# VIN Decoder & Safety Recall Lookup (`vex_workflow/vin-decoder`) Actor

Decode vehicle VINs in bulk using official US government (NHTSA vPIC) data: make, model, year, trim, body, engine, fuel and EV details, drive type, plant and safety features, plus a check-digit test. Optionally list safety recall campaigns for each vehicle.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/vex_workflow/vin-decoder.md
- **Developed by:** [Ian McCann](https://apify.com/vex_workflow) (community)
- **Categories:** Automation, Developer tools, Business
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

Pay per event

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

### What does VIN Decoder & Safety Recall Lookup do?

It turns a list of **Vehicle Identification Numbers** into clean, structured vehicle data using the official US government vehicle database (NHTSA vPIC):

- **Make, model, model year, trim and series**
- **Body class, doors, vehicle type, weight class**
- **Engine** (cylinders, displacement, horsepower, layout), **transmission** and **drive type**
- **Fuel type** and **EV / hybrid** details (electrification level, battery kWh, charger level)
- **Assembly plant** city, state and country, and the manufacturer
- **Safety equipment** such as airbags, ABS, stability control, backup camera and driver assistance (when the manufacturer reported it)
- **Check-digit validation**, so typos and fake VINs stand out
- Optional **safety recalls**: recall campaigns for the vehicle's make, model and year with component, summary, consequence and remedy

### Who is it for?

- **Used car dealers, auctions and marketplaces** enriching inventory feeds
- **Insurance, fleet and finance teams** validating VINs on applications
- **Parts sellers** matching vehicles to fitment data
- **Developers** who need a bulk VIN API without managing rate limits

### How to use it

1. Paste VINs, one per line.
2. Turn on **Include safety recalls** if you need them.
3. Run and export to CSV, Excel or JSON.

VINs are sent in batches of 50, so large lists decode quickly.

#### Input example

```json
{ "vins": ["1HGCM82633A004352", "5YJ3E1EA7JF000001"], "includeRecalls": true }
```

#### Output example (shortened)

```json
{
  "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
  "status": "decoded",
  "checkDigitValid": true,
  "make": "HONDA",
  "model": "Accord",
  "modelYear": 2003,
  "trim": "EX-V6",
  "bodyClass": "Coupe",
  "engineCylinders": 6,
  "engineHP": 240,
  "fuelTypePrimary": "Gasoline",
  "plantCity": "MARYSVILLE",
  "recallCount": 24
}
```

### How much does it cost?

| Event | Price |
|---|---|
| Actor start | $0.001 per run |
| VIN decoded | **$0.002** per VIN |
| Recall lookup (optional) | **$0.002** per VIN |

1,000 VINs cost about **$2**, or **$4** with recalls. Invalid VINs are free.

### Notes

- Data comes from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and covers vehicles sold in the United States best. Fields are empty when the manufacturer did not report them.
- Recalls are listed for the make, model and year. Whether a recall applies to one specific vehicle and whether it was already repaired can only be confirmed by the manufacturer or a dealer.
- This tool is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer.

# Actor input Schema

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

Vehicle Identification Numbers, one per line. Full 17-character VINs give the best results.

## `includeRecalls` (type: `boolean`):

Also list the safety recall campaigns for each vehicle's make, model and year (charged as a separate event).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "vins": [
    "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "5YJ3E1EA7JF000001",
    "1FTFW1ET5DFC10312"
  ],
  "includeRecalls": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

One row per VIN with vehicle details and, optionally, recalls.

## `summary` (type: `string`):

VINs decoded, invalid and recall lookups.

# 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",
        "5YJ3E1EA7JF000001",
        "1FTFW1ET5DFC10312"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("vex_workflow/vin-decoder").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",
        "5YJ3E1EA7JF000001",
        "1FTFW1ET5DFC10312",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("vex_workflow/vin-decoder").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",
    "5YJ3E1EA7JF000001",
    "1FTFW1ET5DFC10312"
  ]
}' |
apify call vex_workflow/vin-decoder --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

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

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/fReaLI17QfupAeMwA/builds/hnUnxSTL7O5M3NClr/openapi.json