Free VIN decoder for Canada
Enter a 17-character VIN to see the car's year, make, model, trim, engine, drivetrain and the country and plant where it was built. Free, no sign-up. For recalls, the car's value and a history report, run the full VIN check.
How to read a VIN
Example: 2HGFC2F50JH000000
| Position | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country where the car was built | 2 |
| 2 | Manufacturer | H |
| 3 | Vehicle type or division | G |
| 4–8 | Model, body, engine and restraints | FC2F5 |
| 9 | Check digit | 9 |
| 10 | Model year | J |
| 11 | Assembly plant | H |
| 12–17 | Serial number | 000000 |
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Characters 4 to 9 describe the vehicle, and character 9 is a check digit that catches typing errors. Characters 10 to 17 identify this one car: its model year, its plant and its serial number.
Where is the VIN on a car?
On the driver's side of the dashboard, seen through the windshield, on the driver's door frame, and on the registration and insurance papers. It has 17 characters and never uses the letters I, O or Q.
Frequently asked questions
Is this VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding a VIN, the safety recall check and the car's value are free with no sign-up.
What's the difference between a VIN decoder and a VIN check?
A decoder reads what the VIN says about the car as it was built: year, make, model, engine and plant. A VIN check adds what happened to it since: recalls, and with a history report, registrations, theft and damage records.
Why does my VIN fail the check digit?
Usually a typing error: the letters I, O and Q are never used, so check for a 1 or a 0 instead. Some older or imported vehicles also don't follow the North American check-digit rule.
Can a VIN tell me the car's trim and options?
Partly. The VIN encodes the model, body and engine, and often the trim. Options and colour are not in the VIN.