VIN Decoder API

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Overview

To use VIN Decoder, you need an API key. You can get one by creating a free account and visiting your dashboard.

GET Endpoint

URL

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

Example

How to call the VIN Decoder API in different programming languages.

cURL Request

curl -X GET \
  "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder?vin=1HGCM82633A004352" \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here"

JavaScript (Fetch API)

const response = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder?vin=1HGCM82633A004352', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

Python (Requests)

import requests

headers = {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

response = requests.get('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder?vin=1HGCM82633A004352', headers=headers)

data = response.json()
print(data)

Go (net/http)

package main

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

)

func main() {
    req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/vindecoder?vin=1HGCM82633A004352", nil)

    req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", "your_api_key_here")
    req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    fmt.Println(string(body))
}

Example 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": {
      "country": "UNITED STATES (USA)",
      "city": "MARYSVILLE",
      "state": "OHIO"
    },
    "engine": {
      "displacementL": "2.998832712",
      "displacementCc": "2998.832712",
      "displacementCi": "183",
      "engineNumberOfCylinders": "6",
      "engineBrakeHpFrom": "240",
      "engineConfiguration": "V-Shaped",
      "engineModel": "J30A4",
      "valveTrainDesign": "Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)",
      "fuelTypePrimary": "Gasoline"
    },
    "features": {
      "exterior": {
        "doors": "2",
        "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)"
      },
      "mechanical": {
        "transmissionStyle": "Automatic",
        "transmissionSpeeds": "5"
      },
      "passiveSafetySystem": {
        "seatBeltType": "Manual",
        "otherRestraintSystemInfo": "Seat Belt (Rr center position)",
        "frontAirBagLocations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
        "sideAirBagLocations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
        "curtainAirBagLocations": "1st and 2nd Rows"
      }
    },
    "validation": {
      "errorCode": "0",
      "errorCodes": [
        "0"
      ],
      "errorText": "0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct"
    }
  }
}

Authentication

The VIN Decoder API requires authentication via API key. Include your API key in the request header:

Required Header

X-API-Key: your_api_key_here

Learn more about authentication →

Interactive API Playground

Test the VIN Decoder API directly in your browser with live requests and responses.

Try VIN Decoder APIView details and test in the API marketplace

Parameters

The following parameters are available for the VIN Decoder API:

Decode VIN

Parameter	Type	Required	Description	Default	Example
`vin`	string	`required`	The Vehicle Identification Number to decode. Partial VINs are accepted and decode as far as the available characters allow. Length: `1 - 17 chars` Behavior: Case-insensitive and trimmed. Accepts * as a wildcard for unknown positions. A VIN that fails its check digit still decodes; see the valid and decoded fields.	-	`1HGCM82633A004352`

Response

The VIN Decoder API returns responses in JSON, XML, YAML, and CSV formats. The JSON response is shown in the Example section above; alternative formats below.

Other Response Formats

XML Response

200 OK

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<response>
  <status>ok</status>
  <error xsi:nil="true" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"/>
  <data>
    <vin>1HGCM82633A004352</vin>
    <valid>true</valid>
    <decoded>true</decoded>
    <vehicleDescriptor>1HGCM826*3A</vehicleDescriptor>
    <make>HONDA</make>
    <model>Accord</model>
    <year>2003</year>
    <trim>EX-V6</trim>
    <trim2 xsi:nil="true" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"/>
    <series xsi:nil="true" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"/>
    <series2 xsi:nil="true" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"/>
    <manufacturer>AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.</manufacturer>
    <vehicleType>PASSENGER CAR</vehicleType>
    <bodyClass>Coupe</bodyClass>
    <plant>
      <country>UNITED STATES (USA)</country>
      <city>MARYSVILLE</city>
      <state>OHIO</state>
    </plant>
    <engine>
      <displacementL>2.998832712</displacementL>
      <displacementCc>2998.832712</displacementCc>
      <displacementCi>183</displacementCi>
      <engineNumberOfCylinders>6</engineNumberOfCylinders>
      <engineBrakeHpFrom>240</engineBrakeHpFrom>
      <engineConfiguration>V-Shaped</engineConfiguration>
      <engineModel>J30A4</engineModel>
      <valveTrainDesign>Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)</valveTrainDesign>
      <fuelTypePrimary>Gasoline</fuelTypePrimary>
    </engine>
    <features>
      <exterior>
        <doors>2</doors>
        <grossVehicleWeightRatingFrom>Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)</grossVehicleWeightRatingFrom>
        <grossVehicleWeightRatingTo>Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)</grossVehicleWeightRatingTo>
      </exterior>
      <mechanical>
        <transmissionStyle>Automatic</transmissionStyle>
        <transmissionSpeeds>5</transmissionSpeeds>
      </mechanical>
      <passiveSafetySystem>
        <seatBeltType>Manual</seatBeltType>
        <otherRestraintSystemInfo>Seat Belt (Rr center position)</otherRestraintSystemInfo>
        <frontAirBagLocations>1st Row (Driver and Passenger)</frontAirBagLocations>
        <sideAirBagLocations>1st Row (Driver and Passenger)</sideAirBagLocations>
        <curtainAirBagLocations>1st and 2nd Rows</curtainAirBagLocations>
      </passiveSafetySystem>
    </features>
    <validation>
      <errorCode>0</errorCode>
      <errorCodes>
        <errorCode>0</errorCode>
      </errorCodes>
      <errorText>0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct</errorText>
    </validation>
  </data>
</response>

