How to Find Information on a Car from the VIN Number
Prior to 1950, American automobile manufacturers produced cars with VINs that only introduced the make, model, model year and sometimes the type of engine and the plant where it was made. After 1950, car-makers began stamping more specific numbers on their cars and their parts to identify them. It wasn't until the 1980s that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration insisted that all road vehicles contain a 17-character VIN, which is the system used today. By using your VIN and the Internet, you can discover a few things about your car.
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Instructions
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Free Online VIN information
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Visit the website for Analog X, a website that gives you basic information about the VIN of a car for free.
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Type in the car's VIN. Double check for mistakes. Click on the button labeled "decode."
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Read the information on the following page. The website will provide you with information about the region of the world where your car was made, the country, the manufacturer, the model and the year, among other things.
Online VIN Information for Purchase
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Visit the Carfax website. Type in the VIN of your car and click on the green arrow, "Get the Carfax!"
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Type in a credit card number and appropriate billing address. Click on how many reports you want, one for $34.99 or 5 for $44.99. Click the red "Submit" button when finished.
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Read about the vehicle history of the car. You'll be able to see how many people owned it previously, how long they had it and how many miles they put on it, as well as possible accidents, collisions and damage.
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