Vehicle Data Desk
Updated Oct 7, 2026
Scope: the VIN decoder and VIN guides, factory specs from NHTSA vPIC, EPA fuel-economy data, EIA fuel prices and the import of every official dataset.
Standards
- Specs are shown exactly as NHTSA returns them; blank fields are labelled as no data.
- Fuel-economy data is matched to models strictly; unclear matches are left out.
- Every dataset shows its retrieval date.
Reviewed pages
VIN decoder, Where is the VIN, How to read a VIN, Model-year codes, fuel cost and MPG calculators.
Published by this desk
- How to Tell If a Car Has Flood Damage, and Check the VIN Updated
How to spot a flood-damaged car: the free VIN checks for flood and salvage records, the physical signs cleaners miss, what flood and rebuilt titles mean, and the extra risk… - Used Car Inspection Checklist: What to Check Before You Buy Updated
A step-by-step used car inspection checklist: the free record checks to run first, what to look at on the body, tires, engine and interior, how to test-drive, and the paperwork… - Most Common Car Problems, According to 1.5 Million Owner Complaints Updated
What owners actually report to NHTSA: the most common car problems by system, how they’re changing as cars add driver-assist tech, and how they differ for sedans, SUVs, pickups and… - Free VIN Check vs Paid Vehicle History Report: What Each Tells You Updated
A free VIN check tells you what the car is; a paid history report tells you what happened to it. Here's what each covers, what neither does, and the order…
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