Enter a 17-character VIN and see exactly how the car left the factory: model, body, engine, power and transmission. The result appears in seconds, at no cost.
What is a VIN decoder?
CheckVIN decodes against type-approval data rather than guessing from the characters alone, which is why the result names the actual variant and engine code instead of a generic model family. European BMW VINs, for instance, do not encode the model year in character ten the way North American VINs do, and character-by-character tools get that wrong constantly.
Sample Decode
What comes back from one VIN
A sample decode of a BMW M440i xDrive. Ten fields are free, full story sit behind the history report.
Four steps, about a minute
From finding the number on the car to reading the decoded specification.
1
Windscreen, door jamb or section E of the registration document.
2
A VIN never contains I, O or Q, so those are really 1 and 0.
3
The specification appears immediately, free and with no account.
4
Run the history report on the same VIN for mileage and service records.
Where the VIN sits on a BMW or MINI
It appears in several places, and they must all match. A mismatch is a reason to walk away.
Driver's side, readable from outside the car.
On the sticker visible when the door is open.
Stamped on the suspension strut tower.
Section E, and usually in the classified listing too.
Free decode next to the full report
The decoder answers what the car is. The report answers whether it is worth the asking price.
Free VIN
Decoder
CheckVIN
Full Report
Model, body and basic type
Engine, power and torque
Drivetrain and transmission
Service and repair history
Mileage readings over time
Technical campaigns and recalls
Warranty and service contracts
Condition summary and score
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Coverage
Three brands, one data structure
CheckVIN covers the BMW Group rather than every make on the road, which is what makes this level of detail possible.
All series, including M models, xDrive and plug-in hybrids.
Hatch, Clubman, Countryman, Cabrio and John Cooper Works.
Models built within the BMW Group data structure.
Help & FAQ
