Free tool
Decode a vehicle identification number
Every car carries 17 characters describing where it came from. Paste them in and we will translate: who built it, where, and in what year.
- 17 characters
- ISO 3779 standard
- No sign-up
0 of 17 characters
Free and no sign-up. This is not a teaser for something else: it genuinely works and we ask for nothing in return.
Free tool
What this tool does, and what it does not
Decoding reads the structure of the code. It is a reading operation, not a search through archives.
It runs in your browser
Decoding happens on your device, with no calls to paid external services. That is why we can leave it free and without usage limits.
It follows the ISO 3779 standard
Manufacturer, country of production, model year, plant and serial number sit at fixed positions inside the 17 characters. Those are what we read.
It catches transcription errors
The letters I, O and Q do not exist in a VIN, and the ninth position can be verified mathematically on vehicles that calculate it. When something does not add up we say so and offer the correction.
It stops where the code stops
Mileage, accidents, administrative holds and ownership changes are not written into the VIN: they sit in archives. No decoder can derive them from the code.
Where to find the VIN
The VIN is identical in all of these places. If they do not match, stop and ask why.
- 01
Registration document
Field E on the vehicle registration document. The most reliable place, and the first to check.
- 02
Windscreen
At the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, visible from outside through a small window.
- 03
Door pillar
On the manufacturer's plate, visible when the driver's door is open.
- 04
Engine bay
Stamped into the body, often near the suspension turret. If it looks altered or re-stamped, treat that as a serious warning.
Frequently asked questions
What is a VIN?
The 17-character code that uniquely identifies a single vehicle, defined by ISO 3779. No two vehicles in the world share one.
Why do the letters I, O and Q never appear?
Because they are too easily confused with the digits 1 and 0. They were excluded from the VIN alphabet precisely to prevent transcription errors. If you see one, you have either miscopied it or the code is not genuine.
What does "check digit not applicable" mean?
The ninth position holds a digit computed from the other sixteen, but it is only mandatory for vehicles built for North America. Most European manufacturers never calculate it, so a mismatch on a German or Italian car is entirely normal and is not evidence of forgery.
Why is the model year sometimes ambiguous?
The year code uses 30 symbols that repeat cyclically. A vehicle with the letter A could be from 1980, 2010 or 2040. When we cannot rule the alternatives out, we show you all of them rather than silently picking one.
Is it really free?
Yes. Decoding runs entirely on your device with no calls to any paid service, so it costs us nothing to offer. No sign-up and no usage limits.
Next step
You have the VIN. What now?
The full check starts here. Before asking you to pay we show you which sections we can fill in for that vehicle and which we cannot.