VIN Decoder API Reference

Overview

A VIN decoder and VIN lookup API. Data is sourced from the NHTSA vPIC database, the official US vehicle identification record, and is refreshed with each monthly release. Recalls come from NHTSA's recall records, refreshed daily, and crash-test ratings from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Covers vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States.

Live Test VIN Decoder API →

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

GEThttps://api.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder

1
2

curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder?vin=1HGCM82633A004352&recalls=true&safetyRating=true" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"

const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder?vin=1HGCM82633A004352&recalls=true&safetyRating=true', {
  headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});

if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);

const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder?vin=1HGCM82633A004352&recalls=true&safetyRating=true",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()

print(res.json()["data"])

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder?vin=1HGCM82633A004352&recalls=true&safetyRating=true", nil)
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

401 is the only auth verdict

A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

Parameter	Type	Description
`vin`Required	string	The Vehicle Identification Number to decode. Partial VINs are accepted and decode as far as the available characters allow. length 1–17
`recalls`Optional	boolean	Add the safety recalls NHTSA has issued for this vehicle's make, model and year.
`safetyRating`Optional	boolean	Add the NHTSA 5-star crash-test rating for the closest tested version of this vehicle.

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

Sample response

{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "valid": true,
    "decoded": true,
    "vehicleDescriptor": "1HGCM826*3A",
    "make": "HONDA",
    "model": "Accord",
    "year": 2003,
    "trim": "EX-V6",
    "trim2": null,
    "series": null,
    "series2": null,
    "manufacturer": "AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.",
    "vehicleType": "PASSENGER CAR",
    "bodyClass": "Coupe",
    "plant": {
      "state": "OHIO",
      "country": "UNITED STATES (USA)",
      "city": "MARYSVILLE"
    },
    "engine": {
      "displacementL": "2.998832712",
      "displacementCc": "2998.832712",
      "engineNumberOfCylinders": "6",
      "engineModel": "J30A4",
      "engineConfiguration": "V-Shaped",
      "engineBrakeHpFrom": "240",
      "displacementCi": "183",
      "fuelTypePrimary": "Gasoline",
      "valveTrainDesign": "Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)"
    },
    "features": {
      "passiveSafetySystem": {
        "otherRestraintSystemInfo": "Seat Belt (Rr center position)",
        "seatBeltType": "Manual",
        "sideAirBagLocations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
        "curtainAirBagLocations": "1st and 2nd Rows",
        "frontAirBagLocations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)"
      },
      "exterior": {
        "grossVehicleWeightRatingFrom": "Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)",
        "grossVehicleWeightRatingTo": "Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)",
        "doors": "2"
      },
      "mechanical": {
        "transmissionStyle": "Automatic",
        "transmissionSpeeds": "5"
      }
    },
    "validation": {
      "errorText": "0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct",
      "errorCode": "0",
      "errorCodes": [
        "0"
      ]
    },
    "recalls": {
      "count": 13,
      "doNotDrive": false,
      "parkOutside": false,
      "bySeverity": {
        "critical": 0,
        "high": 10,
        "medium": 3,
        "low": 0
      },
      "latestReportedOn": "2019-06-27",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "19V499000",
          "manufacturerRecallId": "Q5A, Y58",
          "manufacturer": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)",
          "reportedOn": "2019-06-27",
          "ownersNotifiedOn": "2019-08-12",
          "initiatedBy": "nhtsa",
          "components": [
            {
              "system": "Air Bags",
              "detail": "Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module"
            }
          ],
          "summary": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-20…",
          "consequence": "An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.",
          "hazards": [
            "injury",
            "death"
          ],
          "doNotDrive": false,
          "parkOutside": false,
          "remedy": {
            "description": "Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. H…",
            "status": "available",
            "overTheAir": false,
            "freeOfCharge": true
          },
          "unitsAffected": 3947,
          "manufactured": {
            "from": "2000-07-10",
            "to": "2011-02-22"
          },
          "scope": {
            "makes": 2,
            "models": 12,
            "modelYears": {
              "from": 2001,
              "to": 2011
            }
          },
          "url": "https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=19V499000",
          "severity": "high",
          "match": "exact",
          "listedAs": "ACCORD"
        },
        {
          "id": "19V501000",
          "manufacturerRecallId": "E5D, X5C",
          "manufacturer": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)",
          "reportedOn": "2019-06-27",
          "ownersNotifiedOn": "2019-08-12",
          "initiatedBy": "nhtsa",
          "components": [
            {
              "system": "Air Bags",
              "detail": "Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module"
            }
          ],
          "summary": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2…",
          "consequence": "An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.",
          "hazards": [
            "injury",
            "death"
          ],
          "doNotDrive": false,
          "parkOutside": false,
          "remedy": {
            "description": "Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.…",
            "status": "available",
            "overTheAir": false,
            "freeOfCharge": true
          },
          "unitsAffected": 1657752,
          "manufactured": {
            "from": "2000-04-25",
            "to": "2014-06-02"
          },
          "scope": {
            "makes": 2,
            "models": 12,
            "modelYears": {
              "from": 2001,
              "to": 2014
            }
          },
          "url": "https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=19V501000",
          "severity": "high",
          "match": "exact",
          "listedAs": "ACCORD"
        }
      ]
    },
    "safetyRating": {
      "testedVehicle": "2003 Honda Accord 2-DR. w/SAB",
      "match": "exact",
      "variantsTested": 4,
      "overall": null,
      "frontal": {
        "overall": null,
        "driver": 5,
        "passenger": 5
      },
      "side": {
        "overall": null,
        "driver": null,
        "passenger": null,
        "barrier": null,
        "pole": null,
        "frontSeat": null,
        "rearSeat": null
      },
      "rollover": {
        "rating": 4,
        "riskPercent": null,
        "tipped": null
      },
      "driverAssist": {
        "electronicStabilityControl": "notAvailable",
        "forwardCollisionWarning": "notAvailable",
        "laneDepartureWarning": "notAvailable"
      }
    }
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

