Free VIN check: what you can check for free
Recalls, theft and total-loss records can be checked by VIN for free at the official US sources, and the title brands for a few dollars. Here is what each one shows, what none of them shows, and when a paid history report is worth it.
NHTSA recall lookup
Free
Shows: Open (unrepaired) safety recalls on the vehicle, issued in the past 15 years by the automakers and motorcycle makers that sold it in the US.
Does not show: Recalls that were already repaired, and anything about accidents, title or mileage.
NICB VINCheck
Free, up to 5 searches a day
Shows: Whether the vehicle was reported stolen and not recovered, or reported as a total loss (salvage) by an insurer that takes part in the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Does not show: Thefts and losses not reported by member insurers, accidents that were repaired, mileage and title brands from the states.
NMVTIS report
A few dollars, from approved providers
Shows: The federal title database: current title state, title brands (salvage, junk, flood, rebuilt), the last odometer reading on the title, and total-loss and junk-yard records.
Does not show: Accidents and repairs that never led to a title brand, service visits, past sale listings and photos.
Your state DMV
Free or a small fee, depends on the state
Shows: Many DMVs offer an online title or registration status check by VIN: whether the title is active, branded or has a lien recorded.
Does not show: Records from other states, which is why a car can carry a clean title in one state after a brand in another.
DecodeThatVIN is not affiliated with NHTSA, NICB or NMVTIS. The links open the official services in a new tab.
What the free checks do not show
The free sources answer three questions: is there an open recall, was the car stolen, and was it totaled or branded? Most used-car problems lie elsewhere.
Accidents that were repaired
Most accidents never total a car, so they leave no title brand. Insurance claims, repair estimates and damage photos are in paid history reports.
Mileage between title transfers
NMVTIS only has the odometer reading written on titles. Service, inspection and listing readings show a rollback between two sales.
Photos and past listings
Photos from earlier sale listings and auctions show damage, color changes and the equipment the car had.
History abroad
A car imported from Canada, Mexico or Europe arrives with history the US sources do not have.
How to check a used car by VIN
- 1Decode the VIN
Make sure the VIN describes the car you see: model, engine, year. A mismatch ends the deal.
- 2Run the free checks
Recalls at NHTSA, theft and total loss at NICB VINCheck.
- 3Check the title
Title brands in NMVTIS, and the title itself: the VIN, the brand box and the lienholder.
- 4Get the full history
For accidents, mileage readings and photos: a paid report, then an inspection by a mechanic.
Salvage, rebuilt and flood titles explained · VIN check: what a history report covers
Free VIN check questions
Is there a completely free vehicle history report?
No full one. Recalls (NHTSA) and theft or total-loss records (NICB) are free; the title brands from NMVTIS cost a few dollars; accidents, repairs, mileage readings and photos are in paid reports. Sites that promise a free history report usually show a free summary and sell the report.
What does the free DecodeThatVIN lookup show?
The decode: make, model, trim, engine, model year, plant and safety equipment, from the NHTSA vPIC data for US-market VINs. Below the result we link to the free recall, theft and title checks described on this page.
How many free checks can I run on NICB VINCheck?
NICB allows up to five VINCheck searches in 24 hours from the same IP address.
Do I need the VIN or the license plate?
The VIN. The official free checks search by VIN; a plate can be moved to another car, a VIN cannot.
More VIN guides
Where is the VIN?
Car, truck, motorcycle, trailer and the papers: every place the 17 characters are printed.
VIN year chart
The model year from the 10th character, 1980 to 2039, and how to tell 1990 from 2020.
VIN check digit calculator
Check the 9th character of any VIN: a wrong check digit means a typo or a fake VIN.
Salvage title check
Salvage, rebuilt, flood and junk titles: what they mean and how to find them by VIN.