VIN lookup. See how the truck was built.
Enter a 17-character VIN to see the year, make, model, engine and other factory details on file with NHTSA. It is free, and there is nothing to sign up for.
Factory details come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A blank means NHTSA has no data for that detail, and it does not mean the truck lacks it. Trucks get changed after they leave the factory, so match these details to the truck and its paperwork.
This is not a history report.
A VIN tells you how a truck was built. It can’t tell you how the truck was treated.
What you get
- Year, make and model
- Truck type, cab and GVWR class
- Engine, fuel and drive, when the manufacturer reported them
- Who built it and where
What you still need to check
- Accidents, repairs and frame damage
- Title brands and liens
- Real miles, engine hours and service records
- Open recalls, which NHTSA looks up separately
VIN lookup questions
Where do these details come from?
From NHTSA, the federal agency that keeps a database of what manufacturers report about each VIN pattern. This page asks that database and shows you the answer.
Why are some details missing?
Manufacturers report different things, and heavy trucks often have less on file. A blank only means NHTSA has no data for that detail.
Why does it say the check digit does not add up?
The ninth character of a VIN is calculated from the others. If it does not match, a character was probably mistyped. Compare the VIN with the truck or the title and try again.
Will this show accidents, liens or real miles?
No. It shows factory details only. For the rest, ask for the title, the service records and an ECM report, and have a diesel shop with no stake in the sale look the truck over.
Do you keep the VINs people look up?
The VIN goes to NHTSA to get the answer, and the factory details are kept for up to 30 days so a repeat lookup is faster. Your name is not attached to it unless you send the VIN to John yourself.
Looking at a truck? Run it by John.
These details tell you how the truck left the factory. Call John with the VIN and what you need the truck to do. He has spent more than 50 years in commercial trucks.
(563) 529-1538John Mravinac, Davenport, Iowa
john@usedtruckdealer.com