CA
US
Vehicle History / Data Sources
Where Does VinAudit Get Its Data?
VinAudit brings together vehicle information from government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry partners to help you review a vehicle’s history. These sources contribute registration records, vehicle status information, and other details available for a particular VIN.
Where our vehicle data comes from
VinAudit aggregates information from the following sources and programs in Canada and across North America.
Provincial and territorial vehicle authorities
VinAudit lists vehicle-registration data sources from provincial and territorial authorities in the 12 Canadian jurisdictions below. Available records and reporting frequency vary by jurisdiction and VIN.
Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP)
CAMVAP provides binding arbitration for eligible Canadian disputes about vehicle defects and new-vehicle warranty administration. Some cases result in manufacturer-ordered buybacks; a complaint alone does not establish that a vehicle was bought back. VinAudit reports may include matching buyback information when available.
Learn more about CAMVAPOther government agencies and industry partners
U.S. title and salvage-related information may be available through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) and other sources. Government agencies and industry data providers can contribute additional records, subject to reporting and availability limits.
About NMVTISCanadian province and territory coverage
VinAudit publishes registration-source coverage for the following 12 Canadian provinces and territories:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Nunavut
- Yukon
The Northwest Territories is not included in VinAudit’s published list. Coverage indicates a source or data category, not a guarantee that a particular VIN has records. Available details and reporting frequency may differ by province, territory and source.
What types of vehicle data does VinAudit provide?
These seven broad categories summarize VinAudit’s vehicle data. The companion Report Sections guide breaks out additional details, including recall and salvage-auction records. Not every report contains records for every category.
Vehicle specifications
Vehicle model, fuel tank size, fuel economy, and other key vehicle specifications.
Registration records
Registration dates, jurisdictions, registration types, and reported odometer readings.
Vehicle status and brands
Reported classifications such as normal, salvage, rebuilt or irreparable. VinAudit describes status and brand coverage from 10 Canadian provinces and territories; availability varies by VIN and source.
Manufacturer buybacks
Available manufacturer buyback records may identify the manufacturer, model and complaint. A dispute or complaint is not automatically a completed buyback.
Theft records
Available theft-related reports may identify the vehicle type, reporting jurisdiction and record date. A missing match is not a police-issued theft clearance.
U.S. vehicle history
Available U.S. title records, junk, salvage and insurance records, theft information, sales records, and title checks.
Supplemental resources
Depending on report availability, supplemental information can include estimated market value, estimated ownership costs or recommended external checks. Estimates are not historical registration records.
What to know about data coverage
Information depends on the VIN. A report reflects records available for that vehicle from reporting sources at the time of the lookup. An event may be missing, delayed or never reported.
Coverage varies by data category. Registration data, vehicle status information, theft records, and other record types may have different coverage by jurisdiction.
Estimates are supplemental information. Market values and five-year ownership-cost estimates are not official vehicle registration records.
Consider additional checks. Compare records with the vehicle and seller documents, arrange an independent inspection and use official provincial registration or lien registries when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every VinAudit report include all seven data categories?
Not necessarily. The information available depends on the VIN and on records reported to participating sources. Some categories may have no records for a particular vehicle.
Which Canadian provinces and territories are included?
VinAudit publishes registration-source coverage for Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Yukon. Its published list excludes the Northwest Territories. The company separately describes vehicle-status and branding coverage from 10 jurisdictions. Individual VIN coverage may vary.
Can a Canadian vehicle have U.S. history?
Yes. A vehicle may have records in the United States. When available, matching U.S. information can include title, junk, salvage, insurance, theft, and sales records.
What is CAMVAP?
The Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan is a dispute-resolution program for eligible Canadian consumers experiencing vehicle assembly or new-vehicle warranty issues.
How are vehicle specifications different from vehicle-history records?
Vehicle specifications describe attributes such as model, fuel tank size, and fuel economy. Vehicle-history records concern reported events such as registration, status, odometer entries, and theft records.
Why does Data Sources list seven categories while Report Sections shows nine?
This page groups information into seven broad source and data categories. The Report Sections page describes nine report-display sections, with separate explanations for potential recalls, salvage-auction records and other results. The number of sections does not mean that every vehicle has a record in each section.
Research a vehicle with VinAudit
Check a VIN to explore available vehicle-history information, or view the report sections to learn more about the records VinAudit provides.