M Buyers Guide
Check a car, free

Check a car

Check one car
by its VIN

About to buy? Paste the VIN. You get the Guide Score for its model year, the known issues that apply to it, the recalls NHTSA lists for that year, and what to do before you pay. Have the ad itself, with price, miles and options? Score the listing instead.

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On the listing, the title, or the plate at the base of the windshield. NHTSA’s free decoder reads it; we do not store it.

  1. The score for its year The Guide Score and its three parts, for that model year and engine.
  2. Known issues Only the ones that apply to its year and engine, with repair estimates and how to check.
  3. Recalls What NHTSA lists for that model year, and where to see if the work was done.
  4. Next steps The inspection checklist, a history report, and a score for the exact listing.