Tool T1 · free · no sign-up

VIN Decoder

Enter a 17-character VIN to read its model year, make, model, trim, engine and factory specs. The plate below breaks the VIN down as you type, and the lamps check it against the North American rules. No VIN? Start from a plate.

Input · cached lookups · rate-limited

Vehicle identification number · sample17 positions · no I, O or Q

1–3 · WMIMaker & country2FM · Ford, Canada

4–8 · VDSModel, body, engineGK5BC · Flex SE, 3.5L V6

9Check9 ✓

10YearC · 2012

11PlantB

12–17 · SerialUnique to this vehicleD21837

Sample readoutVIN 2FMGK5BC9CBD21837source: GET /v1.1/decode_vin

MODEL YEAR 2012

Ford Flex SE

SUV 4D · trim SE · made in Canada

17MPG city

24MPG highway

Engine: 3.5L V6 24V / SFI
Transmission: Automatic
Drive: Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel: Regular Unleaded
Tank: 18.60 gallons
Seating: 7
Steering: Rack & Pinion
Brakes: 4-Wheel ABS
L × W × H: 201.8 × 75.9 × 68 in

Check salvage records for this VIN →Get this as JSON →

01Makes A–Z

VIN decoder by make

61 car makes, each with sample VIN patterns by model and year, where to find the VIN, and how that make's VINs break down.

02Location

Where to find the VIN

Dashboard tagDriver's side, at the base of the windshield. Read it from outside the car.
Door jamb stickerOpen the driver's door and look at the frame.
PaperworkTitle, registration and insurance card all carry the full VIN.

03API

Decode VINs in your app

22 fields per decode: year, model, trim, engine, dimensions, mpg, features
Salvage checks and US plate lookups on the same key
BASIC $0, PRO $69, ULTRA $99 a month, billed by RapidAPI

Get API key API docs

GET/v2.0/decode_vin

import os, requests

r = requests.get(
    "https://vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com/v2.0/decode_vin",
    params={"vin": "<VIN>"},
    headers={
        "X-RapidAPI-Key": os.environ["RAPIDAPI_KEY"],
        "X-RapidAPI-Host": "vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com",
    },
    timeout=10,
)
spec = r.json()["specification"]

const url = new URL("https://vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com/v2.0/decode_vin");
url.searchParams.set("vin", "<VIN>");

const res = await fetch(url, {
  headers: {
    "X-RapidAPI-Key": process.env.RAPIDAPI_KEY,
    "X-RapidAPI-Host": "vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com",
  },
});
const data = await res.json();
if (data.success) console.log(data.specification);

curl -G "https://vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com/v2.0/decode_vin" \
  --data "vin=<VIN>" \
  -H "X-RapidAPI-Key: $RAPIDAPI_KEY" \
  -H "X-RapidAPI-Host: vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com"

Start on BASIC. $0 a month.

Subscribe on RapidAPI, copy your key, make the call. Upgrade to PRO or ULTRA there when you need more.

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