What vinnumber.net is
vinnumber.net is a free VIN decoder and a small library of vehicle information built on public government data. Type in a 17-character VIN and our free VIN decoder shows what the NHTSA vPIC database has on file for that vehicle, plus NHTSA recall information. You don't need an account.
We want to be upfront about the limits. The free decode does not show theft records, flood damage or lemon-law buybacks. It tells you how the vehicle was built and what NHTSA has on record for recalls. That's a good first check before you buy. It isn't a full history, and we won't pretend it is.
Model pages
We keep pages for 318 models, in English and Spanish. Each page gathers what government agencies have published about that model: NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, technical service bulletins and defect investigations, Transport Canada recalls, EPA fuel economy figures, NCAP safety ratings, and alternative fuel data from NREL's Alternative Fuels Data Center. The easiest way in is the list of makes.
The reason is simple. This information is public, but it's spread across a lot of different websites, and most people don't have an afternoon to dig through them. We put it on one page and tell you where each piece came from.
Beyond the decoder
We publish scam alerts about schemes aimed at used-car buyers. Our buyer guides walk through the questions worth asking before you hand over any money. There's also an auto news section, a page of market data, and a podcast, The VIN Report.
Who writes for us
Two writers publish articles on vinnumber.net, in English and Spanish. Daniel Reed writes in all four sections: scam alerts, buyer guides, auto news and market data. Most of his articles are scam alerts. Marcus Holt writes mostly scam alerts and buyer guides, with the occasional auto news or market data piece.
Where our information comes from
We use primary sources only. If a recall or a fuel economy number shows up on this site, it came from the agency that published it, not from a forum thread or another aggregator.
Vehicle specifications come from NHTSA's vPIC database. Recalls, complaints, service bulletins, investigations and NCAP ratings come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Canadian recalls come from Transport Canada. Fuel economy data comes from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov, and alternative fuel data comes from the NREL Alternative Fuels Data Center.
Agencies update their records all the time, and now and then we may be a step behind. If something here doesn't match the source, let us know and we'll correct it. Our editorial standards explain how we source, update and correct what we publish.
Common questions
Is the VIN decoder really free?
Yes. Decoding a VIN costs nothing and you don't have to sign up.
Will the decoder tell me if a car was stolen or flooded?
No. The free decode shows vPIC data and NHTSA recalls. It doesn't cover theft, flood or lemon-law history, so a clean result here is not proof the car has none of those problems.
Who writes the articles?
Our scam alerts, buyer guides, auto news and market data articles are written by Daniel Reed and Marcus Holt.
Is the site available in Spanish?
Yes. The model pages are published in English and Spanish, and you can find the Spanish version at vinnumber.net/es/.
Get in touch
Found a mistake or have a question? Call us at +1 (917) 563-6471 or write to