VIN validator
Check whether a VIN is valid. We verify the length, the characters and the ISO 3779 check digit, and show the region of origin. Then decode the full VIN in one click.
Enter a VIN above to check it.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the VIN check digit?
- The 9th character of a VIN is a check digit calculated from the other characters by the ISO 3779 formula. It catches typos. US-market VINs must carry a valid one; many cars built for other markets do not.
- Why does a real VIN fail the check digit?
- Vehicles built outside North America are not required to use the ISO check digit, so a genuine European or Asian VIN can show a mismatch. Use it as a typo check, not proof of fraud.
- What characters can a VIN contain?
- A VIN uses digits 0–9 and letters A–Z except I, O and Q, which are excluded to avoid confusion with 1 and 0. It is always 17 characters.
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