VIN Grounding Data

Overview

A VIN decoder and VIN lookup API. Data is sourced from the NHTSA vPIC database, the official US vehicle identification record, and is refreshed with each monthly release. Recalls come from NHTSA's recall records, refreshed daily, and crash-test ratings from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Covers vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States.

Live Test VIN Grounding Data Source →

The tool

Once your client is connected to the VerveContext server, this appears in its tool list as VINGroundingData. It is read-only and open-world — it fetches and never mutates anything on your side — so most clients call it without asking you to confirm.

Tool call

{
  "name": "VINGroundingData",
  "arguments": {
    "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352"
  }
}

You do not name the tool yourself; the model picks it. Asking about 1HGCM82633A004352 in the terms this source covers is enough for it to reach for VINGroundingData on its own — naming it explicitly also works, and is the way to force the call.

Connecting

One server URL covers every source in the catalog, including this one. Authorization is OAuth: the client opens a browser once, and there is no key to paste into a config file.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vervecontext": {
      "url": "https://api.vervecontext.com/v1/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Per-client setup — Claude, Cursor, VS Code, ChatGPT — is on the MCP setup page.

Arguments

These are the properties on the tool's inputSchema, so a well-behaved client validates them before the call is made. Premium arguments are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

Argument	Type	Description
`vin`Required	string	The Vehicle Identification Number to decode. Partial VINs are accepted and decode as far as the available characters allow. length 1–17
`recalls`Optional	boolean	Add the safety recalls NHTSA has issued for this vehicle's make, model and year.
`safetyRating`Optional	boolean	Add the NHTSA 5-star crash-test rating for the closest tested version of this vehicle.

What the model gets back

The result carries a structuredContent object matching the tool's declared outputSchema, so a client reads fields without parsing prose. status is "ok" and error is null on success; a null field means the value was not available for that input, not that the call failed.

