# VIN Decoder & Recall Check — Official NHTSA Vehicle Data (`vhsgreed/vin-decoder`) Actor

Decode any vehicle identification number (VIN) against the official NHTSA vPIC database and pull open recall data: make, model, year, fuel type, assembly plant, WMI and active recalls. Keyless, no API key.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/vhsgreed/vin-decoder.md
- **Developed by:** [Karl Sundström](https://apify.com/vhsgreed) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.15 / 1,000 vin decodeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

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

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## 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.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## VIN Decoder & Recall Check — Official NHTSA Vehicle Data

> Independent tool, not affiliated with NHTSA or the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Decode vehicle identification numbers against the **official NHTSA vPIC database** — the same source dealers and insurers use. Get make, model, year, fuel type, assembly plant and World Manufacturer Identifier, plus open safety recalls from the NHTSA recall database, in one flat record per VIN. Official government open data, no API key, no login.

### Why VIN Decoder?

- 🚗 **Official data only** — decoded straight from NHTSA vPIC, not scraped third-party sites.
- 🔧 **Recall awareness built in** — open safety recalls (campaign number, component, summary) ride along with every decode.
- ⚡ **Batch-friendly** — decode up to 500 VINs per run in one go.
- 📋 **Flat output** — one record per VIN, ready for CRM import, listings, or a Google Sheet.
- 💰 **Capped costs** — PPE pricing at $1.25/1k vehicles with a hard `maxTotalChargeUsd` cap.

### Use cases

Used-car listing enrichment · fleet and dealership inventory checks · insurance and claim workflows · recall compliance sweeps · VIN validation at lead intake

### What data you get?

| 🏷️ Field | Description |
| --- | --- |
| 🆔 vin | The vehicle identification number |
| 🚙 make | Manufacturer (e.g. Honda, BMW) |
| 🏷️ model | Model name |
| 📅 year | Model year |
| ⛽ fuelType | Primary fuel type (gasoline, diesel, electric, hybrid...) |
| 🏭 plant | Assembly plant city, if reported |
| 🔤 wmi | World Manufacturer Identifier (VIN chars 1–3) |
| 🔧 recalls.count | Number of open recalls found |
| 🔧 recalls.items | Top recalls: campaign number, component, summary |

### How to use

1. Add the actor to your Apify account and click **Run**.
2. Paste VINs into `vinList` (up to 500 per run).
3. Optionally set `modelYear` if a VIN needs a year hint to decode.
4. Export results as JSON, CSV or Excel.

### Input

```json
{
  "vinList": ["1HGCM82633A004352", "WBA3B1C50DF464919"],
  "modelYear": null
}
```

| Field | Type | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| vinList | array | — (required) | VINs to decode, max 500 |
| modelYear | integer | null | Optional model year applied to all VINs |

### Output

```json
{
  "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
  "make": "HONDA",
  "model": "Accord",
  "year": 2003,
  "fuelType": "Gasoline",
  "plant": null,
  "wmi": "1HG",
  "recalls": {
    "count": 3,
    "items": [
      {
        "campaign": "19V182000",
        "component": "AIR BAGS:FRONTAL",
        "summary": "Honda will notify owners..."
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

### Support

Open an issue on the actor's GitHub page or contact the developer via the Apify Store listing.

# Actor input Schema

## `vinList` (type: `array`):

Vehicle identification numbers to decode, e.g. 1HGCM82633A004352 (2003 Honda Accord)

## `modelYear` (type: `integer`):

Optional: forces the model year used for decoding all VINs (vPIC modelyear parameter). Leave empty to let vPIC infer from the VIN.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "vinList": [
    "1HGCM82633A004352"
  ]
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `vehicles` (type: `string`):

Dataset of decoded vehicles (one per VIN).

## `vehiclesJson` (type: `string`):

Full dataset items as raw JSON.

## `runView` (type: `string`):

Inspect this run, its logs and storages in Apify Console.

# 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 = {
    "vinList": [
        "1HGCM82633A004352"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("vhsgreed/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 = { "vinList": ["1HGCM82633A004352"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("vhsgreed/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 '{
  "vinList": [
    "1HGCM82633A004352"
  ]
}' |
apify call vhsgreed/vin-decoder --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,vhsgreed/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/a6bMfMdJM6XKcVdhx/builds/varP7HIkfzZ5pe8I6/openapi.json