8 Best Free VIN Check Services in Canada for [year] (2023)

According to a report, Canadians pay more than Americans for brand-new Canadian-made vehicles. Someone from Allison, Ontario, would have to pay $52,690 for an Acura MDX (even though it’s made in the same location), while US residents pay $43,030 for the same model.

The price disparity, among other reasons, is why Canadians opt to buy secondhand cars. Used cars are cheaper, may offer extended warranty protection, and provide more options for buyers.

You can enjoy all these benefits from a used car, but only if you check its VIN before buying. The VIN provides the essential information you’ll need to vet the viability of a used vehicle.

What is a VIN?

VIN stands for the vehicle identification number. It’s a set of unique identifying codes given to a vehicle when it’s manufactured.

The VIN is often found on the driver’s side door jamb or dashboard and provides a wealth of information about the vehicle, including its original product details, engine type, and whether the vehicle was part of a recall.

The Vehicle Identification Number is important as it gives essential information about your vehicle’s history — its unique features, manufacturer, warranty claims, and theft and insurance coverage.

Conducting a VIN check and the information provided in a vehicle report can also affect your insurance premiums. If the insurance company finds out that your vehicle was involved in a significant accident, you may not even be able to get coverage.

How to Get a VIN Check

VehicleHistory.com offers free VIN checks, including a vehicle’s safety rating, recalls, original specifications, and more. The site also provides information about the vehicle’s fuel economy data, its safety equipment, and user reviews.

You can also use National Insurance Crime Bureau for a free VIN check and determine if the vehicle was severely damaged or reported stolen. The site allows you to run five free VIN checks from one IP address within 24 hours. It uses data gathered and supplied by car insurance companies, resulting in more up-to-date and accurate information.

To get in-depth information about a vehicle’s history, using paid VIN checks is the best way to go. CARFAX and AutoCheck are widely used providers of VIN check reports. Besides the basic information available from free sites, CARFAX and AutoCheck also provide reports about the vehicle’s history of recalls, crashes, and thefts.

CARFAX and AutoCheck can be used for free but will require fees if you want to access and download more detailed reports.

Best Free VIN Check Services: Check Your Vehicle History

1. CARFAX Canada

CARFAX is one of the most accurate and reliable VIN check providers in Canada. Because it uses more than 100,000 data sources, you’ll have peace of mind knowing the VIN check from the site is accurate and up-to-date. CARFAX Canada also has a mobile app to ensure convenience and ease of use.

Additionally, CARFAX Canada has a VIN decoder to help you unlock more key details about your vehicle. This feature will teach you what the 17-digit characters in your VIN mean.

2. Transport Canada

Transport Canada is responsible for the country’s transportation programs and policies. This site also offers a free tool that allows you to determine whether your vehicle has been recalled due to manufacturer defects.

It also provides information on tire and child car seat manufacturers that have had several recalls in the past.

3. VIN Verify

VIN Verify is from the Insurance Bureau of Canada and offers a database that identifies vehicles with branded title statuses of salvaged, irreparable, fire, or flood.

The site doesn’t provide a detailed report about a vehicle’s history, but running its VIN can protect you from buying title-washed cars or cars with significant issues that look problem-free on paper.

4. National Insurance Crime Bureau

The VIN check offered by the National Insurance Crime Bureau assists in determining if a vehicle has been reported as a salvage by NICB member insurance companies or has been reported stolen but not yet recovered. You can conduct five searches on the website within 24 hours with one IP address.

5. VehicleHistory

VehicleHistory prides itself on bringing the most up-to-date and accurate used car information, thanks to its team of automotive experts.

Its free VIN check reports include a detailed vehicle history, complete historical auctions and incidents, historical sales listings, vehicle specifications, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalls and complaints.

6. iSeeCars

The VIN Report Tool from iSeeCars guarantees to take out the guesswork when buying a used car. Once you enter the VIN on-site, you’ll receive an in-depth report about the vehicle’s theft record, recall history, multi-year depreciation analysis, selling history, market demand and supply, and more.

7. VINCheck.info

VINCheck.info offers a 100% free VIN check. It uses data from over 268 million registered vehicles across 50 states in less than a minute. Look for your vehicle’s VIN, start the VIN search on the website, and browse the 10-page VIN report or have it sent to your email.

The report also includes other information, like the vehicle’s market value and insurance information.

8. VinAudit Canada

VinAudit Canada works with non-profit organizations, government agencies, and industry sources across Canada to provide a detailed VIN check report to users.

Type in your VIN on-site and receive reports on your vehicle’s brand checks, odometer checks, recalls and buybacks, registration records, stolen checks, and US history records.

Related: Most Reliable SUVs in Canada.

VIN Check vs. Vehicle History Report

A VIN check provides basic information about your vehicle using 17 digits, which includes the year, make and model, its engine and drivetrain, and where the vehicle was assembled.

Using one of the best free VIN check services is essential when buying a secondhand vehicle to determine if the vehicle is what the seller says it is. In short, the VIN helps you avoid fraud and deception and saves you from spending money on a lemon.

A vehicle history report includes the same information as a VIN but more, including the vehicle’s major accidents and claims, service records, odometer discrepancies, import records, and ownership changes.

A vehicle history report is more comprehensive than a VIN check but could cost you more, depending on who or where you buy the vehicle from.

To ensure transparency, dealerships and online retailers include a free vehicle history report with every vehicle. However, private sellers don’t offer the same as they have to pay for the costs of getting a vehicle history report.

If you’re eyeing to buy a secondhand vehicle from a private seller soon, expect to pay for the report yourself.

How The Best Free Vin Check Services Save You Money

Dealers often rely on a new paint job and freshly detailed interior to hide the history of a used car. Being a victim of this scam will cost you more money in the long run.

By using any of the services mentioned above to run a VIN check, you can save money as reports can reveal a vehicle’s condition, including unseen flood damage, safety issues, usage, and prior collision and accident repairs. Some VIN check services in Canada even provide more information about the vehicle.

The information in VIN checks will help you make an informed buying decision and prevent you from spending money on a lemon. As a result, you’ll end up using a secondhand vehicle that’s worth the investment.

Check the VIN First

Before buying a secondhand vehicle, take the time to check for its VIN using any of the services listed here. Taking this step can help you determine if the vehicle is stolen or still roadworthy. More importantly, it can highlight whether the vehicle is safe to drive.

FAQs

Related: Find out the best car loan rates in Canada.