Can I Get a Free VIN Check From CARFAX?
Use the VIN decoder above to get key information about your car or a used car you’re considering buying. When you perform a VIN lookup with Carfax’s free VIN check tool, you can learn when and where it was built, the make, model, and trim of the vehicle, the engine it has, and more. From there, you can get information about the model and trim on our vehicle research pages, purchase a CARFAX Report to learn the full history of the vehicle, or look for similar vehicles using CARFAX Used Car Listings.
How a VIN Decoder Works
The 17 numbers and letters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) indicate a vehicle’s make, model, when and where it was built, and more. Here’s how a VIN decoder breaks down a VIN number:
Country of Manufacturer
The first character in a VIN number is the country or region where the manufacturer is located, or the final point of assembly. Usually, this is the country where the car was made, but in some European countries, it may be the country where the automaker is headquartered.
Vehicle Manufacturer
The second VIN character indicates the manufacturer and the region where the vehicle was produced. The third VIN character indicates the vehicle type or manufacturing division. Taken together, the first three characters of the VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier or WMI code.
Make, Model & Trim
Characters 4 through 8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS). They identify the vehicle brand, model, body style, engine type, transmission, and more. Service centers commonly use this information to identify an automaker’s systems so that they can properly maintain a car. The VIN decoder tool at the top of this page also uses this section to decode VINs.
Check Digit
The ninth character, or check digit, is used to detect invalid VINs based on a mathematical formula that was developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Model Year
The tenth digit indicates the car’s model year. The following chart shows which letter represents which model year. Certain letters and numbers are not used because they can be confused with others. VINs do not include the letters I (i), O (o), Q (q), U (u) or Z (z), or the number 0.
VIN Year Chart: How to Determine Your Car’s Model Year
| Model Year | Code | Model Year | Code | Model Year | Code | Model Year | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | A | 1995 | S | 2010 | A | 2025 | S |
| 1981 | B | 1996 | T | 2011 | B | 2026 | T |
| 1982 | C | 1997 | V | 2012 | C | 2027 | V |
| 1983 | D | 1998 | W | 2013 | D | 2028 | W |
| 1984 | E | 1999 | X | 2014 | E | 2029 | X |
| 1985 | F | 2000 | Y | 2015 | F | 2030 | Y |
| 1986 | G | 2001 | 1 | 2016 | G | 2031 | 1 |
| 1987 | H | 2002 | 2 | 2017 | H | 2032 | 2 |
| 1988 | J | 2003 | 3 | 2018 | J | 2033 | 3 |
| 1989 | K | 2004 | 4 | 2019 | K | 2034 | 4 |
| 1990 | L | 2005 | 5 | 2020 | L | 2035 | 5 |
| 1991 | M | 2006 | 6 | 2021 | M | 2036 | 6 |
| 1992 | N | 2007 | 7 | 2022 | N | 2037 | 7 |
| 1993 | P | 2008 | 8 | 2023 | P | 2038 | 8 |
| 1994 | R | 2009 | 9 | 2024 | R | 2039 | 9 |
Assembly Plant
The 11th character identifies the manufacturing plant where the vehicle was assembled. Each manufacturer has its own plant codes.
Serial Number
Characters 12 through 17 are the unique serial number for the vehicle. This number often indicates the sequence in which a vehicle came off of the assembly line. Since there is no fixed standard for this number, each manufacturer can use it differently. Taken together, characters 10 through 17 make up the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS).
Free VIN Number Lookup Tools
Carfax offers a free VIN search for a range of specific issues, including:
We developed these tools to provide consumers with a quick, free VIN check for common safety issues.
The Ultimate VIN Lookup: A Carfax Report
A free VIN decoder can show you a wealth of information about a vehicle, including its age, features, and where it was made. However, for a car’s history, the best VIN lookup tool is a Carfax Vehicle History Report. A Carfax Report goes beyond a standard VIN check, digging into Carfax’s billions of records to determine a vehicle’s accident history, service history, ownership history, and more.
This more-complete VIN search is available when you buy a Carfax Report. In addition to purchasing a Carfax Report, you can also get one using the following methods.
How to Get a Free Carfax Report
There are many articles on the internet that talk about ways to get a free Carfax Report. However, you can only access the information contained in a Carfax Vehicle History Report for free using the following methods:
Carfax Used Car Listings
Using Carfax Used Car Listings is the only way to get a full Carfax Report for free. You can also take advantage of our data to find cars that are reported accident-free, have only one owner, and more.
Carfax Car Care
Creating a free Carfax Car Care account allows you to view your car’s service history, get alerts for upcoming services, find trusted service shops, and be the first to know about open recalls. Once you have created your account, just add your VIN to start tracking your vehicle’s maintenance.
Carfax Value
Most car valuation tools use general information to estimate a car’s value, including the model’s brand and year. The Carfax History-Based Value Tool includes VIN-specific information, such as past servicing, accident history, and number of owners, to provide a more complete picture of what a car is worth.
Why a Carfax Report Is Important
When you order a Carfax Report, you can unlock the following important information about the car:
- Reported accidents
- Frame or structural damage
- Total loss accident history
- Ownership history
- Service history
- Open recalls
- Vehicle usage (taxi, rental, lease, etc.)
- Title information, including salvage or junk titles
This information can help you uncover potential safety issues and ultimately help you decide if a car you’re considering is right for you. You can have a look at a sample Carfax report and see where Carfax gets the data we include in our Vehicle History Reports.
FAQs
What is a VIN number?
A vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique, 17-character code given to each car sold in the United States. Because each car has a unique VIN, it’s easy to track when that car is bought, sold, or serviced. Auto shops use VINs to record service visits, manufacturers and the federal government use VINs to issue safety recalls, and state agencies use VINs to identify vehicles when they’re registered, sold, or even stolen.
How long is a VIN number?
VINs are 17 characters long. VINs on vehicles made before 1981 may have fewer characters.
Where is the VIN number on a car?
The two most common places to find the VIN are on the dashboard at the base of the windshield and on the driver’s door-jamb sticker. Other places include on the engine, on the frame inside the hood, and in the trunk near where the spare tire is stored.
Can a VIN lookup show my vehicle’s specs?
Yes, you can determine a number of your vehicle’s specs using your VIN number, including:
- Year
- Make
- Model
- Trim
- Engine
- Country of origin
- Assembly plant
Can I perform a VIN lookup on an older car?
Since 1981, each new car has been given a standardized 17-digit code. Older cars may have VINs too, but they don’t follow a standardized formula. The history of the VIN began in the 1950s, when automakers started stamping identification numbers on automobiles and key automotive parts. However, standardization did not come until 1981, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized the current 17-digit VIN.
Do Motorcycles Have VINs?
Yes, and you can usually find them on the vehicle frame. NHTSA requires all motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), or “four-wheelers” and “three-wheelers,” to display their 17-digit unique vehicle identification number on the frame. Check your owner’s manual for the exact location.