The Cardaps free VIN Decoder decodes any 17-digit VIN to provide year, make, model, trim, engine specifications, transmission, drivetrain, factory recalls from NHTSA and Transport Canada, technical service bulletins (TSBs), safety investigations, ADAS equipment, and safety features. Free, no registration required, supports both Canadian and US VINs. Data sourced from NHTSA vPIC, Transport Canada, and the complete North American vehicle database.
Decode, check or look up any 17-character VIN. Full specifications, safety equipment and open recalls - free, no signup.
Try a sample VIN:
Engine, transmission, dimensions, and more
Airbags, ABS, crash test ratings
Plant location, production details, series
Common questions about decoding Vehicle Identification Numbers
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every vehicle manufactured since 1981. You can find it on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, your vehicle registration, or insurance documents. Letters I, O, and Q are never used in VINs.
Cardaps decodes your VIN using the NHTSA vPIC database to reveal: year, make, model, trim, body style, engine type, cylinders, horsepower, transmission, drive type, fuel type, manufacturing country and plant, safety equipment (airbags, ABS, ESC, backup camera, lane departure warning), and more. All free, instant.
Yes, completely free with no registration required. We use the official NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) vPIC API, which is a free US government database covering all vehicles sold in North America - including Canadian vehicles.
Yes. All vehicles sold in Canada use the same ISO 3779 VIN standard as the US. The NHTSA database covers Canadian-market vehicles. VINs starting with "2" indicate Canadian manufacturing. Our decoder works for any North American vehicle regardless of where it was purchased.
Position 9 of every VIN is a "check digit" calculated using the ISO 3779 MOD 11 algorithm. It mathematically verifies that the other 16 characters haven't been altered. If the check digit doesn't match, the VIN may contain a typo or have been tampered with. Cardaps validates this automatically.
The NHTSA database has varying coverage depending on the manufacturer and model year. Vehicles before 1996 typically have limited data. Some manufacturers don't report all fields (like horsepower or safety equipment details). The core fields - year, make, model, engine, and body style - are available for virtually all vehicles.
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