Free tool
Free VIN validator
Paste a 17-character VIN and this free validator checks whether it's real: the right length, a legal character set, and a matching check digit. If it fails, we show you exactly which part is wrong, so you can catch a typo before you buy a car or run a full report.
How VIN validation works
Every road car built since 1981 has a unique 17-character Vehicle Identification Number. Three rules make a VIN well formed: it's exactly 17 characters, it never uses the letters I, O or Q, and its 9th character is a check digit that has to agree with the other 16.
The check digit is a built-in math test. Each of the other characters is converted to a number and multiplied by a fixed weight, the results are added up, and the total is divided by 11. The remainder (with 10 written as X) has to match the 9th character. Change one character by mistake and the remainder usually changes too, which is how this tool catches typos that a simple length check would miss.
A valid VIN is a starting point, not a guarantee. Once you know the number is real, decode it to confirm the year, make and model match the listing, or run a full report for the car's title, accident and odometer history.
Related: what a VIN tells you · check open recalls.
VIN validator FAQ
What makes a VIN valid?
A valid VIN is exactly 17 characters, uses only letters and numbers (never the letters I, O or Q, to avoid confusion with 1 and 0), and carries a matching check digit in the 9th position. This tool verifies all three.
What is the check digit in a VIN?
The 9th character is a check digit. Each of the other 16 characters is converted to a number and multiplied by a fixed weight; the weighted total is divided by 11, and the remainder (10 is written as X) must equal that 9th character. It's a built-in math test that catches most typos.
My VIN failed the check digit. Is it fake?
Not necessarily. The most common cause is a simple typo, so re-check the characters. The check digit is only mandatory on North American VINs, so a genuine car imported from Europe or Asia can be well formed yet fail this specific test. If a US car's VIN keeps failing, treat it as a red flag and verify against the title and the dashboard plate.
Is a valid VIN the same as a clean history?
No. Passing this check only means the VIN is well formed, not that the car is accident-free. For title brands, reported accidents, odometer readings and ownership history you need a full vehicle history report, which is $8.99 here.