In recent years, owning a car has become more exciting. Vehicles as well as parts and accessories are available online for the taking if you’re interested to buy. Whether you’re selling or buying a car, you would want to have as much information as you can find about a specific vehicle. The key to accessing vehicle data is the VIN. VinCheck.info offers a vehicle research tool that decodes the VIN and runs a full vehicle history report. If you’re looking for the best free VIN decoder, you’ve come to the right place.

What is a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?

The VIN or vehicle identification number is a unique series of characters assigned to a vehicle at production. The VIN format was implemented by the ISO Institute. It consists of a string of 17 letters and numbers. The letters Q(q), I(i), and O(o) are excluded to avoid confusion with the numbers 0 and 1. This unique code can reveal vital information about the car, such as its manufacturer, year of production, type of engine, transmission, model, and more.

Where can you find the VIN? Most, if not all, online marketplaces for cars require sellers to post the VIN so buyers can quickly get a vehicle history. You may also want to check the vehicle title, registration, and insurance documents.

Here are some common VIN locations on the car:

• Under the hood (engine block)
• Dashboard (near the windshield)l
• Door frame (left-hand inner wheel arch)
• Driver’s side door (near door jamb)
• Some cars may have it on the firewall, steering wheel, and radiator support bracket.

Why Choose the VinCheck.info Free VIN Decoder?

Decoding your VIN will give you in-depth information on a vehicle in seconds. Here are the critical areas covered by our VIN decoder free of charge:

• Vehicle details: what other free VIN decoders may provide
  • country of origin
  • name of the maker
  • engine type and size
  • model year
  • transmission type

Plus (+) our free add-on features:

• Vehicle ownership history: shows the number of owners, duration of ownership, registration details, and state of registration.
• Market value: the estimated average value people are paying for the same car in your area.
• Sales history: shows historical listings of this vehicle for sale, either by a private party or by a car dealership.
• Equipment details: air conditioning system, mirrors, safety features, tires, and other related items.
• Fuel efficiency: the car’s city and highway mileage per gallon, fuel capacity, and type.
• Safety rating: IIHS crash ratings.
  • Crash-worthiness is how a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash.
  • Crash avoidance and mitigation refer to technology to prevent a crash or lessen its severity.
• Current warranty: type of coverage and warranty status.
• Recalls and defects: latest recalls, impact on performance and safety, and available remedies.

Vehicle Brands Supported by VinCheck.info’s Free VIN Decoder

Check if a car is right for you and uncover any potential safety issues. Run VINCheck.info‘s VIN decoder free of charge by clicking on any brand logo below:

How to Decode the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?

Decoding the VIN is the most reliable way to get vehicle information. Databases managed by automakers and US vehicle registration agencies carry the VINs. VinCheck.info works with these entities to update vehicle information in its own database.

Each section of the VIN has a different meaning. It is based on 1979 and 1980 ISO standards. Please refer to the diagram below for the matching value of each character or section.According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, Code of Federal Regulations, the VIN has three sections describing the following:

• World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). The first three characters belong to the WMI group. The WMI tells you the vehicle’s country of origin, manufacturer, and vehicle type.
• Vehicle Description Section (VDS). The next six characters, position 4-9, are the vehicle description section or VDS. The VDS presents important characteristics and specifications, such as the transmission type, engine type and size, etc.
• Vehicle Identification Section (VIS). The last 10-17 characters is the unique serial number of every Ford vehicle. The VIS shows the manufacturing plant and the vehicle’s unique serial code.

Flexible fuel vehicles can be identified by the 2nd, 3rd and 8th characters.

Vehicle Identification Number – Year Codes

The model year of a car is one of the important information you should check if you’re planning to buy a used car. This matters because the model year helps assess the value of a car. Insurance fees also depends on the age of the car. As shown above, the 10th character of the VIN indicates the model year.

Where does the free VIN decoder get information?

The VIN serves as the key to the car’s identity and history. It’s the best basis you have for checking claims about any used car offered for sale. Every free VIN lookup by VINCheck.info taps the following reliable sources of vehicle data:

• Government agencies including highway traffic safety authorities, law enforcement agencies, and motor vehicle departments.
• Auto industry including manufacturers, junk yards, salvage yards, and car dealerships
• Insurance companies

What is VIN cloning and how can you avoid it using a VIN decoder?

Not all VINs accurately represent a car’s true identity. A car may have a VIN that actually belongs to another car. VIN cloning is a crime that involves replacing the VIN of a stolen car or a car with a bad history with the VIN of another car of the same model and make. Its goal is to misrepresent or hide the identity and history of a car usually offered for sale. First, the factory-installed VIN plate is pried off and then replaced with a legitimate VIN. With fake ownership documents, the car with the cloned VIN can be easily registered in another state.

Here are the red flags that can point to VIN cloning:

• Price is significantly cheaper compared to cars with similar make and model.
• VIN plate may show signs of tampering.
• VIN lookup results and actual vehicle documents may be inconsistent.
• Vehicle inspection observations are not consistent with documents and VIN decoder findings.

Other VIN-based Tools and Resources from VinCheck.info

All these vehicle research tools offer comprehensive vehicle history reports absolutely free – great alternatives to pricey car reports.

Free VIN Recall Check
Free Motorcycle VIN Check
Free ATV VIN Check

If the VIN is not available, VinCheck.info offers a free license plate lookup that can yield the same results as a free VIN check.