Result

{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "valid": true,
    "decoded": true,
    "vehicleDescriptor": "1HGCM826*3A",
    "make": "HONDA",
    "model": "Accord",
    "year": 2003,
    "trim": "EX-V6",
    "trim2": null,
    "series": null,
    "series2": null,
    "manufacturer": "AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.",
    "vehicleType": "PASSENGER CAR",
    "bodyClass": "Coupe",
    "plant": {
      "state": "OHIO",
      "country": "UNITED STATES (USA)",
      "city": "MARYSVILLE"
    },
    "engine": {
      "displacementL": "2.998832712",
      "displacementCc": "2998.832712",
      "engineNumberOfCylinders": "6",
      "engineModel": "J30A4",
      "engineConfiguration": "V-Shaped",
      "engineBrakeHpFrom": "240",
      "displacementCi": "183",
      "fuelTypePrimary": "Gasoline",
      "valveTrainDesign": "Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)"
    },
    "features": {
      "passiveSafetySystem": {
        "otherRestraintSystemInfo": "Seat Belt (Rr center position)",
        "seatBeltType": "Manual",
        "sideAirBagLocations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
        "curtainAirBagLocations": "1st and 2nd Rows",
        "frontAirBagLocations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)"
      },
      "exterior": {
        "grossVehicleWeightRatingFrom": "Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)",
        "grossVehicleWeightRatingTo": "Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)",
        "doors": "2"
      },
      "mechanical": {
        "transmissionStyle": "Automatic",
        "transmissionSpeeds": "5"
      }
    },
    "validation": {
      "errorText": "0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct",
      "errorCode": "0",
      "errorCodes": [
        "0"
      ]
    },
    "recalls": {
      "count": 13,
      "doNotDrive": false,
      "parkOutside": false,
      "bySeverity": {
        "critical": 0,
        "high": 10,
        "medium": 3,
        "low": 0
      },
      "latestReportedOn": "2019-06-27",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "19V499000",
          "manufacturerRecallId": "Q5A, Y58",
          "manufacturer": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)",
          "reportedOn": "2019-06-27",
          "ownersNotifiedOn": "2019-08-12",
          "initiatedBy": "nhtsa",
          "components": [
            {
              "system": "Air Bags",
              "detail": "Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module"
            }
          ],
          "summary": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.",
          "consequence": "An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.",
          "hazards": [
            "injury",
            "death"
          ],
          "doNotDrive": false,
          "parkOutside": false,
          "remedy": {
            "description": "Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.",
            "status": "available",
            "overTheAir": false,
            "freeOfCharge": true
          },
          "unitsAffected": 3947,
          "manufactured": {
            "from": "2000-07-10",
            "to": "2011-02-22"
          },
          "scope": {
            "makes": 2,
            "models": 12,
            "modelYears": {
              "from": 2001,
              "to": 2011
            }
          },
          "url": "https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=19V499000",
          "severity": "high",
          "match": "exact",
          "listedAs": "ACCORD"
        },
        {
          "id": "19V501000",
          "manufacturerRecallId": "E5D, X5C",
          "manufacturer": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)",
          "reportedOn": "2019-06-27",
          "ownersNotifiedOn": "2019-08-12",
          "initiatedBy": "nhtsa",
          "components": [
            {
              "system": "Air Bags",
              "detail": "Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module"
            }
          ],
          "summary": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.",
          "consequence": "An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.",
          "hazards": [
            "injury",
            "death"
          ],
          "doNotDrive": false,
          "parkOutside": false,
          "remedy": {
            "description": "Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.",
            "status": "available",
            "overTheAir": false,
            "freeOfCharge": true
          },
          "unitsAffected": 1657752,
          "manufactured": {
            "from": "2000-04-25",
            "to": "2014-06-02"
          },
          "scope": {
            "makes": 2,
            "models": 12,
            "modelYears": {
              "from": 2001,
              "to": 2014
            }
          },
          "url": "https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=19V501000",
          "severity": "high",
          "match": "exact",
          "listedAs": "ACCORD"
        }
      ]
    },
    "safetyRating": {
      "testedVehicle": "2003 Honda Accord 2-DR. w/SAB",
      "match": "exact",
      "variantsTested": 4,
      "overall": null,
      "frontal": {
        "overall": null,
        "driver": 5,
        "passenger": 5
      },
      "side": {
        "overall": null,
        "driver": null,
        "passenger": null,
        "barrier": null,
        "pole": null,
        "frontSeat": null,
        "rearSeat": null
      },
      "rollover": {
        "rating": 4,
        "riskPercent": null,
        "tipped": null
      },
      "driverAssist": {
        "electronicStabilityControl": "notAvailable",
        "forwardCollisionWarning": "notAvailable",
        "laneDepartureWarning": "notAvailable"
      }
    }
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

