Decode on check-in
Enter the VIN on the vehicle record and the integration fills year, make, model and engine where the data source has them.
VIN lookup
VIN lookup that fills the vehicle for you
Type or scan the 17-character VIN and AutoShop POS pulls year, make, model and engine through a VIN integration, so the right parts go on the estimate.
VIN tester · runs in your browser
Type a VIN or try the sample. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Year, make, model and engine are filled in the app by the VIN integration (Shop and Fleet plans). This tester only checks the VIN’s structure.
Anatomy
What the 17 characters actually tell you
Answer first: the VIN reliably gives you maker, model year, plant and serial. Model, body and engine depend on the maker's own codes, which is why a decoder needs a data source.
- 1–3
WMI
World manufacturer identifier: country/region and maker.
- 4–8
VDS
Vehicle descriptor: model, body, engine, restraint codes (maker-specific).
- 9
Check digit
Calculated from the other characters; catches typos on North American VINs.
- 10
Model year
A letter or digit that repeats every 30 years.
- 11
Plant
The assembly plant code.
- 12–17
Serial
The production sequence number.
A public US data source is the NHTSA vPIC VIN decoder (public US data source). Coverage outside the US market varies.
By market
VINs in the US, the UAE and Pakistan
USA
Best coverage
US-market vehicles carry 17-character VINs with a mandatory check digit, and public data covers them well.
UAE
GCC-spec and imports
GCC-spec cars use standard VINs; maker and year decode, but some trims and options need confirming on the car. US imports decode like US cars.
Pakistan
Chassis numbers too
Locally assembled cars carry VINs, but many Japanese-domestic imports carry a chassis number instead. Enter those vehicles by hand and store the chassis number.
VIN decode · through integration
1HGCV1F34KA123456
WMIVDSCheckYearPlantSerial
Year2019 (from position 10)Make / modelfilled by the decoderEnginefilled by the decoder
Sample VIN pattern, not a real vehicle.
Right parts on the first try
With the engine and year on the RO, parts lookups and estimates start from the correct vehicle.
Same VIN, same history
The VIN ties visits to one vehicle even if the plate changes.
At the counter
Decode in four steps
Read the VIN
From the dashboard plate, door jamb or registration card.
Enter or scan
Type it or scan the barcode with a USB or Bluetooth scanner.
Decode
The integration returns year, make, model and engine.
Confirm
Check the result against the car and save it on the vehicle.
What it doesn’t do (yet)
- VIN decoding runs through a third-party data integration, so coverage depends on that source; US-market vehicles decode best.
- Many Japanese-domestic imports common in Pakistan carry a chassis number rather than a 17-character VIN; enter those details by hand.
- GCC-spec vehicles decode by manufacturer code, but some trims and options may need manual entry.
We would rather you know this before the trial than after.
Diagnostics
Scan the codes: questions shop owners ask
VIN-D201What does a VIN decode give me?
Usually model year, make, model, body and engine. Trim level and factory options are often incomplete, so confirm them on the car.
VIN-D202Where does the VIN data come from?
From the VIN integration connected to your account. Public sources such as the US NHTSA vPIC database cover US-market vehicles well.
VIN-D203Can I scan a VIN barcode?
Yes. A USB or Bluetooth barcode scanner types the VIN into the field like a keyboard.
VIN-M204Does VIN lookup work for UAE cars?
GCC-spec vehicles carry standard 17-character VINs and decode by manufacturer; some trim details may need manual entry.
VIN-M205What about Japanese imports in Pakistan?
Japanese-domestic models often have a chassis number instead of a VIN. Enter make, model, year and engine by hand and store the chassis number on the vehicle.
VIN-P206Which plans include VIN lookup?
Shop and Fleet. On Bay you can still type the vehicle details by hand.
VIN-P207Is there a per-lookup fee?
No per-lookup fee is charged by AutoShop POS on Shop and Fleet; ask on your demo if you want a specific paid data provider connected.
VIN-D208What is the VIN check digit?
Character 9 is calculated from the other 16 using weights. If it does not match, the VIN was probably mistyped. The tester on this page checks it.
Decode your next car's VIN in AutoShop POS
VIN lookup comes with the Shop and Fleet plans. Try it during the free trial.
- 14-day free trial, no card
- No contract, cancel monthly
- Free CSV import