Classic Car VIN Lookup

Unlock the secrets of your classic car with ClassicDecoder.

ExcellentTrustpilot
201 reviews onTrustpilot
to find classic VIN?
Want to learn about classic vehicles specifications, original base price and more?Get Classic Car Build Sheet
CD Hero
$50K $100KHidden Costs Alert: A $50,000 classic car can become a $100,000 expense.
60%Auction Trap Warning: 60% of buyers find major issues post-puchase.
1 in 7Title Nightmare Risks: 1 in 7 classic cars has a hidden issue which can cost you.

We are the Best in the Industry

See what our customers say
Classic Decoder

Classic Decoder

www.classicdecoder.com
Excellent
Trustpilot 4.7 (201)
Carfax

Carfax

www.carfax.com
Bad
Bad Review1.3 (469)
Auto Check

Autocheck

www.autocheck.com
Poor
poor2.4 (6)

ClassicDecoder's Star Products

Don’t settle for modern car reports that leave you in the dark about your classic beauty.

Classic Vehicle History Report

Discover the Untold Story of Your Classic Car

  • play
    Ownership history
  • play
    Title record (Salvage, Rebuilt, Theft)
  • play
    Accident reports and unreported damages
  • play
    Auction records with images (if available)
  • play
    Mileage History
VHR

Build Sheets for Vintage Cars

Uncover the Factory Secrets of Your Classic Car.

  • play
    Standard Specifications
  • play
    Original Base Price
  • play
    Standard & Optional Equipment
  • play
    Exterior & Interior Colors
  • play
    VIN ID & Location Description
Build Sheet

Advanced Classic VIN Decoder

With Classic VIN Decoder, you can run a VIN check on any 5-13 digit VIN.

  • play
    Year
  • play
    Make
  • play
    Model
  • play
    Series
  • play
    Dimensions & more

Vin Decoder

Why Choose ClassicDecoder for Your Classic Car Needs?

Don’t settle for modern car reports that leave you in the dark about your classic beauty.

Our database supports all types of pre-1981 VINs, including:

  • play
    5 digit VIN
  • play
    6 digit VIN
  • play
    7 digit VIN
  • play
    8 digit VIN
  • play
    9 digit VIN
  • play
    10 digit VIN
  • play
    11 digit VIN
  • play
    12 digit VIN
  • play
    13 digit VIN
  • play
    Pre-1981 motorcycle VIN
Decode VINs for All Pre-1981 Classic Vehicles

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam eu rutrum mi, at rhoncus quam. Morbi facilisis a tellus ut facilisis.

Decode VINs for All Pre-1981 Classic Vehicles

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam eu rutrum mi, at rhoncus quam. Morbi facilisis a tellus ut facilisis.

Decode VINs for All Pre-1981 Classic Vehicles

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam eu rutrum mi, at rhoncus quam. Morbi facilisis a tellus ut facilisis.

Decode VINs for All Pre-1981 Classic Vehicles

ClassicDecoder vs. Market Leaders: A Comprehensive Comparison

Classic DecoderCARFAXAutocheck

Relatively priced products

$24.99

$44.99

$29.99

Decodes Pre-1981 VINs

Yes

No

No

Provides Vehicle History for Classics

Yes

No

No

Get classic car details in seconds

Yes

No

No

Build Sheet Availability

Yes

No

No

Classic Car Expertise

Yes

No

No

The Ultimate Tool for Classic Car Owners

Don’t settle for modern car reports that leave you in the dark about your classic beauty.

Why Carfax and AutoCheck Fall Short for Classic Cars

Carfax and AutoCheck are reliable for modern vehicle history reports, but they fall short when it comes to classic cars. Designed exclusively for the 17-character VINs introduced after 1981, they leave classic car enthusiasts without the tools to uncover a vehicle's full story.

competitor

How ClassicDecoder Outperforms Competitors

ClassicDecoder bridges the gap with unparalleled features:

  • play
    We're the ONLY Ones Who Decode Pre-1981 VINs.
  • play
    Decode rare and unique VINs from all major manufacturers.
  • play
    Reveal hidden history and factory details for classic vehicles.
  • play
    Provide Vehicle History Reports AND Buildsheets tailored for classic cars.
Why Choose Us

Uncover Your Classic Car's History or Build Sheet in 3 Easy Steps

  • 1
    Enter VINInput the unique VIN of your classic car.
  • 2
    Select ReportSelect Vehicle History, Build sheet, or both.
  • 3
    Access DataReceive comprehensive reports and build sheets instantly.
Where to find classic car vin

What Our Customers Say About ClassicDecoder?

SH

Susan Hall

Apr 18, 2024US

Spent too much time scouting around online to find info on a classic car we're considering that has a 13 digit VIN - which is not accepted on many sites. Frustrating. Then I found Class Decoder. Voila! We're just in the initial stages of research with this car and other sites had reported "no information" if I could even GET past the 13 digit VIN dilemma. Richard was available for chat within literally one minute and was super helpful with fast responses. I'm in client care and have a high standard for myself so it's ALWAYS great to do business with others who do the same. I'm happy! Highly recommend this company. Thank you, Richard!

