01 / Free VIN check · no sign-up

Free VIN Check

Type the 17 characters off the dash or the door jamb. We read them back to you: year, make, model, engine, factory specs, and whether the VIN is in our salvage records. No VIN to hand? Start from a US plate.

Input · cached lookups · rate-limited
  • 17 characters
  • No I, O or Q
  • Check digit valid
Vehicle identification number · sample17 positions · no I, O or Q
1–3 · WMIMaker & country2FM · Ford, Canada
4–8 · VDSModel, body, engineGK5BC · Flex SE, 3.5L V6
9Check9 ✓
10YearC · 2012
11PlantB
12–17 · SerialUnique to this vehicleD21837
Sample readoutVIN 2FMGK5BC9CBD21837source: GET /v1.1/decode_vin

MODEL YEAR 2012

Ford Flex SE

SUV 4D · trim SE · made in Canada

17MPG city
24MPG highway
Engine
3.5L V6 24V / SFI
Transmission
Automatic
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Unleaded
Tank
18.60 gallons
Seating
7
Steering
Rack & Pinion
Brakes
4-Wheel ABS
L × W × H
201.8 × 75.9 × 68 in
02API

The same decoder,
as an API.

Sold on RapidAPI. One key covers VIN decoding, salvage checks and US plate lookups. Send a VIN with two headers and get JSON back, with 22 fields per decode.

VIN Decoder API

SPEC PLATE · V2.0
Host
vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com
Auth
X-RapidAPI-Key
X-RapidAPI-HostBoth headers, on every request
Decode
GET/v2.0/decode_vin22 fields: year, make, model, trim, engine, style, dimensions, mpg, fuel, transmission, drive, features
Salvage
GET/salvage_checkIn our salvage records? Plus title, mileage, damage, loss type
Plate
POST/api/v4/decode_plateUS plate + 2-letter state in, VIN out
Legacy
/v1.1/decode_vin · /decode_vinStill served, return subsets of v2.0
Check digit
North American, position 9

Sold through RapidAPI

Request
curl -G "https://vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com/v2.0/decode_vin" \
  --data "vin=1VWBT7A33GC006401" \
  -H "X-RapidAPI-Key: $RAPIDAPI_KEY" \
  -H "X-RapidAPI-Host: vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com"
Response · 200application/json
{
  "success": true,
  "vin": "1VWBT7A33GC006401",
  "specification": {
    "vin": "1VWBT7A33GC006401",
    "year": "2016",
    "make": "Volkswagen",
    "model": "Passat SE",
    "trim_level": "SE PZEV",
    "engine": "1.8L I4 DI",
    "style": "Sedan 4D",
    "made_in": "United States",
    "steering_type": "R&P",
    "anti_brake_system": "4-Wheel ABS",
    "tank_size": null,
    "overall_height": "58.50 inches",
    "overall_length": "191.90 inches",
    "overall_width": "72.20 inches",
    "standard_seating": "5",
    "optional_seating": null,
    "highway_mileage": "38 miles/gallon",
    "city_mileage": "25 miles/gallon",
    "fuel_type": "Gasoline",
    "transmission": "Automatic",
    "drive_type": "FWD",
    "features": [
      "Heated Seats",
      "Keyless Entry",
      "Leatherette Seats",
      "Rear-View Camera",
      "Sun/Moonroof",
      "Handsfree/Bluetooth Integration",
      "MP3",
      "Satellite Radio",
      "High Performance Tires",
      "Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle"
    ]
  }
}
03Plans

Plan capacity

As listed on RapidAPI
API plans and their monthly or daily quotas
PlanBASIC$0 / MOPRO$69 / MOULTRA$99 / MO
VIN decodes50 / month3,000 / day20,000 / day
Salvage checks10 / month1,000 / day10,000 / day
US plate lookups10 / monththen $0.10 each50 / monththen $0.10 each100 / monththen $0.10 each
Start freeChoose PROChoose ULTRA
Keys, billing and usage: handled by RapidAPIWe never see your card
07FAQ

Questions

Q01Is the VIN check free?

Yes. Decoding a VIN, checking our salvage records and looking up a US plate are free here, with no sign-up. Lookups are rate-limited.

Q02What does the free check show?

Factory specs decoded from the VIN (year, make, model, trim, engine, transmission, drive, fuel economy, dimensions), whether the VIN is in our salvage records, and the VIN for a US plate.

Q03Where is the VIN on my car?

On the dashboard at the driver's side, readable through the windshield, and on the sticker in the driver's door jamb. It is also on the title, registration and insurance card.

Q04Why "not in our cache yet"?

The free tools answer from VINs we have already decoded. If yours isn't there yet, the API can decode it live.

Q05Can I use the decoder in my app?

Yes. Subscribe on RapidAPI (BASIC is $0 a month), then send your RapidAPI key in the X-RapidAPI-Key header. API docs →

Q06Does it work on VINs from outside North America?

The decoder validates the North American check digit in position 9, so it is built for 17-character VINs on vehicles sold in the US and Canada.

Start on BASIC. $0 a month.

Subscribe on RapidAPI, copy your key, make the call. Upgrade to PRO or ULTRA there when you need more.