vin-decoder.php

Use this function to get details about a vehicle from its VIN.

The data is pulled from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) API.

Installation

1. Download the vin-decoder.php file from the latest releases page
2. Upload the file to your website
3. Include the file in your code using include_once 'vin-decoder.php';
   • Ensure the decoder file is in the same directory as the file you call it from, or
   • Update the include_once path to the file

Calling the Function

Call the decodeVIN() function using one of the following three methods:

1. VIN only (returns entire array)

   decodeVIN('4T1SK12E1NU028452');

2. Secondary parameter as an array using splat (only returns values specified)

   $options = array('Make','Model','ModelYear','Trim');
   decodeVIN('4T1SK12E1NU028452', ...$options);

3. VIN as variable and additional parameters as strings (only returns values specified)

   $vin = '4T1SK12E1NU028452';
   decodeVIN($vin, 'Make','Model','ModelYear','Trim');

Return Values

For Example #1, the complete array from the NHTSA API is returned with more 130+ attributes.

For Examples #2 and #3, the following array is returned:

Array ( [Error] => 0 [Make] => Toyota [Model] => Camry [ModelYear] => 1992 [Trim] => )

In the event of an invalid VIN being submitted, an array with the keys ['Error'] and [Searched]' is returned.

• The ['Error'] key holds an array of error messages.
• The ['Searched'] key returns the value that was searched so that you may check it for errors.

So, when searching for an invalid VIN like 4T1SK12E00U028452 (notice the 9th & 10th digits), the following array is returned:

Array ( 
  [Error] => Array ( 
    [0] => 11 - Incorrect Model Year - Position 10 does not match valid model year codes (I, O, Q, U, Z, 0). Decoded data may not be accurate. 
    [1] => 400 - Invalid Characters Present 
  ) 
  [Searched] => VIN(s): 4T1SK12E00U028452 
)

License

This project uses the following license: MIT.