Frequently Asked Questions

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every road vehicle. It encodes the manufacturer, model, model year, assembly plant, and a unique serial number for that specific vehicle.

Yes. Looking up a VIN, viewing specifications, and browsing our catalog are all free, with no account required.

Structural VIN decoding is calculated directly from the VIN itself. Specifications (engine, body style, safety equipment, and similar) come from NHTSA's public vPIC database. Auction details — price, lot number, damage, location — come from publicly available auction listings, where available in our database.

Not every VIN in our system has an associated auction listing. When auction data isn't available, we still show the NHTSA specifications and VIN decode for that vehicle.

It's a comparison of a vehicle's price against the average price of other listings for the same make and model in our database — a quick way to see if a particular listing looks relatively cheap or expensive. It's a data point, not financial advice.

It's a rough annual estimate based on typical insurance, fuel, and maintenance figures for the vehicle's make, adjusted for the vehicle's age. Actual costs vary significantly by driver, location, and vehicle condition — treat it as a starting point, not a quote.

A salvage title generally means an insurer declared the vehicle a total loss at some point, often due to accident, flood, or fire damage. A rebuilt title means a salvage vehicle was repaired and passed inspection to be legally driven again. Title status can significantly affect a vehicle's value, insurability, and resale — always verify current title status with the seller or your local DMV before buying.

Yes — use the Contact page to reach out with the VIN in question and details of the issue.