The vehicle registration number (VIN) on any car or truck manufactured since 1981 can reveal its manufacturing details, where it has been and who has owned it. Various companies collect data from manufacturers, state agencies, insurance companies and repair facilities to compile vehicle history reports from the VIN. A buyer has many options to check a VIN online; some data can be obtained free of charge and some for a fee.
Manual VIN Decoding
Each of the 17 characters of a VIN has a specific meaning. The first three characters designate country, manufacturer and make. Manufacturers use the next five characters to identify the type of vehicle and its options. The remaining characters include the year, the manufacturing plant, a serial number and a security character to protect against fraud. See an example of a manual VIN decoder at Anglefire.com. Click on links for each specific character or scroll down and click on the manufacturer's logo.
Automatic VIN Decoding
Several websites offer free VIN decoding. Enter the VIN into the spaces provided at Decodethis, DVM or VINquery. Click on "Enter," "Search" or "Go." Decodethis gives a detailed description, and DVM supplies a basic description and the opportunity to buy a vehicle history report, while VINquery offers various levels of reports for sale from 50 cents to $1.90, along with links to where you can purchase history reports.
Vehicle History Report
Autocheck and Carfax offer basic VIN checks for free. They compete with each other and charge for detailed vehicle history reports that include previous owners, maintenance records and history of any accidents. Enter a VIN online, pay with a credit card and see the report instantly. Prices range from $25 to $35, with discounts for volume purchases. Many dealers and independent sellers subscribe to these services to prove the quality of the vehicles they sell. Ask for a vehicle history report when buying, and provide one for potential buyers when selling.
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