Field	Type	Example	Description
`vin`	string	`1HGCM82633A004352`	The VIN that was decoded, normalized to uppercase
`valid`	boolean	`true`	Whether the VIN passes all NHTSA checks, including the check digit True only when the decode is completely clean (error code 0). A VIN with a mistyped check digit returns false here but may still decode to a real vehicle — read `decoded` for that.
`decoded`	boolean	`true`	Whether the VIN resolved to an identifiable vehicle True when a make was identified. Independent of `valid`: an imperfect VIN can still decode.
`vehicleDescriptor`	string	`1HGCM826*3A`	The portion of the VIN that identifies the vehicle build, with variable positions masked
`make`	string	`HONDA`	Vehicle manufacturer or brand name
`model`	string	`Accord`	Vehicle model name
`year`	number	`2003`	Model year of the vehicle
`trim`Premium	string	`EX-V6`	Trim level or variant of the model
`trim2`Premium	object	`null`	Secondary trim designation where the manufacturer provides one
`series`Premium	object	`null`	Series designation of the vehicle
`series2`Premium	object	`null`	Secondary series designation where the manufacturer provides one
`manufacturer`	string	`AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.`	Full legal name of the manufacturing company
`vehicleType`	string	`PASSENGER CAR`	Broad vehicle classification, such as passenger car or truck
`bodyClass`	string	`Coupe`	Body style of the vehicle, such as coupe or sedan
`plant`Premium	object	`{…}`	Manufacturing plant that built the vehicle, including city, state, country and company
`plant.state`Premium	string	`OHIO`
`plant.country`Premium	string	`UNITED STATES (USA)`
`plant.city`Premium	string	`MARYSVILLE`
`engine`Premium	object	`{…}`	Engine specifications, including displacement, cylinder count, configuration, horsepower, fuel type and electrification level Fields present vary by vehicle. Electric vehicles report electrification level and motor detail in place of displacement and cylinders.
`engine.displacementL`Premium	string	`2.998832712`
`engine.displacementCc`Premium	string	`2998.832712`
`engine.engineNumberOfCylinders`Premium	string	`6`
`engine.engineModel`Premium	string	`J30A4`
`engine.engineConfiguration`Premium	string	`V-Shaped`
`engine.engineBrakeHpFrom`Premium	string	`240`
`engine.displacementCi`Premium	string	`183`
`engine.fuelTypePrimary`Premium	string	`Gasoline`
`engine.valveTrainDesign`Premium	string	`Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)`
`features`	object	`{…}`	Equipment fitted to this build, grouped by area A container. The grouped objects inside it are premium. Fields absent from NHTSA's record for a given vehicle are omitted rather than returned empty.
`features.passiveSafetySystem`Premium	object	`{…}`	Passive safety equipment including air bag locations and seat belt type
`features.passiveSafetySystem.otherRestraintSystemInfo`Premium	string	`Seat Belt (Rr center position)`
`features.passiveSafetySystem.seatBeltType`Premium	string	`Manual`
`features.passiveSafetySystem.sideAirBagLocations`Premium	string	`1st Row (Driver and Passenger)`
`features.passiveSafetySystem.curtainAirBagLocations`Premium	string	`1st and 2nd Rows`
`features.passiveSafetySystem.frontAirBagLocations`Premium	string	`1st Row (Driver and Passenger)`
`features.exterior`Premium	object	`{…}`	Exterior attributes including body, doors, dimensions, weight rating, wheels, and truck, bus, trailer or motorcycle specifics
`features.exterior.grossVehicleWeightRatingFrom`Premium	string	`Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)`
`features.exterior.grossVehicleWeightRatingTo`Premium	string	`Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)`
`features.exterior.doors`Premium	string	`2`
`features.mechanical`Premium	object	`{…}`	Mechanical attributes including transmission, drivetrain, brakes and battery
`features.mechanical.transmissionStyle`Premium	string	`Automatic`
`features.mechanical.transmissionSpeeds`Premium	string	`5`
`validation`	object	`{…}`	Decode diagnostics reported by NHTSA
`validation.errorText`	string	`0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct`	Human-readable explanation of each error code returned
`validation.errorCode`	string	`0`	NHTSA error code or codes for the decode, as a comma-separated string "0" means the VIN decoded clean. Multiple codes are returned together, for example "1,7,11".
`validation.errorCodes`	array	`["0"]`	The same NHTSA error codes split into an array for programmatic handling
`recalls`	object	`{…}`	Safety recalls issued for this vehicle, present when recalls is true Null when the VIN does not decode. A vehicle with no recalls returns count 0 and an empty items list.
`recalls.count`	number	`13`	Number of recalls issued for this vehicle
`recalls.doNotDrive`	boolean	`false`	Whether any recall tells owners not to drive the vehicle until it is repaired
`recalls.parkOutside`	boolean	`false`	Whether any recall tells owners to park outside and away from buildings because of fire risk
`recalls.bySeverity`	object	`{…}`	Recall count at each severity level: critical, high, medium and low
`recalls.bySeverity.critical`	number	`0`
`recalls.bySeverity.high`	number	`10`
`recalls.bySeverity.medium`	number	`3`
`recalls.bySeverity.low`	number	`0`
`recalls.latestReportedOn`	string	`2019-06-27`	Date the most recent recall was reported, as YYYY-MM-DD
`recalls.items`Premium	array[2]		Each recall, newest first, with its campaign id, dates, affected components, summary, consequence, hazards, remedy, units affected and an NHTSA link severity is critical when owners are told not to drive or to park outside, high for fire, loss of control, roll-away, brake failure or death, medium for crash or injury risk, low otherwise. match is exact when the recall lists this model, related when it lists a variant or sibling of it (listedAs names which).
`recalls.items.0.id`Premium	string	`19V499000`
`recalls.items.0.manufacturerRecallId`Premium	string	`Q5A, Y58`
`recalls.items.0.manufacturer`Premium	string	`Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)`	Full legal name of the manufacturing company
`recalls.items.0.reportedOn`Premium	string	`2019-06-27`
`recalls.items.0.ownersNotifiedOn`Premium	string	`2019-08-12`
`recalls.items.0.initiatedBy`Premium	string	`nhtsa`
`recalls.items.0.components`Premium	array[1]
`recalls.items.0.components.0.system`Premium	string	`Air Bags`
`recalls.items.0.components.0.detail`Premium	string	`Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module`
`recalls.items.0.summary`Premium	string	`Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 M…`
`recalls.items.0.consequence`Premium	string	`An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants res…`
`recalls.items.0.hazards`Premium	array	`["injury","death"]`
`recalls.items.0.doNotDrive`Premium	boolean	`false`
`recalls.items.0.parkOutside`Premium	boolean	`false`
`recalls.items.0.remedy`Premium	object	`{…}`
`recalls.items.0.remedy.description`Premium	string	`Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of char…`
`recalls.items.0.remedy.status`Premium	string	`available`
`recalls.items.0.remedy.overTheAir`Premium	boolean	`false`
`recalls.items.0.remedy.freeOfCharge`Premium	boolean	`true`
`recalls.items.0.unitsAffected`Premium	number	`3947`
`recalls.items.0.manufactured`Premium	object	`{…}`
`recalls.items.0.manufactured.from`Premium	string	`2000-07-10`
`recalls.items.0.manufactured.to`Premium	string	`2011-02-22`

