Web Services

Decode This! offers a variety of web services that allow direct access to the VIN number decoding engines we use. The web services are offered as SOAP services, which can be accessed by most major programming environments such as C#, Ruby, and PHP. All services return an XML document based on the requirements of the service. All the web services take a VIN and a security key (provided when you subscribe to the solution) and will return a well-formed XML document with the decoded information.

Contact us directly for additional information.

Currently we offer several solutions based on the needs of the customer:

VIN Validation
Basic Decoding
Extended Decoding
Custom Decoding
Bulk Decoding

Note on rates: Save 10% by buying 12 months of service up front.

VIN Validation Service

The VIN number validator will pass back a XML document that will tell whether the supplied VIN number is valid. To be valid it must pass several criteria:

1. Be 17 characters long
2. Have a valid check digit value
3. Decode to a valid vehicle

Return Format

<boolean>false</boolean>

Service Rates

Basic VIN Decoder

The Basic VIN Decoder provides information on the Year, Make, Model, and Trim levels for a particular VIN. It also provides a check to see if the VIN has a valid check digit (it will return data even if the check digit is invalid). Since some VINs can decode to multiple trim levels the returned data may contain more than one vehicle. An XML document will be returned that contains all valid vehicles that the VIN can decode to. This decoder also decodes classic car VINs (pre-1981). In the case of these VINs the Valid attribute is always "False".

Return Format

<Vehicles Valid="True" VIN="5TFBV541X8X045704" >
<Vehicle Year="2008" Make="Toyota" Model="Tundra 4WD Truck" Trim="" />
<Vehicle Year="2008" Make="Toyota" Model="Tundra 4WD Truck" Trim="SR5" />
</Vehicles>

Service Rates

Expanded VIN Decoder

The Expanded decoder provides a wealth of information about a vehicle. Just like the Basic decoder it will provide mulitple records for vehicles that decode to more than one trim level.

Return Format

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<decodethis>
  <message_center>
    <decoder_version>1.0.0</decoder_version>
    <decoder_count>3</decoder_count>
    <decoder_error />
  </message_center>
  <vin_number value="1FMZU77E91UC10575" />
  <vin_errors>
    <error_message />
    <resolution_message />
  </vin_errors>
  <basic_data>
    <year>2001</year>
    <make>Ford</make>
    <model>Explorer Sport Trac</model>
    <vehicle_type>Truck</vehicle_type>
    <dual_wheels>false</dual_wheels>
    <dimensions unit="inches">
      <width>71.8</width>
      <height>70.1</height>
      <length>205.9</length>
      <weight />
    </dimensions>
    <hybrid>false</hybrid>
    <mpg_city>16</mpg_city>
    <mpg_highway>19</mpg_highway>
    <GVWR>5840</GVWR>
    <curb_weight>2161</curb_weight>
    <payload>3679</payload>
    <tonnage />
    <gvwr_range>0 - 6,000</gvwr_range>
    <engine_cylinder_number>6</engine_cylinder_number>
    <transmission_type>Manual</transmission_type>
    <drive_type>4WD</drive_type>
    <image>749.jpg</image>
    <aspiration>Normal</aspiration>
    <fuel_type>Gasoline Fuel</fuel_type>
  </basic_data>
  <style value="4dr 126&quot; WB 4WD">
    <trims>
      <trim>4dr 126" WB 4WD</trim>
    </trims>
  </style>
  <options>
    <option availability="Standard" name="Driver Air Bag" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Passenger Air Bag" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="A/C" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="AM/FM Stereo" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Cassette" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="CD Player" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="4-Wheel ABS" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Four Wheel Drive" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="V6 Cylinder Engine" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Gasoline Fuel" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Power Door Locks" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Cloth Seats" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Bucket Seats" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Power Steering" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Tires - Front All-Season" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Tires - Rear All-Season" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="5-Speed M/T" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Aluminum Wheels" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Power Windows" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="M/T" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Privacy Glass" />
    <option availability="Standard" name="Vehicle Anti-Theft System" />
  </options>
  <high_tech_electrical>
    <high_tech>Audio/MP3</high_tech>
  </high_tech_electrical>
  <pricing>
    <msrp>$24,680.00</msrp>
    <invoice>$22,565.00</invoice>
    <destination>$600.00</destination>
  </pricing>
</decodethis>

Service Rates

Custom Web Services

We can also create customized web services that return specific data based on a customer's needs. Customized web services will be charged a $200 development fee up front that will be deducted from the first monthly payment. Contact us for specific information on how to arrange a custom VIN web service.

Service Rates

Bulk VIN Decoding

Looking to get basic data in bulk form instead of as a web service? We have a bulk decoder service that can provide this feature. You can provide a volume of VINs by either copy/paste into a form or uploading a CSV formatted document. We will provide you back a tab delimited data set of all the decoded VINs.

Service Rates

Bulk rates start at $200 per 100,000 and decrease according to volume down to $0.50 per 1000 at over 1 million VINs. Our servers can process up to 100 million VINs per batch.