Humans have DNA, and it’s unique to everyone. For the vehicles and other motor engines, we have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It’s a 17-digit code that is also unique to every car.
That means no two cars will have the exact VIN. That should also tell you that you can get more information from the 17 digits. How? By decoding the characters to see what they mean. Some platforms can help you do so with ease.
Here, we have the top 10 VIN decoding websites to help you search for vital information. So, if you want to know more about your car, then it’s time to read about the platforms that will help you with the decoding process.
Table of Contents
VinPit VIN Decoding Website
One of the best websites to decode your VIN under a minute is VinPit. It has an intuitive interface to get an input field for the VIN and ample information about the decoding process. You may, however, want to know more than that.
For the decoding process, all you need is the VIN and an internet connection. VinPit works with all browsers, and that’s great whether you are on your smartphone or computer. It gets the details from the NHTSA, DMV, insurance companies, and car dealerships.
Therefore, what you get is from reliable sources, and the database covers 50 states in the US. So, the amount of information is enormous if you are checking out a car in the USA. Using VinPit is easy since you don’t require to sign up or answer any questions.
That also means there are no traces for any decoding done since it does not obtain your records. The trails are also deleted 24 hours after the VIN lookup. Therefore, your decoding exercise will always be anonymous.
Since the decoding data comes from DMV and other reliable sources, you get factual information about the car. Now, what will VinPit show you when you use it to decode the unknown VIN?
- The manufacturer’s information
- Car model, transmission, and parts
- The engine type
- Whether the VIN is fake
- The sequence number given to the vehicle during assembly
- Theft and accidents history
- Safety information and recalls
- Registration details and ownership
- Servicing and maintenance details
- Etc.
There is more where the above list came from, and you get that within a minute. One of the advantages of using VinPit is that you can download the information and use it offline. There will be no survey questions for you in return.
The number of times you can use the website is unlimited. All you need is the correct VIN before feeding it on the website.
Bumper
Another website that will save you the agony of manual decoding is Bumper. It’s a platform that also depends on reliable sources from the state level. It’s mainly used to check for accident records, but you can get more information based on what’s available.
While it may not have comprehensive information, you will get the salvage records, theft history, the current market value, and the vehicle specifications. It’s also possible to view the photos here, among other features.
NHTSA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also has a website that can help you decode a VIN. Since it’s from the government, there are ample records of almost every car in the US. According to the site, you can also input partial VINs.
The NHTSA will get you everything about the vehicle after detecting the VIN and verifying it’s legit. So, you will obtain everything from who is the manufacturer to all the owners. If the car has been involved in accidents, theft, or impaired driving, this platform will tell it all.
VIN Decoder
The VIN Decoder website possesses the name that tells you what it does. That means it’s straightforward, and you can tell that by the interface. To use it, you require the VIN, which you will input in the field provided to get the results.
The website has sample VINs below the input field to show the recently decoded ones. Once you input the VIN, you will see the vehicle specifications, whether the car has been involved in catastrophic events, mileage information, and the parts you need when it’s time to repair.
Driving Tests
You can decode your VIN within minutes using the driving tests platform. Being web-based gives you the advantage of using it anywhere as long as there is an internet connection. Once you get the VIN, there is an input field for you, and it’s visible the moment the website loads.
The results here will include the vehicle specifications, whether the VIN is legit, and the history. Driving tests gets data from NHTSA, reliable companies, and recalls. Apart from decoding, this is another website that gives you a chance to learn more about the decoding process.
VINDecoderz
To use VINDecoderz, you have to verify that you are a human first. After that, it’s all about entering the VIN and finding out what the characters mean. It will show you the decoded information and other details such as ownership and mileage.
The interface here may not be the best, but you can filter the results based on your car model. There is a wide variety of vehicles to check using VINDecoderz, and in every model category, you will learn more from the make to any technical problems.
Vincario
Do you want a decoding platform that covers almost the whole world? Then here is Vincario for you to try out. It has more than five million users and has also helped in decoding more than 27 million cars.
Therefore, if you want to decode a car from another country, Vincario will get you the precise information. It will include everything from the car’s model to any theft cases.
Decode the VIN
This is a website with a friendly interface and ample information on the VIN decoding process. So, as you learn how to decode the VIN, you have a chance to input it and see what it contains.
The information you get will include the characters’ meanings and other history details such as mileage, ownership, and warranty.
AutoZone
With AutoZone, decoding the VIN is as easy as just inputting the 17 characters and letting it do the rest once you hit the ‘Find Vehicle’ button. Depending on the car’s model, you can decode if you need a quick search, but they are pretty limited.
If your model is omitted, you can just input the VIN and let the website do a comprehensive search. The results here will include the vehicle specifications, recalls, current market value, and more.
VIN Decoder.net
Lastly, we have the VIN Decoder.net, which offers free decoding services. You can run a general search or filter using the available models on the website. It may not have the best interface, but you are bound to get results.
The report is always full, but that depends on what is available about the VIN. Among other details, you will know about the car type, owner information, and if the VIN is fake.
Conclusion
Those are the ten VIN decoding platforms you can rely on to get factual information about the car in question. If you are buying a used car, the above examples are what you need to know more about it and avoid fraud cases.
VIN checking can also happen if you are investigating a car for various reasons. You, however, need to ensure that there you are permitted to decode VINs since there are laws and regulations to follow.
