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Free VIN decoder

Paste a 17-character VIN to look up year, make, model, engine, body style, and plant from the public NHTSA vPIC catalog. Use it at a salvage yard to confirm what a vehicle actually is before you pull parts.

17 characters. Letters I, O, and Q are never used.

How to decode a VIN

  1. Copy the 17-character VIN from the dash, door sticker, or title.
  2. Paste it into the decoder. Letters I, O, and Q are never used.
  3. Read year, make, model, engine, and body from the NHTSA result.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode a VIN for free?

Enter the 17-character VIN in JunkPin’s decoder. We query the public NHTSA vPIC API and show year, make, model, engine, body, and plant at no cost.

What information does a VIN decoder show?

A full decode typically includes model year, make, model, trim, displacement, cylinders, fuel type, body class, drive type, transmission, and the assembly plant when NHTSA has the data.

Is this a stolen vehicle or title check?

No. This is a spec lookup from NHTSA vPIC. It does not report theft, salvage brands, liens, or odometer history.

Why must a VIN be 17 characters?

VINs issued from 1981 onward follow ISO 3779 and are 17 characters, with a check digit in position 9. Older vehicles can have shorter serial numbers that this tool cannot fully decode.

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  • Tire size calculatorDecode 225/45R17 into width, sidewall height, and overall diameter. See close equivalent tire sizes that fit the same rim at a salvage yard.
  • ft-lb to Nm torque converterConvert torque between foot-pounds, newton-meters, inch-pounds, and kgf·m. Type any unit for shop manuals, lug nuts, and fastener specs.

Looking for used parts? Find junkyards near you by ZIP code on JunkPin.