What a VIN tells you
Every car built since 1981 has a unique 17-character VIN. It encodes who built the car, where, the model year and the basic configuration:
| Characters 1–3 | World manufacturer identifier — country and maker (for example 1HG = Honda, built in the U.S.) |
|---|---|
| Characters 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor — model, body style, engine and restraint system |
| Character 9 | Check digit that catches typos |
| Character 10 | Model year (A = 1980/2010, B = 2011 … L = 2020, S = 2025, T = 2026) |
| Character 11 | Assembly plant |
| Characters 12–17 | Serial number |
Why check recalls before you buy
Millions of cars on the road have open recalls that were never repaired — often because a previous owner ignored the letter. Repairs are free at any authorized dealer, regardless of who owns the car, but a "do not drive" recall can make a car unsafe until it is fixed. Decode the VIN, check the recall list, and ask the seller for proof the work was done.
After decoding, follow the link to the model-year page to see which problems owners report most and whether that year is one to avoid.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my VIN?
Look at the lower corner of the windshield on the driver side, or on the sticker inside the driver door jamb. It is also printed on your registration, title and insurance card.
Is this VIN check free?
Yes. CarLemons decodes the VIN with the U.S. government's vPIC database and looks up recalls with NHTSA's recall service — both free and official. Nothing is stored.
Does the recall list show recalls that were already fixed?
The list shows every recall issued for the make, model and year. Whether a specific car has been repaired is tracked by the manufacturer — confirm with a dealer or on nhtsa.gov/recalls, which checks the VIN against the automaker's records.
Why is my VIN invalid?
VINs have exactly 17 characters and never use the letters I, O or Q (they are easy to confuse with 1 and 0). Cars built before 1981 have shorter VINs that this tool cannot decode.