Free VIN Lookup

UsJunkCars: Your Go-To for Vin Check Reports and More!

If you would like to get a VIN decoder, get it from USJunkCars.com

How to Use a Free VIN Decoder Online from UsJunkCars

Using a free VIN decoder online is a piece of cake. Here’s how:

1. Locate Your VIN: Check the dashboard or inside the driver’s side door. Also, you can take the VIN from the car title if you have an old vehicle.
2. Enter the VIN: Type the 17-character VIN into the decoder tool.
3. Press the “Get Report” button, and wala! You'll get core info about your vehicle.

Why Use a Free VIN Decoder from UsJunkCars?

Our VIN decoder is free and reliable, so it will always be at your fingertips if needed. If you want to know all the technical information and factory equipment of the vehicle you want to buy, use a more detailed report, which can be purchased for a small price on our website. Here is an example of a paid report.

In addition to decoding the VIN code of the car, you can get high-quality CARFAX and AutoCheck reports for a lower price.

Helpful information: What Is a VIN Number?

For almost four decades, the VIN code has been a mandatory element of car labeling. The information encrypted in it is a unique identifier, a kind of fingerprint.

The first part of the code, the VIN, has 17 alphanumeric characters, but older cars have a 16-digit code. The rules for drawing up the VIN may vary depending on the car manufacturer, but there is a "classic key" for reading the identification number.

The first group of characters is responsible for the origin and is called WMI (World Manufacturers Identification) - World Manufacturers Index (1st to 3rd characters of the number).

The VIN starts with the geographical area code—this is the first character (letter or number). For example, 1, 4, and 5 mean that the car comes from the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The European zone is indicated by letters from S to Z.

The second character (letter or number) indicates the country of origin. For better identification, the specific country is determined by combining the first and second characters of the code. The third character of the VIN code is responsible for the manufacturer's division; it may indicate the type of vehicle or the production department. If the third place in the code is 9, the manufacturer produces less than 500 vehicles annually.

To find the manufacturer, you will need a combination of all three characters in the first part of the VIN.

The following six characters are the vehicle specifications stored in the second descriptive part of the VIN—VDS (Vehicle Description Section). The manufacturers decide in what order to arrange the six symbols of this group, which describe the individual features of the car.

Here (from the 4th to the 9th symbols), information about the car's type of engine, body, safety class, and model, as well as the type of transmission, can be found. If the manufacturer does not include any characteristics on the VIN, zeros appear in place of the corresponding symbols.

Although the order and number of technical parameters for the VIN manufacturer have the right to choose themselves, the 8th character is often used to determine the type of engine. The 9th is a check digit (for manufacturers in the U.S. and China and exporters of cars to the States), which protects against the interchange of numbers.

Third group: In this part of the VIN - Vehicle Identification Section (VIS)

All the vehicle's distinctive features are encoded. This section has only eight characters. According to the standard, the car's year of manufacture in the VIN is indicated by the 10th character (letter or number).

The year of manufacture between 1980 and 2000 is assigned a letter from A to Y. A car from the year 2000 will be designated Y. After 2000, manufacturers began using numbers, and since 2010, they have returned to letters.

It is recommended that the last characters of the car's serial number be assigned; in practice, these are characters 12 through 17.

Other information that the vehicle VIN may contain

1. Trim Levels: A vehicle's trim level is often included in the VIN and can reveal specific features. For example, higher trim levels may include luxury options like leather seats, advanced infotainment systems, or upgraded suspension.
2. Engine and Transmission: The VIN can also indicate the vehicle's engine and transmission type. For example, a particular character in the VIN might specify whether the car has a V6 or V8 engine or is equipped with a manual or automatic transmission.
3. Safety Features: Some VINs include codes that specify safety features like airbags, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), and traction control. This information can be critical when assessing the overall safety of the vehicle.
4. Optional Packages: The VIN can sometimes indicate whether the vehicle includes optional packages such as: towing, sports, or cold-weather packages. These packages might include upgraded brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, heated seats, or a larger alternator.
5. Manufacturing Details: The last few characters of the VIN often provide a serial number, which can be used to track the exact production sequence of the vehicle. This might be interesting if you're looking at a limited edition model or a car from a specific production batch.

Understanding the details encoded in a VIN can give you a comprehensive overview of a vehicle's specifications, options, and manufacturing history.