VIN stands for a vehicle identification number.
The 17 numbers and letters uniquely identify your vehicle.
The VIN can be an incredibly helpful tool when you need to track the history of a used car. If a car has an accident history, the right reports will let you know. You’ll be able to easily avoid buying a problem-car thats’ only going to cost you money.
The best part is that you can check your VIN for free if you know where to look. Where can you find the best free VIN check? Read on to find out.
Vehicle History Website
Finding the best free VIN check means searching for reputable sites with a history of delivering accurate results. One of our favorite sites to use is vehiclehistory.com. We prefer this site since it provides users with a lot of completely free information.
You’ll be able to learn a lot about your vehicle’s potential recalls, safety ratings, specifications, warranty, and beyond. The website even gives you information about special safety equipment that the vehicle might have. Thanks to their secured website features, you’ll be able to search the entire site with peace of mind.
Did you want to know about the car’s fuel economy and check on customer reviews? Vehiclehistory.com has all of that information and more.
You’ll be able to make a lot of car comparisons, too, so that you can see what other vehicles are selling for in your area. If a car you’re interested in goes up for sale, vehiclehistory.com will let you know what the sale price is. You’ll be able to learn all about the status of the parts of the vehicle and the other important components.
Access Comprehensive Information and Positive Review
Vehiclehistory.com is a prime site if you’re looking for in-depth reports. The writers and editors at vehicle history do extensive research to provide users with comprehensive and informative car details.
You’ll find that the website is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Whether you’re checking the VIN for a sedan, truck, or minivan, the entire process is easy and straightforward.
Positive Reviews
You have to be extra careful when you’re using a VIN check website. It’s always a good idea to double-check customer reviews. That way, you can guarantee that you’re getting accurate information that will help you make a wise purchasing choice.
All it takes is a peek at the customer reviews for vehicle history.com to see that their clients are incredibly happy. Users report that the VIN check is just as good as carfax, except for free!
If you’ve been looking at a couple of used or new vehicles and can’t tell which one to get, performing a VIN check can help narrow things down. The reports are completely free by VIN number, and they are just as comprehensive as a paid-for Carfax report. Vehiclehistory.com is a highly recommended site and provides instant results.
ISeeCars for VIN Decoders and Check
Another website that has a free VIN check and free VIN decoders is ISeeCars.com. Their free VIN check and free VIN decoders provide must-have information for individuals purchasing a used vehicle.
While vehicle history reports matter, they’re only part of the puzzle. Consumers need to know the entire picture before buying a used car. The in-depth VIN check and decoder that ISeeCars.com provides helps answer some of the most important questions from car shoppers.
You’ll be able to complement standard history reports to get all of the data you need to see if the car you’re considering is a smart buy. For instance, the VIN reports powered by ISeeCars feature renowned data and cutting-edge research.
VIN Report Details
What makes ISeeCars VIN report more comprehensive than other companies? A standard free VIN checking tool that decodes a VIN will provide basic vehicle information. You’ll be able to learn about the make and model and odometer readings.
ISeeCars.com go a step further by providing customers and car shoppers with a completely comprehensive free VIN report. These reports dig a little bit deeper than a standard VIN check. You’ll be able to enjoy a comprehensive analysis that takes into account hundreds of data points.
What type of data points will be in the report? You’ll get to learn about pricing, selling history, condition, and the dealer scorecard. The report also includes information about depreciation and supply analysis.
If you were wondering about the best time to buy, that information would be in the report as well. Theft check, free recall check, titling info, and vehicle history are also included.
The in-depth and user-friendly free VIN check report gives you all of the information you need, including a detailed market analysis.
National Insurance Crime Bureau Resources
You can find another free VIN check tool on the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s website or NICB.org.
NICB partners with law enforcement, insurance providers, and consumers to prevent insurance crime. One of the ways they help consumers is by providing a free VIN check.
The moment you arrive on the website, you’ll see the free VIN check from their home page. Click on the button that says search our database, and enter the VIN. After agreeing to the terms and conditions of use, you’ll be able to get the information you need.
NICB’s VIN check is a completely free lookup service. They provide this service to the public to help determine if a vehicle has an insurance theft record. The check also helps consumers find out if a vehicle hasn’t been recovered or has ever been reported salvaged.
To perform a full lookup, you’ll need the complete VIN. There’s a maximum of 5 searches for every 24-hour period. The website notes your IP address and will prohibit further searches until the time period passes.
After 24 hours, you can do another free 5 VIN checks! This can be an incredibly helpful tool as you search for used and new cars to purchase.