YAML Response

200 OK

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:
    country: UNITED STATES (USA)
    city: MARYSVILLE
    state: OHIO
  engine:
    displacementL: '2.998832712'
    displacementCc: '2998.832712'
    displacementCi: '183'
    engineNumberOfCylinders: '6'
    engineBrakeHpFrom: '240'
    engineConfiguration: V-Shaped
    engineModel: J30A4
    valveTrainDesign: Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
    fuelTypePrimary: Gasoline
  features:
    exterior:
      doors: '2'
      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)'
    mechanical:
      transmissionStyle: Automatic
      transmissionSpeeds: '5'
    passiveSafetySystem:
      seatBeltType: Manual
      otherRestraintSystemInfo: Seat Belt (Rr center position)
      frontAirBagLocations: 1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
      sideAirBagLocations: 1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
      curtainAirBagLocations: 1st and 2nd Rows
  validation:
    errorCode: '0'
    errorCodes:
      - '0'
    errorText: 0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct

CSV Response

200 OK

key	value
vin	1HGCM82633A004352
valid	true
decoded	true
vehicleDescriptor	1HGCM826*3A
make	HONDA
model	Accord
year	2003
trim	EX-V6
trim2
series
series2
manufacturer	AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
vehicleType	PASSENGER CAR
bodyClass	Coupe
plant	{country:UNITED STATES (USA),city:MARYSVILLE,state:OHIO}
engine	{displacementL:2.998832712,displacementCc:2998.832712,displacementCi:183,engineNumberOfCylinders:6,engineBrakeHpFrom:240,engineConfiguration:V-Shaped,engineModel:J30A4,valveTrainDesign:Single Overhead Cam (SOHC),fuelTypePrimary:Gasoline}
features	{exterior:{doors:2,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)},mechanical:{transmissionStyle:Automatic,transmissionSpeeds:5},passiveSafetySystem:{seatBeltType:Manual,otherRestraintSystemInfo:Seat Belt (Rr center position),frontAirBagLocations:1st Row (Driver and Passenger),sideAirBagLocations:1st Row (Driver and Passenger),curtainAirBagLocations:1st and 2nd Rows}}
validation	{errorCode:0,errorCodes:[0],errorText:0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct}

View in Marketplace

Response Structure

All API responses follow a consistent structure with the following fields:

Field	Type	Description	Example
`status`	string	Indicates whether the request was successful ("ok") or failed ("error")	`ok`
`error`	string \| null	Contains error message if status is "error", otherwise null	`null`
`data`	object \| null	Contains the API response data if successful, otherwise null	`{...}`

Learn more about response formats →

Response Data Fields

When the request is successful, the data object contains the following fields:

Response fields marked with Premium are available exclusively on paid plans.View pricing

Field	Type	Sample Value	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 Semantics: 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 Semantics: 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
└ `country`	string	`"UNITED STATES (USA)"`	-
└ `city`	string	`"MARYSVILLE"`	-
└ `state`	string	`"OHIO"`	-
`engine`Premium	object	`{...}`	Engine specifications, including displacement, cylinder count, configuration, horsepower, fuel type and electrification level Semantics: Fields present vary by vehicle. Electric vehicles report electrification level and motor detail in place of displacement and cylinders.
└ `displacementL`	string	`"2.998832712"`	-

Headers

Only X-API-Key is required. Optional headers include Accept for response format negotiation (JSON, XML, or YAML), User-Agent, and X-Request-ID for request tracing. See all request headers →

GraphQL AccessALPHA

Access VIN Decoder through GraphQL to combine it with other API calls in a single request. Query only the vin decoder data you need with precise field selection, and orchestrate complex data fetching workflows.

