Vehicle Research Tools

Free, open-access tools for vehicle identification and safety research. All data sourced from U.S. federal agencies. No account required.

VIN Decoder

Decode any 17-character VIN to identify make, model, year, body style, engine, transmission, drivetrain, and manufacturer. Sourced from NHTSA vehicle identification data.

NHTSAFree, no login

Recall Lookup

Search NHTSA safety recalls and consumer complaints by make, model, and year. View campaign numbers, affected components, consequences, and recommended remedies.

NHTSAFree, no login

MCP Server

Connect CarScout to Claude Desktop, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible AI assistant. Search dealer inventory, check recalls, decode VINs, and get market data through conversation.

MCPFree + premium tools

Data Sources

All tools are powered by authoritative public datasets.

NHTSA

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Safety recalls, consumer complaints, VIN decoding

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

Fuel economy ratings, emissions data, engine specifications

Dealer Networks

Nationwide Dealer Inventory

Real-time pricing, inventory counts, market trends

For detailed methodology, update schedules, and citation formats, see the Data & Methodology page.