Decode a VIN and read its factory specification

Enter a 17-character VIN to see what it encodes: manufacturer, plant, model year, engine and drivetrain, with the official NHTSA specification fields.

How to read a VIN (example: 1HGCM82633A004352)
  • 1-3Manufacturer and country
  • 4-8Model, body and engine
  • 9Check digit (catches typos)
  • 10Model year
  • 11Assembly plant
  • 12-17Serial number

One VIN, decoded in full

Every record on VIN Ledger USA starts from the VIN itself: the manufacturer and plant codes, the model-year character, the check digit, and the specification fields the manufacturer filed with NHTSA. The photos and the sale or owner details follow below the decode.

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How a decode works

Type the VIN

All 17 characters, from the dashboard, the door frame or the title.

Read the decode

Manufacturer, country, plant, model year, engine, drivetrain and safety equipment, from the official database.

Compare with the record

Photos, mileage and damage as recorded, so you can see whether they match the decoded specification.

Recently decoded VINs

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The database in numbers

30vehicle records
16makes
$17,500median last bid
9 Jun 2022most recent sale

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Common questions

What does VIN Ledger USA show for a VIN?

The VIN split into its sections (manufacturer, descriptor, check digit, model year, plant, serial), the specification fields NHTSA holds for that VIN, and the record we have for the vehicle: photos, mileage and damage as recorded.

Where does the specification come from?

From the NHTSA vPIC database, the US government's public vehicle database. It describes how the model was built and equipped; equipment marked "Optional" is not confirmed for the individual vehicle.

Can I decode any VIN?

The search finds VINs that have a record on this site. The decode on each page is generated from the VIN itself.

Where do the photos and mileage come from?

From the sale record for auction vehicles, or from the owner for owner-submitted listings. Each page says which.

I own this vehicle. Can the record be removed?

Yes, free of charge. See Remove a vehicle record.

Questions about a vehicle record?

Write to us and we will get back to you. Owners can ask for a record to be removed free of charge.

Contact usRequest removal