Tap. Scan. Decide.
Know the car before you commit.
Point your camera at any VIN. See what the car is and any open safety recalls, in plain words. Free. No account.
Camera is only used to read the VIN. Nothing is saved.
We strip your photo's location and metadata before reading the VIN, then delete the image. It is never saved.
You have tried every way to dodge a bad car.
Reading the same forum threads at 11 pm. Asking a friend who sort of knows cars. Standing in a lot trying to read a window sticker before the salesperson walks back over.
The information you actually need is buried in databases the average buyer never sees.
The real question is not is this car clean.
The real question is what am I actually buying. A good answer covers the whole car, not just one box.
- What it is, in plain words.
- Open safety recalls in the US and Canada.
- Real-world fuel economy, side by side.
- A fair sense of what the car is worth.
- Service history and what to expect next.
- What it will actually cost you to drive.
What TapVIN does for you.
Free
IncludedDecoded specs
Year, make, model, trim, engine, drive, fuel, where it was built. Plain words, no jargon.
Open safety recalls
US recalls from NHTSA and Canadian recalls from Transport Canada, cross-listed when relevant.
Plain-language summary
A short AI summary of what the car is and what to watch for, written for a shopper, not a mechanic.
Fuel economy and safety ratings
Combined city and highway fuel use plus the relevant safety ratings, when available for the model.
Commute cost calculator
Enter your one-way distance and TapVIN tells you what each car you are weighing will cost to drive over a year. Manual distance entry today. Free with a quick sign-in, with a soft cap of five comparisons per month.
Your saved garage
Save the cars you are considering, add a nickname and a colour tag, and compare them side by side.
Premium Report: Walk on the lot informed, not hopeful.
Full reportThe Full Pre-Purchase Report
One bundled report that walks you through the car as a whole. Everything in the free tier, plus the pieces that take more than a quick scan to gather.
- Vehicle history across the US and Canada, mapped onto one timeline.
- Market value so you know if the asking price is in the right zip code.
- Maintenance intervals and what the car will need next.
- A 3-year commute and ownership cost forecast tailored to your drive.