ClearVin FAQ

ClearVin is a service that specializes in providing both commercial and public customers with vehicle information by VIN or License Plate Numbers for US vehicles. We provide a bunch of services for comprehensive VIN verification including Vehicle Reports, Window Sticker, Title History Check, VIN Decoder, Safety Recalls, and cover different vehicle types such as automobiles, buses, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, motor homes, and tractors. Report content of the US & Canada vehicles varies, so it’s recommended to review free report sample before purchase.

ClearVin is an authorized data provider of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) that consolidates vehicle records from U.S. state DMVs, insurance carriers, auto recyclers, as well as junk and salvage yards. Additionally, ClearVin obtains information from salvage auctions, government agencies, and other proprietary sources to provide comprehensive and accurate VIN reports. More information about ClearVin data sources can be found here.

We provide the most accurate vehicle information coming from trusted nationwide data sources and is backed by the best price on the market and custom solutions for businesses. Our NMVTIS title history is accompanied by auction photos, an extended values overview, the proprietary car rating, historical title lien records, and a detailed ownership history. On our website, you can also obtain an original window sticker by VIN for your car.

A Window Sticker, also known as a Monroney Label by VIN or Monroney Sticker, is a reproduction of the original automobile window sticker that contains information about vehicle specifications, fuel economy ratings, factory recalls, standard equipment and warranties, optional equipment, and corresponding pricing. Our Window Sticker Tool provides you with extensive coverage of window stickers by VIN or License Plate.

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-character unique code assigned by an auto manufacturer, which can be used to track and identify motor vehicles. A VIN code has a standardized structure and does not contain the letters I, O (o), and Q (q) to avoid confusion with numerals 1 and 0.

Using ClearVin is fast and simple. Just enter your VIN on the main page and check the basic VIN details using our free preview option. Once your payment is completed, you will be taken to the next page that displays your full VIN check report. Additionally, a PDF copy of the report will be sent to your email address.

We recommend creating an account if you plan on ordering more than one report to keep your billing information or credits. Also, that way you have a centralized location and history for all your previous reports.

You can retrieve previously ordered reports or window stickers by logging in at the top-right of the page and going to the “Reports” page. Please keep in mind that the reports contain information as of the time you ordered them. You may want to re-run reports if much time has passed since your original order.

Both Vehicle Reports and Window Stickers are available to view, print, or download without any time limits. All your reports will be listed in your account, as long as your account is active.

If you do not remember your password, you can use a reset password option. Just fill in your email and we will email you a recovery link and further instructions.

Our pricing is located on the report preview page of the report and depends on the number of reports you would like to order. If you’re looking for VIN lookup bulk access you can take advantage of ClearVin Dealer Program or Custom Solutions.

You can pay with any of the following options: a credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, ApplePay, or CashApp. Just select the most convenient payment option on the report or sticker payment page.

ClearVin Report Credits are a virtual currency that can be used to purchase vehicle history reports. Credits can be obtained by purchasing a package of VIN lookups or by activating a promo code and used towards any valid VIN code you want to verify. They are linked to the user’s account balance and never expire.

Report Credits never expire and will be available as long as your account is active. You can see the number of remaining credits in the top right corner of your account dashboard. There is no pressure for you to use them up.

If you’re looking to pay for a vehicle report with credits (prepaid VIN lookups), you need to be logged in to your account. Once you’re logged in, you can see the number of remaining credits in the top right corner of your account dashboard. Then, just run a VIN search and select “Credits” as a payment option on the report payment page

If you have a promo code for ClearVin credits and wish to activate it, register a free account with us and navigate to the Use Promo Code tab within your account. Input the promo code and hit the button "Use promo code" to have your account balance adjusted in accordance with the coupon's value. Please note that certain promo codes may have time restrictions, but the credits will remain active on your account as long as the account is active.

ClearVin takes pride in standing behind the accuracy and reliability of the data it provides. However, in the event of any internal error in the system or technical issues on the website that result in problems such as empty reports, double charges, or data discrepancies with the initial database, we offer full refunds. This demonstrates our commitment to customer satisfaction and service transparency.   To request a full refund, customers need to send an email to [email protected]. In this email, they should include their email address, full name, VIN associated with the purchase, and documented proof of the error. In case of data discrepancies, proof can be provided in the form of information contained in a copy of a state title document or any other recognized official documentation. This is to ensure that the refund request is legitimate and supported by evidence.   Please note that we do not process refunds for records not available to ClearVin, such as previous owners' personal details, accident records not reported to the insurance company, or title events from states that are not participating in the NMVTIS program. ClearVin encourages customers to review a vehicle report sample before making a purchase to ensure that it meets their specific needs and expectations. By offering full refunds for internal errors and technical issues, ClearVin aims to provide a transparent and reliable service to its customers while ensuring their satisfaction and peace of mind.

All ClearVin reports provide a complete overview of a vehicle’s past and current condition, including the following data:

• Previous/Current State of Title & Title Registration dates
• Title Brands History - Junk & Salvage
• Insurance Total Loss
• Lien & Impound Information
• Average Miles Driven & Odometer Events
• Vehicle Sales History & Prices
• Real Vehicle Photos
• Stolen Summary
• Safety Recalls & Emission Tests

Ownership History is an estimated number of owners generated based on the DMV title records. It includes information about the date of purchase, state of registration, and usage type (lease, personal, commercial, etc.). ClearVin does not provide a vehicle owner’s personal information, as it is protected under federal law. The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) of 1994 is a United States federal statute governing the privacy of personal data gathered by state Departments of Motor Vehicles. The DPPA generally prohibits revealing personal information contained in a driver’s license, motor vehicle registration, and other official records.

