# VINDecoded

> Free VIN decoder and vehicle history tools. Decode any 17-character VIN for the factory build — year, make, model, trim, engine, colors, equipment — plus open NHTSA safety recalls, all free with no account. Optional paid CARFAX and VinAudit (NMVTIS) vehicle history reports cover accidents, title brands, odometer, and ownership.

## Tools

- [VIN decoder (homepage)](https://vindecoded.com/): Free VIN check with full factory build details and open recalls.
- [Window sticker by VIN](https://vindecoded.com/window-sticker): Factory trim, options, packages, and build-sheet details behind the original Monroney label.
- [Accident check by VIN](https://vindecoded.com/accident-check): Free accident report by VIN with paid CARFAX/NMVTIS history for deeper records.
- [CARFAX alternative](https://vindecoded.com/carfax-alternative): VinAudit NMVTIS vehicle history reports at a fraction of the CARFAX price.
- [Paint code by VIN](https://vindecoded.com/paint-code): Factory color lookup plus paint-code plate locations for every major make.
- [Recall check by VIN](https://vindecoded.com/recalls): Open NHTSA safety recalls for an exact VIN with the free dealer remedy.
- [VIN decoder by make](https://vindecoded.com/vin-decoder): Make-specific VIN pages (Ford, Toyota, Tesla, BMW, and more) with VIN locations and WMI codes.
- [Vehicle history reports](https://vindecoded.com/buy-history): Paid CARFAX and VinAudit reports for accidents, title, and ownership history.

## Calculators

- [Free car tools](https://vindecoded.com/tools): Hub for the free calculators below plus every VIN lookup tool.
- [Car loan calculator](https://vindecoded.com/tools/car-loan-calculator): Monthly payment, total interest, and amortization, plus a what-can-I-afford mode.
- [Fuel cost calculator](https://vindecoded.com/tools/fuel-cost-calculator): Monthly, annual, and 5-year gas cost, and what a more efficient car saves.
- [Car depreciation calculator](https://vindecoded.com/tools/car-depreciation-calculator): Project a vehicle's value year by year under three realistic curves.
- [Lease vs buy calculator](https://vindecoded.com/tools/lease-vs-buy-calculator): Same car, same horizon; true net cost of leasing against financing.

## Research

- [Car research hubs](https://vindecoded.com/cars): Year/make/model pages with NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint counts.

## Notes

- The free decode covers vehicles sold in the US since 1981 (17-character VINs), including motorcycles and powersports.
- Recall data comes from NHTSA and manufacturer sources; history reports come from CARFAX and the federal NMVTIS database via VinAudit.