The Vehicle Identification Code (VIN) is a series of numbers and letters that is uniquely assigned to each vehicle and allows not only to recognize its type and its technical specifications, but also helps authorities and organizations to keep track of changes in ownership. In the United States it is possible to make a completely free search to obtain all the information related to a VIN code; you can know the model and the manufacturer of the vehicle, the coupons, the technical specifications and even if it was stolen. However, there are limits to the information you can get for free; if you want a complete registration you will have to pay a small fee. If you ever have to buy a car in the United States, this article will help you avoid being left with any nasty surprises.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Check Vehicle Specs, Consumption and Price
Step 1. Write down the VIN code
You can use a sheet of paper and a pen or use a camera, even the one built into your smartphone.
Step 2. Open your internet browser to the page:
VIN Checker. Enter the series of numbers and letters of the VIN code in question and press the button: Check Your VIN.
Step 3. Read the specifications of the vehicle
You will find information on options, fuel consumption, you can read data on safety in case of accidents and other specifications.
Know that this "is not a free survey of the historian of the medium"; if you want this type of report, you have to to pay a fee and go to the site: Anti-Car Theft Act.
Part 2 of 5: Verify Theft and Fraud
Step 1. With the VIN number available, visit the NICB website
This is a free VIN check system made available by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) which publishes reports on cars that have been reported stolen or have pending title deeds.
- If you need a verification of the vehicle's coupons or want to know how many previous owners have been, this service cannot help you. This information is only available for a fee.
- The NICB no longer provides information about any mortgages (as it did in the past) so make sure through the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicle, the US motor vehicle) that the person who wants to sell you the vehicle is entitled to do so.
Step 2. Enter the 17 digits that make up the VIN in the box that appears in Step 1
If the vehicle in question was built after 1981 but its VIN consists of a higher or lower number of 17 digits, then it is almost certain that it is a fake code. Avoid buying that vehicle.
Step 3. Accept the conditions, terms of service and enter the verification code
It is a tool through which the site verifies that it is speaking with a natural person and not a server. At this point click on the "Search - Search" button.
The verification code distinguishes between lowercase and uppercase letters, be careful when entering it
Step 4. Wait for the NICB website to check the VIN you entered and compare it with its database
If the vehicle has outstanding issues or has recently been reported stolen, read the brief report that the site provides on the matter.
- If the car is never stolen or is relatively new then the site will notify you that the corresponding VIN is not present in the lists of stolen and / or lost vehicles.
- Remember that these reports only show a "reported" accident or theft (and in any case six months must have passed before the report appears in the database); for this reason, before making a purchase, check all information with the DMV.
- This system allows each IP address only 5 VIN checks per day.
Part 3 of 5: Verifying Potentially Recalled Vehicles
Step 1. Navigate to the National Highway Transport Safety Administration website
Go to the NHTSA Recall Website and click on the "Vehicles - Vehicles" button.
Choose the model, year, vehicle equipment of your interest from the drop-down menus and press 'Enter'
Step 2. Check for any recalls
If your vehicle has undergone a manufacturer recall, you will see it under the 'Recalls' label.
Step 3. Sign up for a newsletter to be updated on recalls on NHTSA's Email Alerts page
Part 4 of 5: Obtain a Free Vehicle History Report
Step 1. Go to VehicleHistory.com
Use any browser to access the website.
Step 2. Enter the VIN in the search bar in the middle of the page
If the vehicle under consideration was built after 1980, the VIN code should consist of 17 digits. It will never contain the letters I, O, Q to avoid confusing the numbers 1 and 0.
If it is a car manufactured before 1980, you will not be able to get the vehicle history report
Step 3. Get the report
Once you have entered the VIN code, you will be able to view it.
Part 5 of 5: Alternative Methods
Step 1. Ask the seller to present you with a vehicle registration
If you are interested in the vehicle but do not want to pay for a complete VIN, then ask the seller to present it to you.
- Sometimes, sellers are happy to agree to close the deal. They can send you a PDF or a print.
- Always stay very alert because the seller could "manipulate" the search and try to mislead you. If your purchase involves an expense of several thousand euros, it is good to be very careful and suspicious. If you have the feeling that there is something wrong or you think that the registration is forged, limit yourself to a small deposit and check it out.
Step 2. Consider investing some money and going to a reputable site that provides truthful records
Obviously it will not be a free service, but when you are interested in buying a used vehicle you should also include in the budget you establish the cost of the VIN surveys. Below you will find a list of reliable suppliers of surveys for an acceptable cost:
- Carfax
- Edmunds
- AutoCheck
- Gapless