New VIN Photo Upload Feature
NICB’s website is even more user-friendly thanks to its new enhanced features. Now you can take a photo of the VIN and upload it to the VIN check directly. Of course, you can still enter the VIN manually if that’s what you prefer.
If at any point you’re having trouble uploading a photo of the VIN, try clearing your browser’s cache. Then you should be able to locate a camera icon to the right of the field that says enter VIN.
Using VIN Manuals
If you want to dive deeper into the vehicle’s information, you can always order a vehicle identification manual or VIN manual. You can purchase passenger or commercial vehicle identification manuals. These personal vehicle manuals publish on an annual basis.
The manuals always contain the vehicle identification number structure along with the latest decoding procedures. The manuals work for most Canadian and US passenger vehicles.
For instance, light-duty trucks, snowmobiles, ATVs, and motorcycles, would all qualify for a passenger vehicle identification manual. These manuals are typically anywhere from 200 to 400 pages long. You’ll be able to learn a lot of in-depth information about the vehicle, which can be great if you’re about to make a big purchase.
The commercial vehicle identification manual is usually published every 5 years. You’ll be able to get the VIN structure for commercial trucks and trailers from the previous four model years.
Certain sites like NICB offer free shipping and free manuals to members. There’s also a free allotment for Canadian law enforcement.
What Is Your VIN Telling You?
Let’s say you already ran a check on the VIN for the vehicle you want to buy. Along with the reports you get back, what information can you gain from the VIN itself? By looking at the first digit, you’ll be able to tell the car’s country of origin
As long as the VIN is on a vehicle after 1981, the first digit pertains to manufacturing. Since there are a lot of new cars out on the market, it’s nice to know where yours is coming from.
For instance, cars built in Germany have a VIN that starts with W. The W stands for West Germany. Certain countries will have 2 letters, to begin with.
For instance, Korean cars start with KM or KL. KP and KN are also Korean car VIN starters. Cars from Japan have a VIN that starts with J for Japan.
The second number of the VIN helps you learn a little bit more about the manufacturer. Digits 4 through 8 will let you know the different attributes of your vehicle.
For instance, are you buying a car or an SUV? It’s the fourth through 8th digits of the VIN that will relay this information. Typically, the 8th digit lets you know about the engine.
Important Car Data Points
Why do some VIN tools have more data points than others? It has to do with the software that’s generating the report.
Some of the latest free VIN checking tools are able to dig deep by gathering information from multiple data points. As far as pricing goes, you’ll be able to estimate the car’s fair value using local market prices.
The software can map similar cars that are selling within your area to see if there’s a better deal. Selling history is another important data point.
The selling history lets you know what the price changes of the vehicle are worth throughout its life span. The condition helps you understand things such as the mileage on the odometer, and any potential recalls.
The dealer’s scorecard helps compare all of the dealer’s prices, transparency, and responsiveness. This will help you when you’re deciding where to buy your used vehicle from.
Another important data point is depreciation. The depreciation lets you know how much the car will be worth 5 years from now. The calculation is done by comparing your car with similar cars.
Supply Analyst Data Points
An in-depth VIN check will also provide you with a supply analyst data point. A supply analyst data point lets you know how many vehicles are selling within your area that are similar to the carrier considering. By knowing about similar cars on sale, you’ll be able to negotiate better.
You can also find out the best time to buy from in-depth VIN checks. Similar to houses, cars have prime buying seasons.
An in-depth report lets you know what months will help you find the best price. You’ll also be able to dive deep to find out if your vehicle was ever reported stolen. Other important data and points include vehicle history and title/lien info.
Where Is the VIN Located?
Where do you get the VIN to check it in the first place? Since you’re looking to purchase a vehicle, you can get the VIN directly from the seller.
Dealerships will have the VIN posted on the car’s website. At the same time, an individual seller should be able to provide it to you over the phone or through email.
Suppose you were looking for the VIN on a vehicle; look for it at the front of the dashboard. The VIN is also on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
It’s usually easiest to see the VIN when standing outside the car. Simply look through the windshield, and notice where the hood meets the windshield. If you can’t find the VIN in any of those locations, it’s also printed on the vehicle’s title or insurance cards.
Find the Best Free Vin Check
Now you know how to find the best free VIN check! Since these tools are all online, you can start checking VINs today!
Remember to get the VIN directly from the seller or dealership you’re considering purchasing from. The sooner you find out the history of the vehicle, the sooner you can find out if it’s the right one for you.
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