A unique 17-character alphanumeric code assigned to every vehicle manufactured since 1981. It encodes the manufacturer, model, year, plant, and serial number. The VIN acts as the vehicle's fingerprint — no two vehicles share the same VIN.
The first three characters of a VIN. They identify the country of origin, manufacturer, and vehicle type. For example, "1FT" indicates a Ford truck made in the United States.
Characters 4 through 8 of the VIN. They describe the vehicle's model, body type, engine, transmission, and restraint system. The exact encoding varies by manufacturer.
Characters 10 through 17 of the VIN. They identify the model year, assembly plant, and unique serial number of the vehicle.
The 9th character of a VIN. It is a calculated value used to verify the VIN is not fraudulent. The check digit is computed using a mathematical formula applied to all other VIN characters.
The year assigned by the manufacturer to a vehicle model, encoded in the 10th position of the VIN. Note: model year does not always match the calendar year of manufacture.
An official notification from a manufacturer or safety authority that a vehicle has a defect affecting safety. Recalls require free repair by authorized dealers. Open recalls can affect a vehicle's safety and resale value.
A document issued by a manufacturer to inform dealers about known problems and recommended fixes. Unlike recalls, TSBs are not mandatory — but they indicate documented issues with specific models.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — the US government agency responsible for vehicle safety standards, crash testing, and recall management. NHTSA maintains a free public database of vehicle recalls and complaints.
A title issued when a vehicle has been declared a total loss by an insurance company, typically after a major accident, flood, or theft recovery. Salvage vehicles may be rebuilt and resold, but their history should always be investigated.
A title issued after a salvage vehicle has been repaired and passed a state inspection. While roadworthy, rebuilt vehicles typically have lower resale value and may have hidden structural damage.
A title indicating the vehicle has never been declared a total loss, has no salvage history, and has no liens against it. A clean title does not guarantee the vehicle is free of all problems.
The illegal practice of tampering with a vehicle's odometer to show fewer miles than actually driven. Common in cross-border vehicle sales, especially in the DE→RO and DE→PL corridors. Can reduce a vehicle's apparent mileage by 50,000-200,000 km.
Damage caused by water submersion, which can cause electrical failures, mold, corrosion, and mechanical problems that may not appear immediately. Flood-damaged vehicles are often resold in distant markets to avoid detection.
Structural damage to a vehicle's frame or unibody. Frame damage can compromise crash safety and is often expensive or impossible to fully repair. Always check for frame damage before purchasing a used vehicle.
The estimated price a vehicle would sell for in the current market, based on its make, model, year, mileage, condition, and regional demand. Market value data helps buyers negotiate fair prices.
A comprehensive report covering a vehicle's past including accidents, ownership changes, mileage records, service history, and title status. Providers like carVertical and autoDNA compile this data from national registries and insurance databases.
A pre-purchase verification that confirms vehicle specifications, checks safety recalls, searches stolen databases, estimates market value, and provides model-specific insights. VinFlash provides this type of check.
National and international police databases that record vehicles reported as stolen. Buying a stolen vehicle — even unknowingly — can result in the vehicle being seized and the buyer losing their money.
A numerical assessment (0-100) based on available vehicle data including recall history, model-specific known issues, and data quality. Higher scores indicate more areas that warrant attention during a physical inspection.