Help & FAQ
How can we help?
The essential questions about CheckVIN, the report and the check, all in one place.
Your report
What does a CheckVIN report include?
A CheckVIN report brings together everything on record for a BMW or MINI: a condition summary and score, the full service and repair history, a mileage overview, technical campaigns, warranty and contracts, factory equipment and any retrofits or restrictions.
What does a CheckVIN report include?
A CheckVIN report brings together everything on record for a BMW or MINI: a condition summary and score, the full service and repair history, a mileage overview, technical campaigns, warranty and contracts, factory equipment and any retrofits or restrictions.
What is a technical campaign, and can I check one by VIN?
A technical campaign is a manufacturer action to correct a known defect or safety issue, similar to a recall. CheckVIN shows the campaigns linked to a VIN and flags any that appear open.
What is a technical campaign, and can I check one by VIN?
What is a technical campaign, and can I check one by VIN?
What does the mileage overview show?
It plots every recorded mileage reading over time, so you can see the real trend and spot a rollback or an impossible jump at a glance.
What does the mileage overview show?
What does the mileage overview show?
What is the Report Summary and the condition score?
Every report opens with a Report Summary: a clear read on the car's condition and a single 0 to 100 score, so you get the verdict first and the detail second. The score comes from fixed rules applied to the car's own record and reflects historical data only, not a physical inspection.
What is the Report Summary and the condition score?
What is the Report Summary and the condition score?
Does the report show accident or body repairs?
Where they were recorded at a workshop, yes. The report lists body and repair work in the history, which can reveal that a clean-looking car was repaired after damage.
Does the report show accident or body repairs?
Does the report show accident or body repairs?
What are retrofits and restrictions?
Retrofits are changes made after the car left the factory. Restrictions are usage limits that can affect value or warranty. The report lists both where they are recorded.
What are retrofits and restrictions?
What are retrofits and restrictions?
Checking a car
Which brands can I check?
CheckVIN covers BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles from the BMW Group network.
Which brands can I check?
CheckVIN covers BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles from the BMW Group network.
How long does a check take?
About a minute. The report is generated within 30 seconds of a confirmed payment and can be viewed straight away in your browser.
How long does a check take?
How long does a check take?
Does it work for electric and hybrid models?
Yes. Any eligible BMW, MINI or Rolls-Royce can be checked by VIN, including electric and hybrid models.
Does it work for electric and hybrid models?
Does it work for electric and hybrid models?
Where do I find the VIN on a BMW or MINI?
The 17-character VIN is stamped at the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, printed on the driver's door jamb and shown in the vehicle registration document.
Where do I find the VIN on a BMW or MINI?
Where do I find the VIN on a BMW or MINI?
Can I check a car bought abroad or at auction?
Yes. Coverage is worldwide, so a car bought through a dealer, an auction platform or an online classifieds site in another country can be checked the same way, subject to the records available for that VIN.
Can I check a car bought abroad or at auction?
Can I check a car bought abroad or at auction?
Can I check more than one car?
Yes. You can run as many checks as you need, and a second report on the same order is €6.59.
Can I check more than one car?
Can I check more than one car?
Data and accuracy
Where does CheckVIN's data come from?
CheckVIN does not access BMW AG's internal databases or systems. The vehicle information is obtained through licensed third-party data providers, which aggregate records originating from authorised service centres and other lawful sources.
Where does CheckVIN's data come from?
CheckVIN does not access BMW AG's internal databases or systems. The vehicle information is obtained through licensed third-party data providers, which aggregate records originating from authorised service centres and other lawful sources.
Is CheckVIN affiliated with BMW?
No. CheckVIN is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or authorised by BMW AG.
Is CheckVIN affiliated with BMW?
Is CheckVIN affiliated with BMW?
Can I check a BMW service history for free?
A free VIN decoder shows the factory specification only. The service and repair history comes from licensed workshop records, which is why a full check is a paid report.
Can I check a BMW service history for free?
Can I check a BMW service history for free?
