How Do I Check A VIN Number For Free?

Vehicles, like humans, have a unique ‘name’ that defines them. As your fingerprints are peculiar to just you, so also, a VIN number is peculiar to your car. VIN number meaning Vehicle Identification Number refers to a unique code including figures and alphabets that are used to identify a motor vehicle. No two cars have the same VIN number.

More Details On VIN

Vehicle Identification Number is usually 17 characters long. If your VIN is less than this, it would probably mean your car model year was before 1980. The letters Q, I, and O are omitted in VIN numbers to avoid misrepresenting them with numbers 0 and 1.

 Here is an example of a VIN number: 4Y1SL65848Z411439

Where Can I Find My Vehicle’s VIN?

There are two common places where you can find your car’s VIN number. Your car’s VIN number is usually found on the dashboard towards the driver’s side of the car. The easiest way to see this is to look from outside towards the corner of the dashboard where it meets the driver’s seat. The second common place where you can find your VIN is at the door post on the driver’s side doors, where it latches when closed.

Other places where you can find the VIN number includes;

• Insurance card/Insurance policy
• Vehicle title and registration

Decoding Your Car’s VIN

Each letter and number on the VIN encodes for something. Using our model example, here are what each number represents: 4Y1SL65848Z411439

• Ist Character: ‘4’ represents where the vehicle is built.
• 2nd and 3rd Character ‘Y1’ represents the car manufacturers.
• 4th to 8th  Characters ‘SL658′ represent vehicles’ portrait brand, engine size, and type.
• 9th Character ‘4’  denotes the security code that shows the manufacturer authorized the VIN
• 10th Character ‘8’ denotes the Model Year of the car
• The 11th character ”Z’ denotes which manufacturing plant made the car.
• 12th to 17th character ‘411439’  is the serial number of the car.

Where You Can Check Your VIN Details For Free

National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)

The National Insurance Crime Bureau offers details that cover theft, loss, or other insurance records on your car. The only thing you need to run this free check is to know your car’s VIN (and you can find it on the driver’s side as stated earlier) and internet connection.

• Step 1: Using your browser, go to the NICB VIN check page.
• Step 2: Input your vehicle’s VIN in the slot provided.
• Step 3: Confirm you are not a robot and agree to their terms and conditions.
• Step 4: Click on search.

Then you get your results. With NICB, a theft record denotes that the car has been stolen at some point in its history while a total loss record means that the vehicle has been recorded loss due to maybe fire, flood, or accident. However, if you don’t get any results, this may be an indicator that the vehicle has never been lost or stolen.

NICB offers the most basic of VIN checks, and searches are limited to 5 within a 24-hour period from the same IP address.

VINCheckInfo

VinCheckInfo provides more comprehensive details on a VIN check-up. You get record details on fuel economy, selling price history of the car, manufacturer’s recalls and warranties, the best time to buy a new model, title records, theft records, accident records, vehicle specifications such as year, model, colour, etc.

• Step 1: Using your browser, go to the VinCheckInfo page.
• Step 2: From the homepage, Enter your car’s VIN in the space provided; under ‘Run a Free Vehicle Report’.
• Step 3: Click on Check VIN.

iSeeCars

iSeeCars is another free source where you can get a more comprehensive VIN check of your vehicle. Here, you get detailed reports such as the market value of the car, price analysis and price history on the car, projected depreciation, accident records, and projected best times to buy and sell.

• Step 1: Using your browser, go to the iSeeCars page
• Step 2: On the top page, you will find a box to input the VIN number. Input your VIN number.
• Step 3: Click on Analyse.

Faxvin Check

FAXVIN’s VIN check gives you details such as the History of the car, The type of the car, Odometer readings, Total loss records, Accidents history, Mileage Rollback, Recalls and defects, Structural damages, Lien and repossession records, Hail, flood, fire damage, Theft and recovery records, Personal, Police or Taxi Use, Inspection, service, registration History, Other vital car specifications.

• Step 1: Using your browser, go to the Faxvin page
• Step 2: Input your car’s VIN
• Step 3: Click on Check VIN

These four online sources give trustworthy and comprehensive free checks on your car’s VIN. Sometimes, it may be wise to get a paid VIN check, as these give more intense details. Oftentimes, most car dealers tend to give a free VIN check before you fully purchase a new vehicle.