# VIN Decoder: Bulk NHTSA Vehicle Lookup (Make, Model) (`lepidata/nhtsa-vin`) Actor

Decode thousands of VINs in one run with the free official NHTSA vPIC API. Get make, model, year, body, engine and plant specs. No key needed.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/lepidata/nhtsa-vin.md
- **Developed by:** [Lepi Data](https://apify.com/lepidata) (community)
- **Categories:** Automation, Other
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$0.10 / 1,000 decoded vins

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## VIN Decoder: Bulk NHTSA Vehicle Lookup (Make, Model)

**What it does.** Decodes 17-character VINs into vehicle specs from NHTSA's official vPIC database. VINs are sent in batches of 50, up to 50,000 per run. Each row shows whether NHTSA decoded the VIN cleanly, and includes NHTSA's own decode codes and message.

**Input** (from `.actor/input_schema.json`)

- `vins` (required): list of 17-character VINs. Malformed VINs (not 17 characters, or containing I, O or Q) get a free row.

**Output fields**
`type`, `vin`, `make`, `model`, `modelYear`, `trim`, `manufacturer`, `vehicleType`, `bodyClass`, `driveType`, `fuelType`, `engineCylinders`, `displacementL`, `engineHP`, `doors`, `plantCity`, `plantCountry`, `gvwr`, `decodeClean`, `nhtsaErrorCodes`, `nhtsaMessage`, `specs` (all non-empty vPIC fields)
Free status rows (not charged): `invalid-vin`, `not-decoded`, `invalid-input`, `api-error`, `free-plan-limit`, `charge-limit-reached`.

**Example** (the build's prefill)
Input: `{"vins":["1HGCM82633A004352","JH4KA7561PC008269"]}` (a 2003 Honda Accord and a 1993 Acura Legend)
Honda row (from a real run, Oct 15): `make` HONDA, `model` Accord, `modelYear` 2003, `trim` EX-V6, `bodyClass` Coupe, 3.0 L V6, 240 hp, `plantCity` Marysville (Ohio, USA), `decodeClean` true.
Acura row (from a real run, Oct 15): `vin` JH4KA7561PC008269, `make` ACURA, `model` Legend, `modelYear` 1993, `trim` L, `manufacturer` HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., `bodyClass` Sedan/Saloon, `doors` 4, 3.2 L V6 (C32A1), 6-speed manual, `plantCity` Sayama (Saitama, Japan), `decodeClean` true, `nhtsaMessage` "VIN decoded clean".

**Data source and compliance**

- Data comes only from the U.S. NHTSA vPIC API (public, free, no key).
- A VIN identifies a vehicle, not a person. The tool returns **no owner, registration, title or history data** and is not a vehicle history report.
- Specs are what manufacturers reported to NHTSA, and some fields may be blank.
- Free-plan accounts get up to 100 results per run.

**Pricing.** Pay per result: $0.10 per 1,000 decoded VINs, flat on every plan, no start fee. Free status rows are never charged.

# Actor input Schema

## `vins` (type: `array`):

17-character Vehicle Identification Numbers. Sent to NHTSA in batches of 50. Malformed VINs get a free row. Up to 50,000 per run.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "vins": [
    "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "JH4KA7561PC008269"
  ]
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `items` (type: `string`):

All rows from this run.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "vins": [
        "1HGCM82633A004352",
        "JH4KA7561PC008269"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("lepidata/nhtsa-vin").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "vins": [
        "1HGCM82633A004352",
        "JH4KA7561PC008269",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("lepidata/nhtsa-vin").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "vins": [
    "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "JH4KA7561PC008269"
  ]
}' |
apify call lepidata/nhtsa-vin --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,lepidata/nhtsa-vin"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/LkCY4dDbUKy2I2dSq/builds/2VjdD3a8SVDXz5yg3/openapi.json