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VINDecoded for independent dealers

Know the car.
Know your costs.
Keep your lot moving.

Vehicle research and inventory tools for independent dealers. Bring your cars, costs and team into one place—from the first VIN check to the final sale.

Start your inventoryExplore the tools
Example inventoryA look inside your lot
Your lot, at a glance.3 vehicles
Vehicle / stageRecorded cost
  • 2019 Toyota RAV4LV-104 · 52 days in stockListed
    $13,400Asking $15,900
  • 2020 Honda AccordLV-105 · 12 days in stockNeeds prep
    $16,200Asking not set
  • 2023 Ford F-150LV-106 · 3 days in stockAcquired
    $30,250Asking $35,000

52 days in stock. Time to revisit the RAV4’s next step.

What’s in the asking price? Try Costs.

  • Research before you buy
  • See what you have in each car
  • Keep your team on the same page

Built for the decisions behind the deal

Make your next move
with a clearer picture.

A promising trade-in. Another repair bill. A car that’s been sitting. Put the research and recorded numbers to work in the moments that matter.

01 At the auction. On a trade-in.

Know more before
you make the offer.

The seller has a story. Build your own picture of the car with VIN details, market comparisons and listing history—before you commit money to it.

Bring better questions to the negotiation.

Check the equipment. Put the price in context. Know what deserves a closer look.

Explore vehicle research
Example research2019 Toyota RAV4

One VIN. Three things
worth looking into.

Does the car match the description?VIN details & equipment

Check the trim, engine and available equipment against the seller’s description. Take the discrepancies with you to the inspection.

How does the asking price compare?Market value & comparable listings

Put the asking price beside market context and comparable listings. Use the differences in mileage, condition and equipment to guide your next questions.

What happened before this listing?Listing history & available reports

Look for previous asking prices, auction sightings and mileage changes where available. Explore history reports and recall information before deciding what to check in person.

A research checklist, not findings for this example car. Coverage and report availability vary by vehicle; some research requires credits or a purchase.

02 Before you change the price

The price is $15,900.
What’s really left?

The purchase is only the start. Transport and repairs go into the car, too. Keep those costs together so you can see the room in your price before changing it.

In this example, $600 changes the picture.

At the original asking price, purchase alone leaves a $3,100 gap. Recorded expenses bring the potential spread to $2,500.

Try the cost example
Illustrative pricing exerciseLV-104

Know what’s in the car.

Purchase
$12,800
Repair
+ $420
Transport
+ $180
Recorded cost
$13,400
Try a $500 price change
Potential spread at $15,900$2,500
Recorded cost $13,400Asking $15,900

Asking price minus recorded costs. Not net profit. Only costs you enter are included.

03 Your morning inventory check

52 days on the lot.
What happens next?

Some cars need prep. Some need a second look at the price. Filter by age and stage to find the vehicles worth your attention, then review the next step with your team.

Turn a long inventory list into a place to start.

See days in stock, recorded costs and asking prices together. Keep the vehicle’s stage current as the work moves forward.

Start your free inventory
Example inventory review3 vehicles

Where does the lot
need you today?

  • 52days
    2019 Toyota RAV4Listed · LV-104Asking $15,900
  • 12days
    2020 Honda AccordNeeds prep · LV-105Asking not set
  • 3days
    2023 Ford F-150Acquired · LV-106Asking $35,000

3 vehicles · All stock

Days in stock measure time in your inventory, not time advertised. Updating a stage does not publish a listing.

Less chasing. More clarity.

Your lot, with everyone
on the same page.

A repair recorded in the shop. A stage updated on the lot. A price checked at your desk. Give your team one shared place for the work around every vehicle.

  • Shared inventory for a team of up to five
  • Vehicle costs, stages and activity in one record
  • Available on your phone and desktop
One car. A shared record.Example

2019 Toyota RAV4 LV-104

  1. Mia recorded a repair$420 added to recorded costs
  2. Jordan updated the stageNeeds prep → Listed
  3. You set the asking price$15,900 · Recorded cost $13,400

Make the next buy an informed one

More context before you commit.

Bring vehicle research into the same workflow as your inventory.

Understand the market

Explore market value and comparable listings to put an asking price in context.

Research your next car

Look beyond today’s listing

Review available listing history for previous sightings and advertised prices.

Start with a VIN

Check the history

Order CARFAX or VinAudit reports for reported title, accident, odometer and ownership records.

Explore history reports

Coverage varies by vehicle and available records. Research supports your inspection and judgment.

Start with your lot. Grow your research.

Useful every day.
More powerful with Dealer.

Your everyday tools

Organize your inventory.

Inventory and team tools are available without a membership.

  • Track vehicle stages and days in stock
  • Record acquisition costs and expenses
  • Work from a shared team inventory
Start with your first car
VINDecoded Dealer membership

Research your next purchase.

For dealers checking cars regularly, bring more research into the way you buy.

  • Monthly research credits shared with your team
  • Included VinAudit reports
  • Member pricing on history reports

Included reports and member report prices are for the purchasing account. See current pricing, allowances and availability in Dealer plans.

Explore Dealer plans

A few things to know

Dealer questions,
answered.

Who is VINDecoded for?

VINDecoded gives independent used-car dealers and small teams a place to research vehicles, organize inventory and track recorded costs. Use it from your desktop or phone, from checking a potential purchase to recording a sale.

Do I need a Dealer membership to manage inventory?

No. Inventory stages, recorded costs, days in stock and team tools are available without a Dealer membership. Research credits and vehicle history reports are separate. Your account shows any applicable inventory limits.

What can I research before buying a car?

Start with the VIN for vehicle specifications, equipment and recall information. Go deeper with market value, comparable listings, listing history and accident checks, or order a CARFAX or VinAudit history report. Coverage depends on the vehicle and available records; research does not replace an inspection.

Can my team work from the same inventory?

Yes. A team of up to five people can share inventory, recorded costs, vehicle stages and activity. Dealer membership research credits are shared with the team. Included reports and member report prices belong to the account that purchases the membership.

What does Dealer membership add?

Dealer membership adds monthly research credits for your team, included VinAudit reports and member report pricing for the purchasing account. Open Dealer plans for current prices, allowances and availability for your account. Membership credits and included reports refresh monthly and do not roll over.

Does the cost tracker calculate net profit?

It shows recorded acquisition costs and expenses, then compares them with an asking or sale price. The difference is a potential or sold spread, not net profit. Expenses you have not entered, overhead, taxes and other costs may change the final result.

Put it to work on your lot

Your next car is a good place to start.

Add a vehicle. Keep its details, costs and next steps together.

Add your first vehicle