APIVerve

VIN Decoder API

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Turn any VIN into the make, model and year behind it.

VIN Decoder turns a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number into the vehicle it identifies. Returns make, model, year, trim, body class and manufacturer, plus engine specifications, plant of manufacture, and the safety equipment fitted to that specific build. Optionally adds every safety recall issued for that vehicle and its NHTSA 5-star crash-test rating.

Try it — live request, no key required

Request
GETapi.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder?vin=1HGCM82633A004352
Query parameters
Verification
Format

No key required to try it. Get a key to use it in your app.

Example
{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "valid": true,
    "decoded": true,
    "vehicleDescriptor": "1HGCM826*3A",
    "make": "HONDA",
    "model": "Accord",
    "year": 2003,
    "trim": "EX-V6",
    "trim2": null,
    "series": null,
    "series2": null,
    "manufacturer": "AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.",
    "vehicleType": "PASSENGER CAR",
    "bodyClass": "Coupe",
    "plant": {
      "country": "UNITED STATES (USA)",
      "city": "MARYSVILLE",
      "state": "OHIO"
    },
    "engine": {
      "displacementL": "2.998832712",
      "displacementCc": "2998.832712",
      "engineNumberOfCylinders": "6",
      "engineBrakeHpFrom": "240",
      "displacementCi": "183",
      "fuelTypePrimary": "Gasoline",
      "valveTrainDesign": "Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)",
      "engineModel": "J30A4",
      "engineConfiguration": "V-Shaped"
    },
    "features": {
      "exterior": {
        "doors": "2",
        "grossVehicleWeightRatingTo": "Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)",
        "grossVehicleWeightRatingFrom": "Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)"
      },
      "mechanical": {
        "transmissionStyle": "Automatic",
        "transmissionSpeeds": "5"
      },
      "passiveSafetySystem": {
        "otherRestraintSystemInfo": "Seat Belt (Rr center position)",
        "seatBeltType": "Manual",
        "curtainAirBagLocations": "1st and 2nd Rows",
        "sideAirBagLocations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
        "frontAirBagLocations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)"
      }
    },
    "validation": {
      "errorText": "0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct",
      "errorCode": "0",
      "errorCodes": [
        "0"
      ]
    }
  }
}

About the VIN Decoder API

A VIN decoder and VIN lookup API. Data is sourced from the NHTSA vPIC database, the official US vehicle identification record, and is refreshed with each monthly release. Recalls come from NHTSA's recall records, refreshed daily, and crash-test ratings from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Covers vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States.

What people use it for

Insurance Policy Intake
When a driver enters their VIN during checkout, quote flows populate vehicle make, model, and body class to price policies accurately without typos.
Used Car Listings
To speed up seller listings, automotive marketplaces fill vehicle brand, year, and model from user-submitted VINs while catching transcription errors instantly.
Fleet Inventory Intake
Validate vehicle identification numbers and verify vehicle types across newly acquired commercial vans before registering them into maintenance management systems.
Repair Shop Diagnostics
Mechanics confirm incoming customer cars by decoding the VIN to check manufacturer build records and resolve mistyped registration paperwork.

Ways to call it

One endpoint, many ways in — REST with JSON, XML, YAML and CSV, plus GraphQL and an MCP interface for AI agents.

JSON
Default REST response
XML
Markup format
YAML
Human-readable
CSV
Tabular export
Beta
GraphQL
Query language
New
MCP
For AI agents
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Other ways to use VIN Decoder

Same data, same APIVerve account, same credit balance — one key works on all of them.

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.on VerveKit Google Sheets or ExcelA =VERVE() formula fills a column — no script, no export, recalculates in place.on VerveSheets Ground an agent on itA cited, machine-checkable fact your model can't produce on its own.on VerveContext

Questions.

Common questions about the VIN Decoder API.

Read the docs →
Where does the vehicle data come from?
Data is sourced directly from the NHTSA vPIC database, the official United States vehicle identification record. It is refreshed with every monthly NHTSA release, reflecting the official build specifications submitted by manufacturers.
Does it decode vehicles sold outside the United States?
No, coverage is limited to vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States. Vehicles built exclusively for foreign markets without US federal documentation may not decode.
Can I check a VIN for open recalls and crash-test ratings?
Yes. Add recalls=true to list every NHTSA safety recall issued for that vehicle's make, model and year, newest first, with a severity level, the hazard, the remedy and do-not-drive warnings. Add safetyRating=true for the NHTSA 5-star crash-test rating of the closest tested version. Recalls are matched to the model, not to the individual VIN, so a listed recall may already have been repaired on a given car.
Are engine specs, trim, and safety features included on the Free plan?
No, the Free plan provides basic identification such as make, model, year, and body class. Engine specifications, trim levels, manufacturing plant details, and full safety equipment packages require any paid plan.
What happens if a user submits a typo or partial VIN?
Partial VINs are accepted and decoded as far as the available characters permit. If a VIN contains typos or fails check-digit validation, the response returns error diagnostics and provides a suggested correction whenever NHTSA identifies one.
Which plan fits 10,000 VIN lookups a month?
The Starter plan covers 10,000 lookups with room to spare. Each lookup costs 10 credits, so Starter's 200,000 monthly credits accommodate up to 20,000 decodes, which works out to $1.50 per 1,000 calls. The Free plan provides 20 calls each month.
Can I store and show decoded vehicle data inside my product?
Yes, you can store and display decoded vehicle details within your application or platform on any paid plan. Commercial use is not permitted on the Free plan, and you may not resell or redistribute the raw API data as a standalone dataset.
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