Field	Type	Example	Description
`vin`	string	`"1HGCM82633A004352"`	The VIN that was decoded, normalized to uppercase
`valid`	boolean	`true`	Whether the VIN passes all NHTSA checks, including the check digit True only when the decode is completely clean (error code 0). A VIN with a mistyped check digit returns false here but may still decode to a real vehicle — read `decoded` for that.
`decoded`	boolean	`true`	Whether the VIN resolved to an identifiable vehicle True when a make was identified. Independent of `valid`: an imperfect VIN can still decode.
`vehicleDescriptor`	string	`"1HGCM826*3A"`	The portion of the VIN that identifies the vehicle build, with variable positions masked
`make`	string	`"HONDA"`	Vehicle manufacturer or brand name
`model`	string	`"Accord"`	Vehicle model name
`year`	number	`2003`	Model year of the vehicle
`trim`Premium	string	`"EX-V6"`	Trim level or variant of the model
`trim2`Premium	object	`null`	Secondary trim designation where the manufacturer provides one
`series`Premium	object	`null`	Series designation of the vehicle
`series2`Premium	object	`null`	Secondary series designation where the manufacturer provides one
`manufacturer`	string	`"AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC."`	Full legal name of the manufacturing company
`vehicleType`	string	`"PASSENGER CAR"`	Broad vehicle classification, such as passenger car or truck
`bodyClass`	string	`"Coupe"`	Body style of the vehicle, such as coupe or sedan
`plant`Premium	object	`{...}`	Manufacturing plant that built the vehicle, including city, state, country and company
`state`Premium	string	`"OHIO"`
`country`Premium	string	`"UNITED STATES (USA)"`
`city`Premium	string	`"MARYSVILLE"`
`engine`Premium	object	`{...}`	Engine specifications, including displacement, cylinder count, configuration, horsepower, fuel type and electrification level Fields present vary by vehicle. Electric vehicles report electrification level and motor detail in place of displacement and cylinders.
`displacementL`Premium	string	`"2.998832712"`
`displacementCc`Premium	string	`"2998.832712"`
`engineNumberOfCylinders`Premium	string	`"6"`
`engineModel`Premium	string	`"J30A4"`
`engineConfiguration`Premium	string	`"V-Shaped"`
`engineBrakeHpFrom`Premium	string	`"240"`
`displacementCi`Premium	string	`"183"`
`fuelTypePrimary`Premium	string	`"Gasoline"`
`valveTrainDesign`Premium	string	`"Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)"`
`features`	object	`{...}`	Equipment fitted to this build, grouped by area A container. The grouped objects inside it are premium. Fields absent from NHTSA's record for a given vehicle are omitted rather than returned empty.
`passiveSafetySystem`Premium	object	`{...}`	Passive safety equipment including air bag locations and seat belt type
`otherRestraintSystemInfo`Premium	string	`"Seat Belt (Rr center position)"`
`seatBeltType`Premium	string	`"Manual"`
`sideAirBagLocations`Premium	string	`"1st Row (Driver and Passenger)"`
`curtainAirBagLocations`Premium	string	`"1st and 2nd Rows"`
`frontAirBagLocations`Premium	string	`"1st Row (Driver and Passenger)"`
`exterior`Premium	object	`{...}`	Exterior attributes including body, doors, dimensions, weight rating, wheels, and truck, bus, trailer or motorcycle specifics
`grossVehicleWeightRatingFrom`Premium	string	`"Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)"`
`grossVehicleWeightRatingTo`Premium	string	`"Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)"`
`doors`Premium	string	`"2"`
`mechanical`Premium	object	`{...}`	Mechanical attributes including transmission, drivetrain, brakes and battery
`transmissionStyle`Premium	string	`"Automatic"`
`transmissionSpeeds`Premium	string	`"5"`
`validation`	object	`{...}`	Decode diagnostics reported by NHTSA
`errorText`	string	`"0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct"`	Human-readable explanation of each error code returned
`errorCode`	string	`"0"`	NHTSA error code or codes for the decode, as a comma-separated string "0" means the VIN decoded clean. Multiple codes are returned together, for example "1,7,11".
