Free VIN Scanner: Scan and Decode a VIN with Your Phone
Point your phone camera at the windshield or door-jamb VIN barcode and get the VIN, check-digit validation, and year, make, and model. Free in your browser, no app needed.
Photograph the VIN plate at the bottom of the windshield or the label on the driver-side door jamb.
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What is a VIN barcode?
A VIN barcode is the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number encoded as a barcode, so dealers, shops, and auctions can scan it instead of typing it. Most vehicles use a Code 39 (1D) barcode; newer labels may add a Data Matrix or QR code. The same VIN is always printed as text next to it. Need to make one? Use the VIN barcode generator.
Phone cameras often struggle with thin 1D bars through windshield glass. This scanner reads the printed VIN characters as well as the label, so it still works when the barcode is scratched, curved, or behind glare.
Where to find the VIN on a car
- Windshield: lower driver-side corner, visible from outside the car.
- Driver-side door jamb: the certification label, usually with the VIN barcode.
- Paperwork: title, registration card, and insurance card.
- Motorcycles and trailers: stamped on the frame or a metal plate.
What the 17 characters mean
VINs never use the letters I, O, or Q, so they cannot be confused with 1 and 0. The scanner checks the format and the check digit, then looks up the vehicle in the NHTSA database.
- 1–3World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
- Country and manufacturer. 1, 4 and 5 are the United States, 2 is Canada, 3 is Mexico, J is Japan, W is Germany.
- 4–8Vehicle Descriptor Section
- Model, body style, engine type, and restraint system, coded by each manufacturer.
- 9Check digit
- Calculated from the other 16 characters, so a misread character is detected. Required on North American vehicles.
- 10Model year
- A letter or digit for the model year, for example N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025.
- 11Assembly plant
- The factory that built the vehicle.
- 12–17Serial number
- The production sequence number that makes the VIN unique.
VIN scanning by source and brand
- Windshield VIN plate
- Door-jamb VIN barcode label
- Stamped metal VIN plate
- Auction and window stickers
- US title and registration
- UAE vehicle registration
Where the VIN is on each brand:
Recent History
Pricing
Free
3 scans / day
3 VIN scans / day
3 passport scans / day
3 invoice scans / day
Starter
1,000 credits / month
1,000 VIN scans
500 passport scans
333 invoice scans
Pro
4,000 credits / month
4,000 VIN scans
2,000 passport scans
1,333 invoice scans
Add-on credits
Never expires · Just $0.01/cr
1,000 VIN scans
500 passport scans
333 invoice scans
Frequently asked questions
Get 3 free scans every day, no account needed. Create a free account to save results for 90 days. Upgrade anytime for higher volumes — subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.
Files are processed and permanently deleted within 60 seconds. Extracted structured data is retained per your plan — 24h for guest sessions, 90 days for account holders. We never train on your AI models using your data.
This visual tool requires no code — simply upload files and download your results as CSV, JSON, or Excel. Our API allows developers to integrate the same powerful OCR engine into their own applications with full programmatic control and webhook support.
Each scan costs 1–3 credits depending on the document complexity. VIN, HIN, Receipt, and Container scans cost 1 credit. Passport and ID scans cost 2 credits. Invoice scans cost 3 credits. Monthly plan credits reset on your billing date; top-up add-on credits never expire.
On a phone, tap "Take a photo" and point the camera at the VIN plate at the bottom of the windshield (driver side) or the barcode label on the driver-side door jamb. On a computer, upload a photo. The scanner reads the 17-character VIN printed beside the barcode, so it works even when the bars are scratched or behind glare.
Yes. It is a free VIN scanner that runs in your phone or desktop browser with 3 free scans every day, so there is nothing to install from the App Store or Google Play.
Yes. It checks the 17-character format (VINs never contain I, O, or Q) and verifies the check digit in the 9th position. The check digit is required on North American vehicles; many vehicles built for other markets do not use it, so a mismatch there is not always an error.
Yes. After the scan, the VIN is looked up in the free NHTSA vPIC database to show model year, make, model, trim, body, engine, fuel type, and plant. NHTSA covers vehicles sold in the United States; VINs from other markets may return no details.
It is the 17-character VIN encoded as a barcode, usually Code 39, printed on the door-jamb label and sometimes on the windshield plate or window sticker. Newer labels may also carry a Data Matrix or QR code. The same VIN is always printed as text next to it.
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