Why ground on it

A model can produce something that looks like this answer from its training data, and be confidently out of date or simply wrong. This source returns the current value in a shape you can check, which is the difference between an answer you can cite and one you have to hedge.

Point an evaluation at valid: it is the field most worth pinning a claim to, and it is either present and current or absent — never plausibly invented.

Failure modes

Errors come back as tool errors carrying a sentence the model can act on, not a bare status code. Error handling covers the full list.

Status	What it means
`400` / `422`	The arguments did not validate. The message names the offending one.
`401`	The OAuth session is invalid or expired — reconnect the server.
`403`	Blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Never a bad identity.
`404`	This source is not part of VerveContext. Check the catalog.
`429`	Out of credits, or a brief rate limit. The message tells them apart.

A call costs 10 credits each time the tool actually runs; a model that reasons about the tool without calling it costs nothing.

Use cases

Insurance Policy Intake: When a driver enters their VIN during checkout, quote flows populate vehicle make, model, and body class to price policies accurately without typos.
Used Car Listings: To speed up seller listings, automotive marketplaces fill vehicle brand, year, and model from user-submitted VINs while catching transcription errors instantly.
Fleet Inventory Intake: Validate vehicle identification numbers and verify vehicle types across newly acquired commercial vans before registering them into maintenance management systems.
Repair Shop Diagnostics: Mechanics confirm incoming customer cars by decoding the VIN to check manufacturer build records and resolve mistyped registration paperwork.

Other ways to use VIN Grounding Data

Set up VIN Grounding Data on VerveContext, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveContext account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Call it as a REST APIOne HTTPS endpoint and an x-api-key header, with SDKs for Node, Python and .NET.APIVerve →Reference →

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKit →Reference →

Google Sheets or ExcelA =VERVE() formula fills a column — no script, no export, recalculates in place.VerveSheets →Reference →