Free VIN Check: What Can You Find Out?

Would you drive 400 km to look at a car without really knowing what you're going to buy? I hear this all the time. Someone finds a car they like online, the photos look fantastic, the seller says everything is perfect, and they're ready to jump in the car and go and get it. But there's one check you can do from your own sofa before wasting a whole day on the road. It's a free VIN check. Think of the VIN as your car's ID card. It tells you where the car comes from and what it is, but it doesn't tell you everything it's been through. And that's exactly the difference I want you to understand, so you don't get caught out.

What exactly is a car's VIN number?

VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. It's a 17-character code made up of letters and numbers that identifies your particular car. You'll find it on the car's identification plate, beneath the windscreen and in the paperwork. It can tell you who made the car, what model it is, its model year and which factory built it. Think of it as the car's own personal ID number. Two Passats might look identical but have different equipment and different parts. That's why this little number matters so much.

That's also why, when you ring us about a spare part, the first thing we ask for is your VIN. Not because we enjoy making life difficult, but because I want to make sure you get the right part for your car. Even two cars of the same model and year can be different. I've explained this properly in my article why we ask for the VIN when ordering any part. Give it a read. It'll save you a lot of head-scratching.

What can a free VIN check tell you?

Here's the good news. You don't have to start paying for vehicle history reports just to make your first check. The VIN itself contains information you can use to compare what's written in the advert with the car you're being offered. That doesn't guarantee the car is any good. But it might help you spot something wrong before you've even left home to see it.

• Model, year and factory. The VIN can tell you basic details about the car, which you can compare with what the seller has told you. Just remember that the model year isn't necessarily the same as the date of first registration.
• Matching the paperwork. The VIN in the documents must match the one on the car. If they don't match, don't brush it off because someone tells you it's probably just a mistake.
• Manufacturer recalls and service campaigns. With some brands, you can check online whether the manufacturer has issued a recall or service campaign for that particular car. It's useful information and well worth checking before you go any further.

There's something important I want you to understand. A free VIN check is your first filter when looking at a car advert. It helps you rule out obvious problems, but it doesn't replace inspecting the car itself. Plenty of people get this the wrong way round. They see that the VIN is valid, the details match, and decide everything must be fine. I wish it were that simple.

What won't a free VIN check tell you?

This is where people often get the wrong idea. You'll see someone in an owners' group saying they've checked a car's VIN and now know its entire history. I wish it worked like that! The truth is, there's information you simply won't get from a single free report. And sometimes that's the information that matters most.

• The real service history. That's held in the authorised dealers' service systems and doesn't automatically appear in ordinary free VIN reports. If you want to understand how to check it, read my article on how to check a car's genuine service history.
• The actual mileage. Just because a report shows a particular mileage doesn't mean it's genuine. At Das Auto Service, we use diagnostic equipment to check the information stored in several of the car's electronic control units and look for anything that doesn't add up. The number on the dashboard alone isn't enough for me.
• Accidents and damage. If the car has been in an accident and the repair wasn't handled through an insurance company, there might be no record of it at all. The car can look beautiful in the photos while hiding a very different story.

So please don't assume everything is fine just because you've found a report with nothing worrying in it. No recorded accident doesn't prove the car has never been damaged. And no service record doesn't necessarily mean nobody has ever serviced it. It simply means you don't have enough information. When you're buying a used car, guessing can become a very expensive habit.

What should I check when I see the car in person?

Let's say you've asked for the VIN, done your first check and everything looks good. Now you're standing in front of the car. Don't let the shiny paintwork and lovely interior distract you just yet. Give yourself a few minutes to check a few simple things first. You don't need to be a mechanic to do them.

1. Compare the VIN on the identification plate, beneath the windscreen and in the paperwork. Every character must match exactly. Even one different character isn't something to ignore.
2. Look carefully at the identification plates. There shouldn't be any suspicious signs that they've been tampered with, moved or altered. If something doesn't look right, don't try to convince yourself there's probably an innocent explanation.
3. Compare the equipment with the model information. Make sure what you're looking at matches the car the seller says it is. If something doesn't add up, ask for an explanation before going any further.

Those are the first checks you can do yourself. But if you really want to know what you're buying, you also need to check the car's mechanical condition. That's why at Das Auto Service we offer a proper pre-purchase car inspection, where we go through the car in much more detail. I don't want you discovering what you've actually bought only when the repair bills start arriving.

What should I do before arranging to view a car?

The easiest thing is to ask for the VIN while you're still on the phone with the seller. That way, you can check the basic details in your own time, without someone standing over your shoulder and rushing you. If the seller refuses to give you the VIN, that's a serious warning sign as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't automatically mean there's something wrong with the car, but I certainly wouldn't set off on a long journey without even knowing its VIN.

Tip from Kris Mladenov: Ask for the VIN during your very first conversation with the seller and do a free check before arranging a viewing. If something doesn't match, get it cleared up first. Don't rush into buying a car just because the advert looks like a bargain. You want the right car for you, not simply the first one that catches your eye.

I hope this article has helped you! If it has, I'd love you to share it with a friend who's looking for a car. My mission has always been simple. If I know something useful, I want more people to know it too. Because one simple check today could save you a lot of trouble tomorrow. And remember, it's your hard-earned money you're spending on that car. I want you to spend it wisely.

The solution in our shop

Genuine Longlife III FE 0W30 oil 5L

Genuine LongLife III engine oil is suitable for the first service after buying your car, provided the car requires this specification. Don't put off servicing it just because the seller assured you everything had already been changed.

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Read more

• Pre-purchase inspection
• Genuine VAG parts and accessories
• VIN Number for Car Parts: Why We Always Ask for It
• VAG Service History Check: How to Verify a Car

Frequently asked questions

What can I find out from a VIN?

You can find basic details such as the manufacturer, model, model year and factory where the car was built. You can also compare the VIN with the paperwork and, for some brands, check for manufacturer recalls and service campaigns.

Can I check a car's service history using its VIN?

Not the complete, genuine service history through an ordinary free VIN check. Service records are held in authorised dealers' systems and need to be checked separately.

Where can I find the VIN on my car?

The VIN is a 17-character code. You'll find it beneath the windscreen, on the car's identification plate and in the paperwork. Make sure it matches in every location.

Can I check the actual mileage using just the VIN?

No, you can't reliably confirm the true mileage from the VIN alone. At Das Auto Service, we use diagnostic equipment to check information stored in several electronic control units and look for discrepancies.