources in order to give the reader a comprehensive overview of the car's current condition, past issues, vehicle specifications, equipment details, and even things like market value, fuel efficiency, and safety rating. Most importantly, where safety is concerned, you're getting the inspection checklist, auto insurance information, and all the data you need on recalls and defects. All that, and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) report, which will verify whether the information on the title is correct.

Can you get a new VIN for your car?

No. If your VIN plate is destroyed, you can apply to your state's motor vehicle department to have a new plate created for your car, but only if you can prove that it is absolutely necessary. But the number stays the same.

The VIN on my plate doesn't match the VIN on my title, what do I do?

When the title and the VIN plate don't match, it's the title that needs to be corrected, not the plate. If you're financing the car, the company issuing the loan should have the correct title, and they should be able to send you a copy.