How close is the report to official dealership records?
The report is built to dealership-level depth. It gathers service, mileage and campaign records comparable to what an authorised workshop would see, through a licensed third-party data provider.
How close is the report to official dealership records?
How close is the report to official dealership records?
What if there is no data for my VIN?
You are shown what the databases hold for that car before you rely on it, and the refund policy covers cases where a valid VIN returns no usable history.
What if there is no data for my VIN?
What if there is no data for my VIN?
How up to date is the data?
The record reflects entries as they are supplied by the data provider, from the first recorded workshop visit to the most recent one available for that VIN.
How up to date is the data?
How up to date is the data?
Mileage and rollback
Can I check a car's real mileage by VIN?
Yes. The report plots every recorded mileage reading over time, so you can compare the real trend against the number shown on the dashboard.
Can I check a car's real mileage by VIN?
Yes. The report plots every recorded mileage reading over time, so you can compare the real trend against the number shown on the dashboard.
Is odometer rollback illegal?
In most countries, altering an odometer to mislead a buyer is illegal and is treated as fraud. A mileage check gives you the recorded evidence to walk away or renegotiate.
Is odometer rollback illegal?
Is odometer rollback illegal?
How can I tell if an odometer has been rolled back?
If a later recorded reading is lower than an earlier one, or the line drops and then climbs again, the odometer has been rolled back. CheckVIN flags this automatically.
How can I tell if an odometer has been rolled back?
How can I tell if an odometer has been rolled back?
Payment and delivery
How much does a report cost?
A single report is €10.99, or €9.89 with the OFF10 code applied by default. A second report on the same order is €6.59.
How much does a report cost?
A single report is €10.99, or €9.89 with the OFF10 code applied by default. A second report on the same order is €6.59.
Which payment methods do you accept?
Payment is handled securely through Stripe and includes card, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Which payment methods do you accept?
Which payment methods do you accept?
Why do you need my email address?
Your email is only needed to process the order and to send you a copy of the report. The report itself appears in your browser as soon as it is ready, so you are never waiting on the email to see it.
Why do you need my email address?
Why do you need my email address?
Is my payment secure?
Yes. Payment is processed through Stripe and CheckVIN does not store your card details.
Is my payment secure?
Is my payment secure?
What is the OFF10 discount?
OFF10 is a 10 percent discount applied by default at checkout, which brings a single report to €9.89.
What is the OFF10 discount?
What is the OFF10 discount?
How is the report delivered?
The report is generated within 30 seconds and can be viewed straight away in your browser, ready to print or download. A copy of the link is also sent to your email. The service runs 24/7.
How is the report delivered?
How is the report delivered?
How long can I access my report?
Your report stays accessible for 30 days from the purchase date. You can view or download it at any time during that period.
How long can I access my report?
How long can I access my report?
Refunds and support
Can I get a refund if I entered the wrong VIN?
Yes. The VIN is validated before a report is generated, so you receive a full refund if the VIN you entered is incorrect or mistyped.
Can I get a refund if I entered the wrong VIN?
Yes. The VIN is validated before a report is generated, so you receive a full refund if the VIN you entered is incorrect or mistyped.
How do I contact support?
Use the Contact page to send a message with your email and VIN, and the support team will get back to you within 24 hours.
How do I contact support?
How do I contact support?
My payment went through but I did not receive the report. What now?
Your report is shown in the browser straight after payment, so you can open it there first. Also check your spam folder for the email copy. If it still has not arrived after a few minutes, contact us through the form and we will resend your link.
My payment went through but I did not receive the report. What now?
My payment went through but I did not receive the report. What now?
Still need help?
Still need help?
If you did not find your answer, our team replies within 24 hours.
If you did not find your answer, our team replies within 24 hours.
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Check a VIN before you buy
A few seconds now can save you thousands, and a car you'd regret.
Check a VIN before you buy
A few seconds now can save you thousands, and a car you'd regret.
Check a VIN before you buy
A few seconds now can save you thousands, and a car you'd regret.