If you're using an automotive data provider for VIN decoding, you probably have a few vehicles in inventory that your data provider cannot decode. Some of these might be classic cars, vehicles sold in Europe or Asia then imported into the US, Trailers, or other types of vehicles that your data provider simply does not support. However, it's likely that some of these vehicles cannot be decoded because the VIN number is just plain incorrect, usually due to human error when reading the VIN off the vehicle. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to determine a VIN is invalid. You can employ these methods to isolate your invalid VINs and either make automated corrections or go back to the field to get the correct VIN off your vehicle.
Jan 12 2012
Topics: VIN
Jan 11 2012
If you were alive in the late 1980s or early 1990s and heard mention of the spaghetti sauce brand "Prego," you almost certainly will think of their catchphrase "It's in there!" No matter what desired ingredient was asked about in Prego's TV ads, the response was, of course, "It's in there!"
We often have potential customers approach us hoping to determine a specific detail or attribute of the vehicle using only the vehicle identification number (VIN). Decoding a VIN can return a large amount of useful information. However, there are still many vehicle details that can't be determined from a basic decode of the VIN pattern alone. In other words, they are not all in there.
Read MoreTopics: VIN
Jan 10 2012
If you have read any of our other articles on VIN decoding you know already that the VIN pattern has certain information that it is required to contain in the US and Canada. However, if you acquire and review a VIN file, like VIN Basic, you will come across exceptions to even these basic rules. Here are a couple of VIN rule exceptions that have led to questions from our customers in the past.
Topics: Support, Automotive Data, VIN
Nov 25 2011
VIN Decoding 101 Part 3: The Market Effect
Have you ever driven in England? How about in India or Japan? Many US drivers who have traveled abroad have a colorful and nerve-racking story about their experiences behind the wheel. These same people are probably confident, knowledgeable drivers in the US. In both situations, they are driving a car with much the same equipment and functionality. So what makes the experience of driving abroad so challenging and perilous?
Topics: Automotive Data, VIN
Nov 16 2011
VIN Decoding 101: Part 1 - What is a VIN?
On current automobiles, the VIN is located on the dashboard in a location visible through the windshield, as well as, on the driver side door jam. You have probably also noticed the VIN recorded on the title, insurance, and registration of your vehicle. The VIN acronym stands for Vehicle Identification Number. It refers to a unique number assigned to a vehicle that contains information to describe and identify the vehicle.
Nov 8 2011
Automotive VIN Data Primer
As a data company we come across many variations on needs from our Clients for VIN decoding. In the marketing segment, the term is used very loosely to describe data collections with a tremendous amount of information that can be queried by VIN.. but what is VIN decoding really?
Topics: Automotive Data, VIN, Auto Manufacturers