ClearVin FAQ

ClearVin is a service that specializes in providing commercial and public customers with vehicle information for U.S. vehicles by VIN or license plate number. We provide a range of services for comprehensive VIN verification, including Vehicle Reports, Window Sticker, Title History Check, VIN Decoder, and Safety Recalls. We cover different vehicle types, including automobiles, buses, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, motorhomes, and tractors. Report content for U.S. and Canadian vehicles varies, so it’s recommended to review a 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.

ClearVin is a first-level approved NMVTIS provider, covering 99% of U.S. DMV records across 40+ data points — title brands, title liens, ownership history, and odometer readings for vehicles from 1981 to present. Reports include real sales history and photos, proprietary ClearVin Rating (scoring mileage, damage, and repair cost against value). At $17.99 per report without any recurring fee — 60% less than Carfax — with a 100% money-back guarantee, plus bulk pricing and API access for businesses.

A Window Sticker, also known as a Monroney Label 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 extensive coverage of window stickers by VIN or license plate.

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

Using ClearVin is fast and simple. Just enter your VIN on the main page to view basic VIN details with our free preview. Once your payment is completed, you will be taken to the next page displaying 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 and credits. This way, you have a centralized location for all your previous reports and history. The account is free, we don't have any recurring fee for account.

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 reports contain information as of the time you ordered them. Per NMVTIS requirements, access to U.S. vehicle history reports ordered more than 60 days ago may be limited. This rule applies only to U.S. reports; Canadian reports and window stickers remain available without time limits. You may want to re-run reports to access the latest vehicle records.

Both Vehicle Reports and Window Stickers are available to view, share, print, or download without time limits. All reports remain accessible in your account as long as it is active; however, access to U.S. reports containing NMVTIS data ordered more than 60 days ago may be limited.

If you do not remember your password, you can use the reset password option. Just enter your email address, and we will send you a recovery link with further instructions.

Our pricing is shown on the report preview page and depends on the number of reports you 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 or ApplePay. 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. Report Credits can be obtained by purchasing a package of reports or by activating a promo code and used towards any valid VIN, license place or lot number 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 Report Credits (prepaid reports), 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 preliminary search and select “Report Credits” as a payment option on the report payment page.

If you have a promo code for ClearVin Report Credits and would like to activate it, register an account and navigate to the “Have a Promo Code? Use It” option on your dashboard. Enter your promo code and click “Use Promo Code” to apply the corresponding credit value to your account balance. Please note that some promo codes may have expiration dates. However, once the credits are added to your account, they will remain available as long as your account remains active. The account is free.

ClearVin provides refunds in cases where internal errors or technical issues affect your report purchase, such as empty reports, duplicate charges, or data discrepancies caused by database errors. To request a refund, email [email protected]. with your email address, name, the VIN associated with the purchase, and proof of the issue. For data discrepancies, provide documentation such as a state title document or other official records. Refunds are not provided for information that is unavailable to ClearVin, such as previous owners’ personal details, accidents not reported to insurance companies, or title events from states that do not participate in the NMVTIS program. We recommend reviewing a vehicle report sample before purchase to ensure it meets your needs.

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

• Previous and Current Title States & 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 estimate of the number of owners generated from DMV title records. It includes information about the purchase date, registration state, 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 collected 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 provide a concise, accurate overview of each vehicle’s history and to help assess its 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 reports for U.S. VINs.

Some vehicles have a clean title and no damage history, so the report may show a “No records reported” status in the corresponding report sections to indicate that no issues have been recorded. Also, due to strict data disclosure laws in Canada, some data in the report may be limited.

ClearVin Vehicle Reports may include “Attention” and “Warning” badges to highlight potential issues, discrepancies, or important records in a vehicle’s history. These badges are designed to draw your attention to the relevant report section for further review. An orange “Attention” badge indicates a potential risk or issue that may require closer review. A “Warning” badge indicates a high-risk issue or a confirmed problem in the vehicle’s history. A green checkmark means that no issues were reported in that section and the available records indicate a clean history.

Odometer fraud is the illegal practice of intentionally tampering with or altering the mileage recorded on a vehicle's odometer to misrepresent its actual mileage. 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 track mileage progression and detect possible odometer rollback — a flag indicating a possible discrepancy between the vehicle's historical mileage and the current odometer reading.

Yes. The Theft Records section shows whether a vehicle has ever been reported as stolen. If a vehicle is currently reported as stolen, the section displays a red alert: “Currently reported as stolen!” If the vehicle was previously reported stolen but no longer has an active theft record, it displays an orange notice. If no theft records are found, the section displays a green message: “This vehicle has no theft records in our database.” The status “Previously reported stolen. No active theft record found” means that the vehicle was previously reported as stolen and is no longer listed as actively stolen. In many cases, this means the vehicle was recovered by law enforcement. However, it does not mean that the vehicle was repaired or restored to its original condition. A recovered vehicle may still have a salvage title or damage such as vandalism, scratches, or other minor damage.

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.

A 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" is the most recent title record reported by NMVTIS. The "Historical Title Information" section lists all title records and specific brand assignments, such as Salvage and Rebuilt. If you're looking to verify any data from the 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 indicates that the cost to repair the vehicle exceeded its value at the time of the damage. The cost of parts and labor to restore the vehicle to its pre-damage condition and make it legal for road use exceeds a jurisdiction-defined percentage of the vehicle’s retail price. Usually, this percentage 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. It is also known as non-repairable, scrapped, or destroyed. Such a vehicle cannot be registered as a motor vehicle or used on public roads and must be crushed or shredded within a specified time period.

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

Junk, Salvage, and Insurance Total Loss records are reported by junk yards, salvage yards, and insurance companies, respectively. Once a vehicle is declared a total loss by an insurance carrier, the titling agency issues either a Salvage or a Junk Certificate, depending on the extent of the damage and the vehicle’s overall condition.

Disposition is a field in the Insurance & Junk/Salvage 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 the vehicle history report reflects the vehicle’s actual mileage as of the last vehicle titling or inspection. The exact distance the vehicle has traveled (accrued mileage) is displayed on the odometer.

A NOT Actual Odometer Reading means that the mileage displayed on the odometer does not reflect the vehicle’s actual mileage and should not be relied upon. If a titling authority identifies an issue with the odometer reading due to inaccurate reporting, mechanical error, or tampering, the mileage is reported as "NOT ACTUAL." Additionally, when a vehicle has mechanical issues that prevent the odometer reading from being verified, the auction yard may report the mileage as "NOT ACTUAL."

If the odometer reading is shown as “Exempt,” it means that the vehicle owner is not required to disclose mileage due to the vehicle type, age, or other applicable exemptions. As a rule, this note appears on vehicles 10 years old or older, or on certain heavy-duty trucks and equipment.

The Exceeds the Mechanical Limits flag indicates that the vehicle’s odometer has reached the maximum mileage it can mechanically display and has reset to “0”. This applies to vehicles equipped with a 5-digit odometer that can only display readings up to 99,999 miles. The mileage displayed on the odometer is recorded in the vehicle record with an indication that the reading exceeds the odometer’s mechanical limits. For example, the odometer displays 12,000 miles; however, the vehicle’s cumulative mileage is 111,999 miles. In this case, the odometer reading on the new title will display 12,000 miles, and the odometer brand will be "EXCEEDS."