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How to Check a VIN Before Buying a Used Car (Free and Paid Options)

The VIN (vehicle identification number) is the car's fingerprint. Every car sold in the US since 1981 has a unique 17-character one, and almost everything you want to know about a used car starts with it. Here is what a VIN check can and cannot tell you.

Where to find the VIN

• On the driver's side of the dashboard, near the windshield, readable from outside the car.
• On a sticker inside the driver's door jamb.
• On the title, registration and insurance card.

The VIN in the listing, on the dash, on the door sticker and on the title should all match. If they do not, walk away until the seller explains it in writing.

What the characters mean

A real VIN has 17 characters and never uses the letters I, O or Q, to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0. The first characters say where and by whom the car was made, the middle ones describe the model and engine, and the 10th character is a code for the model year. You do not need to decode it by hand. A decoder does it for you.

Free checks

1. Decode the VIN. A decoder (including the free one run by NHTSA) turns the VIN into year, make, model, trim, body, engine and plant. Compare that with the listing: if the ad says V6 and the VIN says four-cylinder, ask why.

2. Check for open recalls. Enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. This is the only way to know which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car. Recalls are repaired free of charge at a franchised dealer, but some can be serious (airbags, brakes, fire risk), so find out before you drive it.

3. Look up owner complaints. NHTSA also keeps complaints that owners filed for each model year. A pile of complaints about the same part is a hint of what to ask a mechanic to inspect.

What needs a history report

A VIN check from free sources does not show accidents, title brands or the odometer's history. For that you need a vehicle history report:

• Carfax and AutoCheck are the best-known paid reports. They combine insurance, DMV, repair-shop and auction records. Many dealers give one away; ask.
• NMVTIS reports come from providers approved by the US Department of Justice (see vehiclehistory.gov) and are usually cheaper. They focus on title brands, odometer readings and salvage records.

Each report has gaps. An accident that was never reported to anyone will not show up, so a clean report is not proof that a car is clean.

What a VIN check will not tell you

How the car was driven and maintained, whether it has hidden rust or a leaking head gasket, or whether the seller is honest. That is what a test drive and an independent mechanic's inspection are for.

The quick way

UsedCarVet decodes the VIN, pulls the recalls and complaints for the model year, compares the price with live dealer listings of similar cars and reads the listing for red flags. Paste the VIN or the listing and see the result in about 20 seconds. Your first check is free.

UsedCarVet is not a vehicle history report and does not show accidents or title records.

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