mcp.vin

Free VIN decoder — NHTSA, EPA, safety ratings, recalls & more

Try: 1HGCM82633A004352 (2003 Honda Accord)

Vehicle photo

Vehicle Overview

Engine & Drivetrain

Safety Ratings

Fuel Economy

Recalls

Consumer Complaints

Safety Equipment

Manufacturing

Raw NHTSA Data

Frequently Asked Questions
What is a VIN and what does it stand for? +
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every vehicle manufactured since 1981. It's stamped on the dashboard, the driver-side door jamb, and the engine block. Each character encodes specific information: the manufacturer, the country of origin, the vehicle type, engine specs, model year, assembly plant, and a serial number. No two vehicles in operation share the same VIN.
Where do I find the VIN on my car? +
The easiest place to find it is on the driver-side dashboard — look through the windshield at the base where the dash meets the glass. You'll also find it on the driver-side door jamb sticker (the same one with the tire pressure info), on your vehicle registration card, and on your insurance card. Some cars also have the VIN stamped on the engine block or frame rail.
Is mcp.vin really free? What's the catch? +
Yes, it's genuinely free — no signup, no API key, no hidden charges. mcp.vin pulls data from public government databases (NHTSA and EPA) that are already funded by taxpayers. There are no paid tiers or premium features. The REST API and MCP server are also free to use. The project is open source on GitHub.
What data does a VIN decode include? +
A full VIN decode at mcp.vin returns the make, model, model year, body class, engine displacement, number of cylinders, fuel type, drive type, transmission, plant city and country, vehicle type, GVWR class, and safety equipment. It also includes NHTSA safety ratings, open recalls, consumer complaints, EPA fuel economy data, and vehicle photos when available.
Does it work for vehicles outside the United States? +
The NHTSA database primarily covers vehicles sold in the US market. However, many international manufacturers register their VIN patterns with the NHTSA, so vehicles from Japan, Germany, South Korea, and other major auto-producing countries often decode correctly even if they weren't sold in the US. The WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier) portion of the VIN is standardized globally by the ISO.
What's the difference between a free VIN check and a paid vehicle history report? +
A free VIN check decodes the factory specs from the VIN itself (make, model, year, engine, etc.) and checks for open safety recalls. A paid vehicle history report from Carfax or AutoCheck adds accident records, title history, odometer readings over time, previous ownership count, and service records. Start with the free check to verify the basics, then consider a paid report ($25–$40) if you're seriously considering buying the car.
Learn more
Free VIN Check Before Buying a Used Car VIN Decoder API for Developers How to Check Vehicle Safety Recalls by VIN Understanding Vehicle History Reports

Connect via MCP

Use this server as an MCP tool in Claude Code, Claude Desktop, or any MCP-compatible client. No API key needed.

Claude Code stdio

Add to your project's .mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vin-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "vin-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Or clone and run locally:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vin-mcp": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/vin-mcp/server.mjs"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop / Remote HTTP

Use the remote MCP endpoint:

https://mcp.vin/mcp

Or in config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vin-mcp": {
      "url": "https://mcp.vin/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Available Tools

decode_vin

Full VIN decode with specs, recalls, complaints, safety ratings, fuel economy, and photos

validate_vin

Quick checksum validation, WMI decode, and year detection — no API calls

lookup_recalls

Search recalls by VIN or make/model/year

batch_decode

Decode up to 50 VINs in a single request

REST API

All endpoints are free and require no authentication.

GET/api/vin/:vinFull decode
GET/api/vin/:vin/validateQuick validation
GET/api/vin/:vin/recallsRecalls only
GET/api/vin/:vin/complaintsComplaints only
GET/api/vin/:vin/safetySafety ratings
GET/api/vin/:vin/fuelFuel economy
GET/api/vin/:vin/photoVehicle photo (redirect)
POST/api/batchBatch decode (up to 50)

Open source: github.com/keptlive/vin-mcp

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