Test VIN Decoder in the GraphQL Explorer to confirm availability and experiment with queries.

Credit Cost: Each API called in your GraphQL query consumes its standard credit cost.

GraphQL Endpoint

POST https://api.apiverve.com/v1/graphql

GraphQL Query Example

query {
  vindecoder(
    input: {
      vin: "1HGCM82633A004352"
    }
  ) {
    vin
    valid
    decoded
    vehicleDescriptor
    make
    model
    year
    trim
    trim2
    series
    series2
    manufacturer
    vehicleType
    bodyClass
    plant {
      country
      city
      state
    }
    engine {
      displacementL
      displacementCc
      displacementCi
      engineNumberOfCylinders
      engineBrakeHpFrom
      engineConfiguration
      engineModel
      valveTrainDesign
      fuelTypePrimary
    }
    features {
      exterior {
        doors
        grossVehicleWeightRatingFrom
        grossVehicleWeightRatingTo
      }
      mechanical {
        transmissionStyle
        transmissionSpeeds
      }
      passiveSafetySystem {
        seatBeltType
        otherRestraintSystemInfo
        frontAirBagLocations
        sideAirBagLocations
        curtainAirBagLocations
      }
    }
    validation {
      errorCode
      errorCodes
      errorText
    }
  }
}

Note: Authentication is handled via the x-api-key header in your GraphQL request, not as a query parameter.

Try in GraphQL Explorer GraphQL Documentation

CORS Support

The VIN Decoder API accepts cross-origin requests from any origin, so it can be called directly from browser-based applications without a proxy. See CORS support →

Rate Limiting

VIN Decoder requests are throttled per minute on the Free plan and unthrottled on paid plans. Exceeding the limit returns 429 Too Many Requests; rate-limit usage is reported in the X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining, and X-RateLimit-Reset response headers. See per-plan limits and best practices →

Error Codes

The VIN Decoder API uses standard HTTP status codes — 200 on success, 400 for invalid parameters, 401 for missing or invalid keys, 403 for insufficient credits, 429 for rate-limit exhaustion, and 500/503 for server-side issues. Each error response includes an X-Request-ID header you can quote when contacting support. See full error handling guide →

SDKs for VIN Decoder

Official VIN Decoder packages on npm, PyPI, NuGet, and JitPack — plus a Postman collection and an OpenAPI spec. See the SDK guide →

JitPack

No-Code Integrations

VIN Decoder works with Zapier, Make, Pipedream, n8n, and Power Automate using the same API key. See setup guides →

Zapier

Make

Pipedream

n8n

Power Automate

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an API key for VIN Decoder?

Sign up for a free account at dashboard.apiverve.com. Your API key will be automatically generated and available in your dashboard. The same key works for VIN Decoder and all other APIVerve APIs. The free plan includes 1,000 credits plus a 500 credit bonus.

How many credits does VIN Decoder cost?

Each successful VIN Decoder API call consumes credits based on plan tier. Check the pricing section above for the exact credit cost. Failed requests and errors don't consume credits, so you only pay for successful vin decoder lookups.

Can I use VIN Decoder in production?

The free plan is for testing and development only. For production use of VIN Decoder, upgrade to a paid plan (Starter, Pro, or Mega) which includes commercial use rights, no attribution requirements, and guaranteed uptime SLAs. All paid plans are production-ready.

Can I use VIN Decoder from a browser?

Yes! The VIN Decoder API supports CORS with wildcard configuration, so you can call it directly from browser-based JavaScript without needing a proxy server. See the CORS section above for details.

What happens if I exceed my VIN Decoder credit limit?

When you reach your monthly credit limit, VIN Decoder API requests will return an error until you upgrade your plan or wait for the next billing cycle. You'll receive notifications at 80% and 95% usage to give you time to upgrade if needed.

What's Next?

Continue your journey with these recommended resources

Browse All APIs

Explore our complete catalog of APIs

Authentication Guide

Learn about API keys and security

Rate Limits

Understand usage limits and best practices

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VIN Decoder API

Overview

GET Endpoint

Example

Authentication

Interactive API Playground

Parameters

Decode VIN

Response

Other Response Formats

Response Structure

Response Data Fields

Headers

GraphQL AccessALPHA

CORS Support

Rate Limiting

Error Codes

SDKs for VIN Decoder

No-Code Integrations

Frequently Asked Questions

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