Free VIN Decoder

Our free VIN decoder breaks the VIN number down into dozens of vehicle data points concerning the car manufacturer providing key car specs by VIN and engine info.

What is a VIN?

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), also known as a chassis number or frame number, is a unique 17-character code assigned by an auto manufacturer, which can be used to track and identify motor vehicles. The VIN does not contain the letters I, O (o), and Q (q) to avoid confusion with numerals 1 and 0. VINs were first used in 1954 in the United States after the introduction of the ISO standard.

What Does a VIN Tell You?

VIN decoder reveals a detailed car specs by VIN providing a complete overview of the vehicle’s characteristics:

Year, make, and model

Country of manufacture

Trim Level

Body style

Engine type

Tank size

City/highway mileage

Car Warranty

Turning Diameter

Electronic Parking Aid

Vehicle Anti-Theft System

Anti brake system

Front/rear brake type

Transmission

Wheel drive

Steering type

Suspension type

Spring type

Electronic Brake Assistance

Vehicle Stability Control

Heated Steering Wheel

Climate Controls

Front/rear track size

Airbag availability

Overall height/width/length

Tire type and size

All headroom/legroom/shoulder room dimensions

Loading capacity and cargo volume

Air Conditioning

Navigation Aid

Remote Ignition

Tire Pressure Monitor

From 1954 to 1981, there was no accepted standard for VIN Numbers, so different manufacturers used different formats. Therefore, VIN Info on vehicles manufactured before 1981 that can be retrieved by VIN Decoder is usually limited.

Why is VIN information so important?

A VIN is like a fingerprint for a car and is widely used by the police and many other institutions for investigating and preventing VIN tampering, detecting theft, etc. A VIN is also useful for those looking to buy a pre-owned vehicle, as it provides detailed car specs by VIN and helps to search for vehicle history information. If you want to get a comprehensive and detailed overview of a used car’s background, free VIN decoder can provide you with vehicle specs by VIN as well relevant and valuable market values, historical details.

Additionally, it provides important aspects concerning vehicle specifications and elements. For example, VIN number decoder allows you to compare the originally installed equipment with the current one, find the reason for replacement, if any, and reveal possible causes of various issues that led to it. It can be breakage, car accidents, automobile part replacements, etc.

Aside from that, a free VIN decoder solution like ClearVin is a great option if you want to find out whether a car or motorcycle has ever been stolen. One more advantage is that by using a VIN check, you can identify the fake VIN code if the number in databases is not the same one you see on the automobile. It is a useful free VIN decoder feature because thousands of vehicles are being sold with disproved VINs. VIN decoding database grows daily to ensure the accuracy and relevance of your vehicle details by VIN.

Where is the VIN Located?

A VIN is usually located somewhere on the body of the vehicle, and you can easily find it if you know where to look.

List of places where you can find the VIN in a car:

Front of the engine block

Driver’s side dashboard (viewable through the windshield)

Rear-wheel well (directly above the tire)

On the driver-side doorpost

Inside the driver-side door jamb

Underneath the spare tire

List of places where you can find the VIN on a motorcycle:

On the steering neck

On the motor near the bottom of the cylinders

You can also find the VIN on any documentation you have for the vehicle such as:

Vehicle title

Registration card

The Owner's manual

Insurance card/Insurance policy

Body shop records

How to Decode a VIN?

Though it is easy to locate a VIN, decoding the information contained in every VIN might be a challenge. The 17 digits of the VIN are divided into segments and each represents some relevant information about the vehicle including the year, make and model, country, and factory of manufacture, serial number, etc.

The first three characters of the VIN, known as the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), represent the manufacturer and the country of origin. This section helps identify the make and model of the vehicle. Each manufacturer is assigned one or more WMI codes. The correct use of these codes is controlled by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), operating under the supervision of the International Organization for Standardization.

The next six characters, often referred to as the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), contain information about various attributes, including the vehicle's body type, engine size, and transmission type. It provides specific details about the vehicle's features. In the United States, it is mandatory to include data on the gross vehicle weight and installed safety systems for a specific vehicle. The 9th position indicates the so-called check digit, which is used to verify the authenticity of the VIN numbers (it can be a digit from 0 to 9 or the letter "X").

The Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) is the final part that completes the decoding of the VIN code. Typically, the 10th character contains information about the model year or year of production of the vehicle based on the body number, while the 11th character provides information about the assembly plant. The remaining numeric characters represent the vehicle's serial number. Our free VIN decoder automatically pulls the vehicle information from VIN code and delivers the information in easy-to-read form.