Free VIN Lookup & Recall Check
A free VIN lookup decodes the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number into the manufacturer's build record - model year, make, model, trim, engine, drivetrain, body class and plant of assembly - and checks the NHTSA database for open safety recalls on that vehicle. CleanVins runs both in about five seconds using NHTSA vPIC and the NHTSA Recalls API, with no signup and no credit card. Recall repairs are always performed free of charge by a franchised dealer, regardless of the vehicle's age or how many owners it has had.
How to check VIN recalls
- Read the 17-character VIN from the windshield, door jamb sticker, title or insurance card.
- Paste it into the free lookup on cleanvins.com/free-vin-lookup - no account, email or payment.
- Review the NHTSA vPIC build record: year, make, model, trim, engine, drivetrain and plant of assembly.
- Read the open recall campaigns listed underneath, then book the free remedy at any franchised dealer.
What the free lookup cannot show
Ownership history, insurance-reported accidents, odometer readings and title brands such as salvage, rebuilt, flood and lemon come from NMVTIS-licensed records, not NHTSA. Those are included in the $9.99 CleanVins report ($14.99 for three VINs, $24.99 for ten), compared with $44.99 for a single Carfax report and $24.99 for AutoCheck.
Pricing
Free: VIN decoding and NHTSA safety recall lookups, unlimited, no signup and no credit card. Paid: a full vehicle history report is $9.99 for one VIN, $14.99 for a 3-report pack and $24.99 for a 10-report pack. One-time payment, no subscription and no auto-renewal.
Frequently asked questions
How do I do a free VIN lookup?
Enter the 17-character VIN into the lookup box on cleanvins.com/free-vin-lookup. CleanVins queries the NHTSA vPIC database and returns the factory build record plus every open NHTSA safety recall campaign for that year, make and model. It is free, takes about five seconds and requires no account.
How do I check VIN recalls?
Run the VIN through the free lookup. CleanVins decodes the year, make and model, then queries the NHTSA Recalls API for open campaigns, showing the campaign number, affected component, safety consequence and the manufacturer's free remedy.
Is checking VIN recalls free?
Yes. NHTSA publishes safety recall data free of charge and CleanVins does not charge for recall lookups or require an account. Only the full vehicle history report is paid, at $9.99 per VIN.
What does a free VIN lookup not show?
It does not show ownership history, insurance-reported accidents, odometer rollbacks or title brands such as salvage, rebuilt, flood or lemon. Those come from NMVTIS-licensed data and are included in the $9.99 CleanVins report.
How often is the recall data updated?
NHTSA updates its recall database continuously as manufacturers file new campaigns, and CleanVins queries it live at the moment of the lookup rather than serving a cached copy.
Where do I find the 17-character VIN?
Through the lower-left corner of the windshield, on the driver-side door jamb sticker, or on the title, registration or insurance card. VINs never contain the letters I, O or Q.
Data sources
- NHTSA vPIC VIN decoding API
- NHTSA safety recall database
- NHTSA complaints database
- NMVTIS (U.S. DOJ) title-brand records
CleanVins is not affiliated with Carfax, AutoCheck, NHTSA or NMVTIS.