Windshield
On the dashboard, at the bottom of the windshield on the driver's side. Read it from outside the car.
Free VIN Decoder
Turn a 17-character VIN into the car's year, make, model, engine and more. Free, no account needed.
- Free
- No account
- Nothing stored
How to read a VIN
Cars made for Canada and the U.S. have carried a 17-character VIN since the 1981 model year. Here is what each part means.
- JTD
Maker and country
- BT123
Model, body and engine
- 3
Check digit
- Y
Model year
- 5
Assembly plant
- 020223
Serial number
Where to find your VIN
Three places. Photograph whichever one is easiest to reach.
Driver's door
On the sticker in the driver's door frame, visible when the door is open.
Your papers
On your registration, insurance card or ownership papers.
After you decode a VIN
Three things you can do with the result. None of them is required.
Why a VIN may not decode
A VIN lookup can come back empty for a few reasons.
A character may have been typed wrong. Compare all 17 with the VIN on the vehicle. The letters I, O and Q never appear, so check for a 1 or a 0.
The vehicle is from before the 1981 model year, which this tool does not cover.
The vehicle was made for another market, and the U.S. database may not include it.
The manufacturer hasn't reported details for this model yet.
What Torqi does with your VIN
Used once to look up the car, then forgotten
Never in the page address or your browser history
Never sent to analytics or advertising tools
Photos are read for the VIN, then discarded
VIN decoder questions
Is this VIN decoder free?
Yes. It's free to use as often as you need, with no account and no sign up.
What can a VIN tell me about a car?
What you see depends on what the manufacturer has reported. It can include the year, make, model, trim, body style and engine. It can also include the transmission, drivetrain, fuel type, manufacturer and where the car was assembled.
Does a VIN decoder show accident history or the owner?
No. This tool shows how the vehicle was built, as reported by the manufacturer. It is not a vehicle history report.
Why do some details say Not available?
Manufacturers report different details for different vehicles. When a detail isn't on record, we say so instead of guessing.
Can I decode a VIN from before the 1981 model year?
No. This tool is built for the 17-character VINs used from the 1981 model year onward.
Do you keep my VIN or my photo?
No. We use them only to show you the result and don't store either one.
What is a VIN number?
VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number, so VIN number and VIN mean the same thing. Cars made for Canada and the U.S. have carried a 17-character VIN since the 1981 model year.
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