FREE · NHTSA vPIC · NO ACCOUNT
Free VIN decoder.
Most free decoders stop at the specs. Type a VIN here, or scan one in the VINly app, and get the year, make, model, and engine from NHTSA, plus the open recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test ratings on that exact car. No sign-up, no charge.
Find the VIN on the lower-left corner of the windshield, the driver door jamb sticker, or the title, or scan it with the VINly app.
FREE TOOL · NHTSA + EPA
Research any car
Recalls, owner complaints, crash-test ratings, specs, and yearly fuel cost. No account, no charge.
Free, from NHTSA & the U.S. EPA. Browse listings on the same page.
WHAT THE FREE DECODE SHOWS
Everything public, in one place.
Year, make, model, and trim
The canonical identity as NHTSA records it, so a seller cannot fudge what the car is.
Engine and build specs
Cylinders, displacement, transmission, drivetrain, body class, plant of manufacture, and more.
Open recalls and complaints
Safety recalls and owner-reported problems on file for that year and model, from NHTSA.
Crash tests and fuel cost
NHTSA's 5-star ratings where tested, plus EPA mpg and estimated yearly fuel cost.
WHAT A VIN DOES NOT TELL YOU
Be clear about the limits.
A free VIN decode reads the manufacturer and federal records. It cannot see what happened to the car after it was built:
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Ownership or title history (number of owners, liens, branded titles).
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Accident or damage history. That is what Carfax and AutoCheck sell.
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The actual mileage or how this specific car was driven and maintained.
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Market value or what you should pay.
For ownership and accident history, use a paid report like Carfax or AutoCheck. VINly is the free first check before you spend money.
UNDERSTAND YOUR VIN
Learn how a VIN works.
How to decode a VIN→
The fast way and the by-hand way, plus how to spot a bad VIN.
Where to find your VIN→
Six places to look, on the car and in your paperwork.
What each digit means→
The 17 positions, decoded: country, engine, year, and more.
No VIN yet? Research by year, make, and model. New to recalls? Read what recalls do and don't tell you.
FREE ON iOS
Take this research with you.
Scan any VIN with your camera, save cars you’re comparing, and browse listings near you. All free. Same NHTSA and EPA data you see here, plus a camera-first VIN scanner.