Australia · New Zealand
Free VIN decoder and used-car check
Type the 17-character VIN from the windscreen, build plate or rego papers. See who built the car, where and when – then check its history before you hand over any money.
- Free, no sign-up
- Works for any make
- Decoded in your browser
What the 17 characters mean
A VIN (vehicle identification number) follows the ISO 3779 standard. The first three characters identify the manufacturer, the next five describe the vehicle and the last eight identify the exact car. The colours match the slots under the decoder.
- Positions 1–3 · World manufacturer identifierWho built the vehicle and in which country.
- Positions 4–8 · Vehicle descriptorModel, body, engine and restraint codes, set by each maker.
- Position 9 · Check digitRequired on North American VINs; many cars built for Australia and NZ leave it as a plain character.
- Position 10 · Model yearA year code on most US and European VINs; often 0 or a filler on Japanese cars built for Australia.
- Position 11 · Assembly plantThe factory code, defined by each maker.
- Positions 12–17 · Serial numberThe production sequence number of this vehicle.
What a free decode can and cannot tell you
Free decode
- Manufacturer and the factory's country
- Model year, when the VIN carries a year code
- Check digit test for North American VINs
- Full specification for vehicles in the NHTSA database (mostly US-market and US imports)
- Whether the VIN was issued locally to an imported car
Full history report
- Accident and damage records
- Odometer readings over time, to spot a wound-back clock
- Stolen vehicle checks
- Photos from past sales
- History in other countries, important for imports
Where to find the VIN
- Windscreen: on a tag at the bottom of the windscreen, readable from outside.
- Build or compliance plate: on the firewall in the engine bay or on a door pillar. Newer Australian cars, approved after the 2021–2023 switch to the Register of Approved Vehicles, may have no compliance plate, but the VIN is still on the build plate.
- Door pillar sticker: on the driver's or passenger's B-pillar when the door is open.
- Paperwork: registration certificate, insurance policy, service book and the PPSR or NZTA record.
The VIN must match in every place. Different numbers on the plate, glass and papers are a reason to walk away.
Decode a VIN by brand
Manufacturer codes, where each brand's cars for this region are built and what to check before you buy.
Guides for buyers
PPSR check vs history report
What the $2 government search covers, and what it does not.
VIN check in New Zealand
Money owing, odometer records and Japanese imports.
Imported car check
Chassis numbers, local VINs and wound-back odometers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the VIN decoder free?
Yes. The decode runs in your browser and costs nothing. It shows the manufacturer, the country and factory region, the model year when the VIN encodes it, and the full specification when the vehicle is in the US NHTSA database. A paid history report is only needed for accidents, odometer readings and theft records.
Why does the decoder not show the model of my Australian car?
Each manufacturer defines positions 4 to 8 of the VIN itself, and there is no free public database for cars built for Australia and New Zealand. The free decode shows what the VIN encodes; the model, engine and history come with a full report.
What is the difference between a VIN and a chassis number?
On cars built since the 1980s for Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America the VIN is the 17-character identifier. Japanese-market cars use a shorter chassis or frame number instead; when such a car is imported it may receive a local 17-character VIN as well.
Is a PPSR check enough?
A PPSR search shows money owing, written-off and stolen status. It does not show accident damage that did not lead to a write-off, past odometer readings or the car's history overseas. Many buyers run both.
Can I check a car with only the rego plate?
Registration plates belong to the state or to NZTA and can move between vehicles, so history services work with the VIN. You can usually get the VIN from the seller, the advertisement or the windscreen.