DecodedCarsCar buying tools
Shortlist, compare, check and budget for a car before you buy — all running right in your browser.
Car finder
Filter every current model by body style, gas/hybrid/electric, AWD, MPG, EV range, safety and recalls.
Compare two cars
Popular rivals side by side: efficiency, size, crash ratings, recalls and the best years to buy used.
VIN decoder
Turn a 17-character VIN into year, trim, engine, horsepower and factory — then check recalls.
Fuel cost calculator
Gas vs hybrid vs electric: yearly and 5-year fuel cost for your mileage, plus payback time.
Car loan calculator
Monthly payment, total interest and loan lengths compared — or how much car fits your monthly budget.
Garage fit & size
Will it fit your garage and door, with room to open the doors? Compare length, width and height of up to three cars.
Where to start
Not sure what to buy yet? Start with the car finder: filter by body style, powertrain and safety, and keep three candidates. Compare their fuel costs for your own mileage and check they fit your garage. Before you sign, run the loan numbers with your pre-approved rate. Buying used? Decode the VIN of the actual car to confirm its year, trim and engine, then check it for open recalls.
Looking for one specific fact — a model's horsepower, its trims or which driver aids are standard? That lives on each model-year page, which you can reach from the finder or from any brand's page.
Each tool page also explains its method and limits, so you know exactly what the number means.
The tools are free and need no account. They work on phones too, so you can decode a VIN or check the loan numbers while you're standing on the lot.
Every tool uses the same official data as the model pages and runs in your browser — we don't store what you type.