# VIN Decoder & Recalls Scraper (`gio21/vin-decoder-scraper`) Actor

Decode any 17-character VIN into full vehicle specs (make, model, year, trim, engine, body, plant) via NHTSA's public vPIC API, plus matching open safety recalls. No login, no proxy needed.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/gio21/vin-decoder-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Gio](https://apify.com/gio21) (community)
- **Categories:** Other
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$3.00 / 1,000 vin decodeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## VIN Decoder & Recalls Scraper

Decode any 17-character VIN into full vehicle specs (make, model, year, trim, engine, body, plant) via NHTSA's public vPIC API, plus matching open safety recalls. No login, no proxy needed.

### Input

```json
{
    "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "includeRecalls": true
}
```

### Output

One item per VIN: decoded make, model, year, trim, engine, body class, drive type, manufacturing plant, and (optionally) matching open NHTSA safety recalls with component, summary and remedy.

### Pricing

Pay per result: $0.003/VIN decoded.

### Notes

Calls NHTSA's official public vPIC and recalls APIs directly (no browser, no proxy) - fast, free government data source, works for any US-market VIN back to 1981.

# Actor input Schema

## `vin` (type: `string`):

A 17-character Vehicle Identification Number to decode, e.g. "1HGCM82633A004352".

## `vins` (type: `array`):

Optional: decode several VINs in one run.

## `includeRecalls` (type: `boolean`):

Also look up NHTSA safety recalls matching the decoded make/model/year.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of VINs to decode in this run.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
  "includeRecalls": true,
  "maxItems": 50
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "maxItems": 50
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("gio21/vin-decoder-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "maxItems": 50,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("gio21/vin-decoder-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
  "maxItems": 50
}' |
apify call gio21/vin-decoder-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=gio21/vin-decoder-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/bNktWdY529aapyNyS/builds/jwqVRpwi5scAKYbZb/openapi.json