`errorCodes`	array	`[0]`	The same NHTSA error codes split into an array for programmatic handling
`recalls`	object	`{...}`	Safety recalls issued for this vehicle, present when recalls is true Null when the VIN does not decode. A vehicle with no recalls returns count 0 and an empty items list.
`count`	number	`13`	Number of recalls issued for this vehicle
`doNotDrive`	boolean	`false`	Whether any recall tells owners not to drive the vehicle until it is repaired
`parkOutside`	boolean	`false`	Whether any recall tells owners to park outside and away from buildings because of fire risk
`bySeverity`	object	`{...}`	Recall count at each severity level: critical, high, medium and low
`critical`	number	`0`
`high`	number	`10`
`medium`	number	`3`
`low`	number	`0`
`latestReportedOn`	string	`"2019-06-27"`	Date the most recent recall was reported, as YYYY-MM-DD
`items`Premium	array[2]		Each recall, newest first, with its campaign id, dates, affected components, summary, consequence, hazards, remedy, units affected and an NHTSA link severity is critical when owners are told not to drive or to park outside, high for fire, loss of control, roll-away, brake failure or death, medium for crash or injury risk, low otherwise. match is exact when the recall lists this model, related when it lists a variant or sibling of it (listedAs names which).
`id`Premium	string	`"19V499000"`
`manufacturerRecallId`Premium	string	`"Q5A, Y58"`
`manufacturer`Premium	string	`"Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)"`	Full legal name of the manufacturing company
`reportedOn`Premium	string	`"2019-06-27"`
`ownersNotifiedOn`Premium	string	`"2019-08-12"`
`initiatedBy`Premium	string	`"nhtsa"`
`components`Premium	array[1]
`system`Premium	string	`"Air Bags"`
`detail`Premium	string	`"Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module"`
`summary`Premium	string	`"Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 M…"`
`consequence`Premium	string	`"An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants res…"`
`hazards`Premium	array	`[injury, ...]`
`doNotDrive`Premium	boolean	`false`
`parkOutside`Premium	boolean	`false`
`remedy`Premium	object	`{...}`
`description`Premium	string	`"Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of char…"`
`status`Premium	string	`"available"`
`overTheAir`Premium	boolean	`false`
`freeOfCharge`Premium	boolean	`true`
`unitsAffected`Premium	number	`3947`
`manufactured`Premium	object	`{...}`
`from`Premium	string	`"2000-07-10"`
`to`Premium	string	`"2011-02-22"`

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

Status	Meaning	What to do
`400`	Input was rejected	Read `error`; it names the parameter.
`401`	Key missing or invalid	Check the header name and the key value.
`403`	Key valid, but not permitted	A key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping.
`429`	Rate limited, or out of credits	Read `error` to tell them apart; see rate limits.

Use cases

Insurance Policy Intake: When a driver enters their VIN during checkout, quote flows populate vehicle make, model, and body class to price policies accurately without typos.
Used Car Listings: To speed up seller listings, automotive marketplaces fill vehicle brand, year, and model from user-submitted VINs while catching transcription errors instantly.
Fleet Inventory Intake: Validate vehicle identification numbers and verify vehicle types across newly acquired commercial vans before registering them into maintenance management systems.
Repair Shop Diagnostics: Mechanics confirm incoming customer cars by decoding the VIN to check manufacturer build records and resolve mistyped registration paperwork.

Other ways to use VIN Decoder

Set up VIN Decoder on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKit →Reference →

Google Sheets or ExcelA =VERVE() formula fills a column — no script, no export, recalculates in place.VerveSheets →Reference →

Ground an agent on itA cited, machine-checkable fact your model can't produce on its own.VerveContext →Reference →

VIN Decoder