VIN decoder

Where to find the VIN

Look through the windshield at the lower driver-side corner, on the sticker in the driver's door jamb, or on the registration, title or insurance card. VINs never contain the letters I, O or Q.

Decoding is not a recall check

A decoder tells you how the car was built. To see whether it has an open recall, enter the same VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What the 17 characters mean

• 1–3 (WMI): the manufacturer and country — a VIN starting with 1, 4 or 5 was built in the U.S.
• 4–8: the model, body, engine and restraint systems, coded differently by each brand.
• 9: a check digit that catches mistakes when the VIN is copied.
• 10: the model year (for example N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025).
• 11: the assembly plant; 12–17: the vehicle's serial number.

When decoding a VIN helps

When you buy a used car, compare the result with the listing: the year, trim and engine should match. If the VIN on the windshield, the door sticker and the title don't agree, or the decoder can't read the number, ask why before going further. Then check recalls with the same VIN and get a vehicle history report.

Keep in mind that some details, like trim or horsepower, only appear if the manufacturer reported them to NHTSA, and cars built for other countries may decode only partly.

The decoder works for cars, SUVs, pickups and vans from about 1981 on, when the 17-character format became standard.

Your VIN is safe to share with a mechanic or insurer, but avoid posting it publicly with photos of the title or registration.