Free VIN Decoder: Year, Make, Model, Engine and Recalls

Decode a VIN

Type the 17-character vehicle identification number to see the model year, make, model, trim, body style, engine, fuel type and assembly plant recorded by NHTSA, then the recalls for that model year and a link to its full page on OpenVIN.

Your VIN goes straight from your browser to NHTSA's vPIC service. OpenVIN does not store, log or share it, and it is never added to the page address.

What a VIN tells you

Every car, SUV and pickup built for the U.S. since 1981 has a 17-character VIN. The first three characters identify the manufacturer and country, characters 4 to 8 describe the model, body and engine, the 9th is a check digit, the 10th is the model year, the 11th is the assembly plant and the last six are the serial number.

Where to find it

On the dashboard at the lower corner of the windshield, driver's side
On the driver's door jamb sticker
On your title, registration and insurance card

What a decoder cannot tell you

A VIN decoder reads what the manufacturer reported to NHTSA for that VIN pattern. It does not show accident history, title brands, odometer readings or past owners — those come from vehicle history reports and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS).

Browse instead

No VIN handy? Browse all makes or see new recalls.