We evaluate vehicles based on predefined criteria to deliver a concise and accurate overview of the vehicle’s past to appraise its current condition and value. You can find a detailed definition of your grade at the ClearVin Vehicle Rating page. Please note that the rating is available only in full history report for the US VINs.

Some vehicles have a clean title and no damage history, so the report may return a “No issues reported” mark in the corresponding report units to indicate that the vehicle has no recorded issues. Also, due to strict data disclosure law in Canada, some data in the report can be limited.

History Alert, or the red exclamation mark in the report, outlines discrepancies and possible issues in vehicle history and is meant to attract your attention to the corresponding report unit to review the report carefully. Meanwhile, green checkmark means that the vehicle has no issues and a clean history.

Odometer fraud refers to the illegal practice of intentionally tampering with or altering the mileage recorded on a vehicle's odometer to misrepresent its actual usage. The purpose of this fraud is often to make a vehicle appear to have lower mileage than it actually does, thereby increasing its value or deceiving potential buyers. Our system analyzes vehicle mileage records collected from multiple data sources to see the mileage progression and detect possible odometer rollback - a flag that indicates that there is a possible discrepancy between the vehicle's historical mileage and the current odometer reading.

Vehicle Stolen Summary is a ClearVin report unit that provides information on whether the vehicle has ever been ever reported as stolen. This field is populated only in case a vehicle is currently listed as stolen or was recovered after a thief. Otherwise, it remains empty with the “No issues reported” note. Recovered is the status, which means that the vehicle has been recovered by law enforcement after being reported stolen. It does not mean that the vehicle has been repaired or restored to its original condition. Such a vehicle may come with a salvage title and other damage like vandalism and minor damages/scratches

The repair cost in a vehicle history report is typically calculated by an insurance carrier when evaluating whether a vehicle should be declared a total loss or sent to auction. The calculation involves assessing the estimated cost of repairing the damages sustained by the vehicle.

Vehicle Title is a legal document that establishes ownership of a vehicle. It is issued by the state DMV in which the vehicle is registered and contains information such as the vehicle's make, model, VIN, year, and the owner's name and address. Current Title Information - the most recent registration record in a vehicle title reported by NMVTIS. The Historical Title Information section lists all title registration records and specific brand assignments, like salvage and rebuilt, in a vehicle title. If you're looking to verify any data from report, you can contact the state directly to request additional title records. Get state contact info here. Please note that each state has its own procedures and limitations on what records can be provided, and most states also require a fee to process your request.

Title brands are labels applied to vehicle titles to indicate specific conditions or history. Common title brands include Salvage, Rebuilt, Flood Damage, Lemon, and Odometer Rollback. These title brands provide important information about the vehicle's history and may affect its resale value and insurability

A salvage title means that it would cost more to repair the vehicle than it is worth at the time the damage occurred. The price of parts and labor to reconstruct the vehicle to its pre-accident condition, and for legal operation on roads, exceeds a jurisdiction-defined percentage of the vehicle’s retail price. Usually, it is about 75-100% of the actual cash value.

A junk vehicle is a car that has no value except as a source of parts or scrap. Also known as non-repairable scrapped or destroyed. Such a car cannot be registered as a motor vehicle and used on public roads and must be crushed or shredded within a specified time period.

A vehicle that has been previously branded as salvage, but has been fully repaired and passed anti-theft and safety inspections or other jurisdiction procedures to ensure the vehicle was rebuilt to required standards. These vehicles are drivable, but the rebuilt brand remains on the vehicle's title/registration documents permanently.

Junk, Salvage, and Insurance Total Loss are reported by junk yards, salvage yards, & insurance companies accordingly. Once a vehicle is declared as a total loss by the insurance carrier, depending on the extent of damage and vehicle overall condition, the titling agency issues either Salvage or Junk Certificates.

Disposition is a field in the Junk & Salvage Records Report Unit that denotes what has happened to the vehicle since it came into the possession of junk or salvage yards, auto recyclers, and other businesses that handle junk and salvage vehicles.

Odometer Reading is a ClearVin report unit that indicates the number of miles a vehicle has traveled in progression collected from multiple data sources and helps to define an odometer rollback or other possible discrepancies. Incorrect odometer recordings can occur for a number of reasons, including guessing and fraud.

Actual Odometer Reading means that the odometer reading in their vehicle history report is the true and accurate mileage of the vehicle as of the last vehicle titling or inspection. The exact distance the vehicle has traveled (accrued mileage) is displayed on the odometer.

The reading that is displayed on the odometer does not reflect the actual mileage and should not be relied on. If a titling authority knows of some problem with the odometer reading, either due to inaccurate reporting, mechanical error, or tampering, the mileage is reported as "NOT ACTUAL." Also, when a vehicle has some mechanical issues that don’t allow checking odometer readings, the auction yard reports its mileage as "NOT ACTUAL."

If the odometer reading is shown as “Exempt”, it means that the vehicle owner is not obliged to disclose mileage either due to vehicle type, age, or damage. As a rule, the note appears on vehicles that are 10 years old and older or on some heavy-duty trucks and equipment.

The Exceeds the Mechanical Limits flag means that the vehicle odometer has reached the highest odometer reading that is mechanically possible and has started numbering back at “0”. This refers to vehicles equipped with a 5-digit odometer that only displays a reading up to 99999. The mileage displayed on the odometer is recorded on the vehicle record with an indication that the reading exceeds the odometer's mechanical limits. For example, the odometer displays 12000; however, the cumulative mileage is 111999. In this case, the odometer reading on the new title will display 12000, and the odometer brand will be "EXCEEDS."