# VIN Decoding (https://docs.carlio.app/docs/inventory/decode-a-vin)

Fill the details of a car from its VIN in the car form



This guide fills the make, model and specification of a car from its VIN.

**Requirements:** The Owner or Manager role, because the decode runs inside the car form.

## Steps [#steps]

1. Open **[Inventory](https://carlio.app/dashboard/inventory)** and select **Add Vehicle**, or open the **Edit Vehicle** dialog of a car.
2. Enter all 17 characters in **VIN**.
3. Select **Decode**.

![The Add a Vehicle dialog with a VIN entered and the Decode button available beside the field](https://storage.carlio.app/public/docs/2fcb4a5c-e509-4031-b339-8b66526d4a7a.webp)

The **Decode** button stays unavailable until the VIN is valid. A valid VIN has 17 characters and contains none of the letters I, O and Q. The dashboard saves the VIN in capital letters.

## What the decode fills [#what-the-decode-fills]

The decode can fill **Brand**, **Model**, **Year**, **Body type**, **Engine**, **Transmission** and **Fuel**. It fills only the fields that are empty. A field that already holds a value stays unchanged.

A message named **VIN Decoded** lists the fields that the decode filled. When every described field already held a value, the message says so.

When the VIN leaves the trim open, the **Model** field offers the possible trims as suggestions.

## Failures [#failures]

| Message                                                        | Cause                                                       |
| -------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| A VIN is 17 characters and cannot contain I, O or Q            | The VIN is not valid                                        |
| No vehicle matches that VIN. Enter the details manually.       | The number is not issued, or the decode has no record of it |
| The VIN service is not responding. Enter the details manually. | The decode service did not answer in time                   |

A failure costs nothing. The form stays open and every field can be typed by hand.

## Notes [#notes]

* The decode can depend on an outside service. Check the result against the car.
* To read the VIN from a photo, see [Add a car from a label photo](/docs/inventory/add-a-car-from-a-label-photo).