Check a used car before you buy Free VIN decoder, history & AI inspection
Free VIN decoder and NHTSA recall lookup, AI photo inspection with a free account, and full vehicle history reports — everything you need to vet a used vehicle, in one place.
Not sure where to find the VIN? Here's the guide
20,692+
Recalls tracked
1391
Makes covered
15587+
Models decoded
56
States & territories
Three ways to check a used car
Start with whatever you have
A VIN you already know, a photo of the dashboard plate, or just the seller's listing photos. We handle all three.
Paste a VIN
If you have the 17-character VIN in front of you, paste it into the search above. You'll get the decoded specs and the NHTSA recall campaigns for its model year — free, in seconds.
Scan the VIN from a photo
No VIN typed out? Snap a photo of the dashboard plate, door-jamb sticker, or title. Our photo scanner extracts the 17 characters instantly — no typos, no missed characters.
Inspect from photos
Buying from out of state? With a free account, upload 3–8 photos and AI returns a structured condition report — visible damage, rust, paint mismatch, tire wear, and questions to ask the seller.
Everything in your vehicle history report
A full try.vin report covers the areas that matter most when you're buying a used car, wherever records were reported.
Title History
Salvage, rebuilt, flood, fire, and lemon-buyback brands reported for the vehicle.
Accident Records
Reported collisions, structural damage, and airbag deployments, with severity where available.
Odometer Readings
Mileage readings reported over time, plus odometer-problem checks. Know if the numbers add up before you buy.
Recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns for the model year on the free page, plus the manufacturer recall checks reported in the full report.
Owners & Service History
Number of previous owners, how the vehicle was used, and reported service records.
Decoded Specs
Year, make, model, engine, and plant country — decoded from the VIN by NHTSA, free.
New · AI-powered
AI used-car inspection from photos
Upload 3–8 photos of any used car. In about 15 seconds, Claude (Anthropic's vision AI) returns a structured condition report — visible damage, rust, paint mismatch, tire wear, interior wear, and specific questions to ask the seller before you commit.
- Spot paint mismatch, rust, and prior body repair
- Evaluate tire wear and curb rash from a single photo
- Flag interior wear inconsistent with claimed mileage
- Get specific, targeted questions for the seller
Well-kept sedan showing normal wear for its mileage. One moderate paint finding suggests prior body repair…
Driver fender — paint mismatch
Clear-coat texture and hue differ from adjacent panels.
Front tires — outer-edge wear
Likely alignment or suspension issue.
Three steps to peace of mind
Vetting a used car shouldn't take longer than a minute.
Paste, scan, or upload
Enter a 17-character VIN, snap a photo of the plate, or upload 3–8 photos of the car.
We decode & inspect
We decode the specs, pull the NHTSA recall campaigns, and — for photos, with a free account — run AI vision.
Review your report
Clear, actionable findings — specs, recalls, visible condition, and seller questions, plus title brands and accidents in a full history report.
Why try.vin
Legacy history-report services hide the basics behind paywalls. We don't.
Actually free
No credit card for the basics. VIN decode, recall check, and photo scan need no account; AI inspection is free with one.
NHTSA data
VIN-decode specs come straight from NHTSA, and recall campaigns are refreshed from NHTSA daily.
AI-powered inspection
Something legacy services don't offer: Claude Sonnet reads photos like an experienced appraiser.
Under 60 seconds
No signup for the VIN check, no forms, no callbacks. Paste or scan a VIN — results in the time it takes to open a coffee.
Free tools
More free tools for used-car buyers
Recall lookups, lemon-law guides, state-by-state VIN-check directories, and more — no account required. AI inspection is free with an account.
AI Condition Report
With a free account, upload photos of a used car and get an AI inspection — damage, rust, paint mismatch, tire wear, and seller questions.
Recall Lookup
Search NHTSA safety recall campaigns by make, model, and year.
Lemon Law Guide
State-by-state lemon law coverage, filing requirements, and consumer rights explained.
VIN Check by State
State-specific vehicle history requirements, DMV resources, and title branding rules.
Auto Glossary
Plain-English definitions for every automotive and title term you'll encounter.
Who it's for
Anyone considering a used car — at any stage of the decision.
Private-party deals
Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp — run the VIN and the photos before you drive to meet a stranger with cash in hand.
Out-of-state purchases
Auction listings, online dealer inventory, cross-country finds — use the VIN history and AI photo inspection before you book a flight or a tow truck.
First-time buyers
Don't know what a repainted panel or a rollback mileage looks like? We do. Use every tool before you put money down.
Dealer listings
Before you drive across town for a test drive, run the listing's VIN and photos to vet the deal from your phone.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before you run your first check.
Don't buy blind.
Every used car has a past. Make sure you know it before you sign.