Look Up Any Vehicle by VIN
Enter a 17-digit VIN to see the full vehicle breakdown: year, make, model, trim, engine, safety features, and outstanding recalls. Free, instant, no signup.
Enter Your VIN
Paste or type the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number. You’ll find it on the dashboard, door jamb, or any dealer paperwork.
Where to Find the VIN
- Driver’s side dashboard (visible through windshield)
- Driver’s door jamb sticker
- Vehicle registration or insurance card
- Dealer quote, bill of sale, or purchase agreement
- Online listings (AutoTrader, Kijiji, dealer websites)
Enter a VIN and hit Decode VIN to see the full vehicle breakdown.
Decoded the VIN. Now check the deal.
The VIN tells you what the vehicle is. The Deal Analyzer tells you what the deal is worth. Free, takes two minutes.
Straight Answers
The VIN is on the driver’s side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver’s door jamb sticker, your vehicle registration, and your insurance documents. On a dealer quote or bill of sale, it’s usually at the top of the document.
Yes. The decoder covers all vehicles sold in North America, including Canadian-market vehicles. VIN specifications are standardized across the continent, so the vehicle data is accurate for Canadian-market vehicles. Recall data is sourced from both Transport Canada and NHTSA (U.S.), giving you the most complete picture across both markets.
A VIN confirms the exact year, make, model, trim, engine, and factory-installed safety features. Use it to verify that the vehicle matches what the dealer is advertising. If the VIN says it’s a base trim and the dealer is charging for a higher trim, that’s a red flag.
Yes. After decoding the VIN, the tool checks both Transport Canada and NHTSA (U.S.) databases for recalls, classifies each by severity (critical, serious, or minor), and calculates a risk score. If any show up, confirm with the dealer that they completed the recall work before you finalize the deal.
Know What the Dealer Knows
A VIN tells you what the vehicle is. A Holdback consultation tells you what the deal is worth, and whether you should sign it. Already decoded a VIN? Run it through our Theft Risk Checker next.
Questions? Email hello@holdback.ca
You only buy a car every four to six years. They sell one every day.
Pre-purchase due diligence on a specific vehicle?
A Deal Review pulls the wholesale auction value and confirms what the dealer’s margin should be.