MJ

Mohamed Jawad

Sep 05, 2024US

I am trying to sell my car and the potential buyer asked for the Window sticker. I did not know about this service before. I was completely satisfied with the service and the detailed history in the report. The price is better than other similar services in the market. Also the customer service agent was very helpful.

RL

Randy Litchfield

Aug 27, 2024US

I just got a complete and very thorough history on a 1977 truck and was very happy with the research. It contained more than I expected. It left no questions about the truck’s history, purchase or accident. I was surprised how well traveled it has been even for an old truck. I’d readily use this search again.

LSD

Laura San Diego

Apr 24, 2024US

Bought a used truck. Wanted to know exactly what options it had. Also I like having the window sticker if I ever sell it privately.
Website worked flawlessly. Fill in my vin number, credit card number and got instant satisfaction with my window sticker ready to view, download and print! Doesn’t get much better than that!
Surprisingly I even received a phone call from Brian following up on my purchase to make sure it went well and I had no problems! Old fashioned Customer service like it USED to be!
Happy customer here.

D

Dan

Jul 12, 2024US

The experience was on time,I've tried other apps and none could deliver a Vin report with less than 17 characters, most classic cars will have less than 17 characters, all those other apps useless when it comes to this. This app is a must have in anyone's toolbox.

TA

Tash A

Apr 24, 2024US

Solid 10/10. I purchased a window sticker from them and it was instantly delivered to me. They provided me information about the car which I needed asap. Their car reports are also very accurate and would prefer this over going the expensive carfax route.

BA

Brian Acklin

Apr 26, 2024US

What an amazing company! I was just amazed at the low prices the report I received was just as descriptive as carfax at less than half of what they charge. I had some questions and the agent on live chat was there without wait time and was pleasant quick and informed. Won't go anywhere else for my vhrs anymore

AM

Alan M

Dec 28, 2023US

The web interface was easy to use. I was able to easily re-create accurately the sticker for my car. Their customer service rep called to make sure that I was happy with the result, which is something that rarely occurs these days. I’m quite pleased with this company And would use them again in the future when needs arise.

sellcarupsell: Sell Your Car

Get Classic Decoder App On Your Mobile Device

Classic cars are those vehicles that are considered valuable to collectors today because of their design, engineering, performance, or rarity. They are generally classified as pre-1960s vehicles and are sought after by private collectors for restoration or as vintage showpieces.

Test

decode-classic: Sell Your Car

What Our Customers Say About ClassicDecoder?

2025 CCCA Annual Meeting
Window Sticker Hero Image
ST. Louis, Missouri
26 - 29 March 2025
www.classiccarclub.org/events/349
$100-$150
@theclassiccarclubofamerica
Horsing Around in Amish Country CARavan
A list of motorcycle VIN check statuses
4102 Far O Way Lane
4 - 11 May 2025
www.classiccarclub.org/events/354
$300-$900
@theclassiccarclubofamerica
background

Decode Classic Manufacturers' VINs with Ease

Read all classic car blogs

Why Run a Classic Car VIN Lookup?

A Case Study: The Stolen Shelby Legend

Back in 1979, a rare 1965 Shelby GT350 was stolen. The owner was paid $6,500 by the insurance company, and the car disappeared—seemingly forever. Decades later, a sharp-eyed Shelby enthusiast spotted it listed on eBay. The bidding reached $121,000, but here’s the twist: the car was still technically stolen property.

The eBay Seller?

They’d bought the Shelby in 1980 with a reproduction serial number and clean title, never knowing its shady history. But a quick VIN check could’ve revealed the truth:

“The car had been stolen and never recovered.”
“The seller they purchased from was connected to the thief.”

When the original owner found out, they wanted the car back—but the insurance company had already paid them off. The car was seized, and both the original owner and the eBay seller were out of luck.

Car

The Lesson?

The seller had invested years—and watched the car’s value skyrocket to $175,000—only to lose everything because they never verified its history.

What you can learn from ClassicDecoder

Whether you’re buying or selling, don’t assume a clean title means a clean history. Protect your investment with a VIN check report to uncover:

warningTitle brand
The vehicle has a branded title.
warningAccident
1 accident record(s) found.
warningAccident
1 accident record(s) found.
warningAccident
1 accident record(s) found.

Blogs

Read all classic car blogs

Build Sheets and Classic Build Sheets: The Slight Difference

Generally, a build sheet and a classic build sheet serve the same purpose - to record a vehicle’s original assembly and specifications.  However, a little difference exists. Both document all the specifications and details of a vehicle when it was produced at the factory, including components, features, colors, and other options. A build sheet is commonly used and sought after by classic car enthusiasts for restoration or verification purposes.

Build Sheet

Build Sheets aren't always just for classic cars. They are also published for modern cars with 17-digit VINs.

Classic Build Sheet

A classic build sheet is only for older vehicles, typically made before 1980 or older than 25 years and with VINs ranging from 5 to 13 digits.

first image
second image

Slide to compare

Testing

Testing again