Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 1, 2026
VinSpecify ("we", "us") operates a free VIN decoder. This policy explains what data we process when you use the site, why, and who it is shared with. We do not require an account and we do not sell your data.
1. What we process
- VINs you submit. When you decode a Vehicle Identification
Number we send it to our decoding provider (CarAPI) and store the returned,
vehicle-level result in our edge cache. Decoded VINs may be published as
public, search-indexable pages at
/vin/<VIN>. These pages show vehicle specifications only — we never publish a number plate, and any registration date is shown as the year only. - Anti-abuse checks. We use Cloudflare Turnstile to tell humans from bots. Turnstile and our edge provider process technical data such as your IP address and a challenge token to perform this check.
- Server logs. Standard request metadata (IP address, user agent, timestamp) is processed transiently to operate and secure the service.
- Language preference. A cookie stores your chosen language so the site loads in it next time. It is not used for tracking.
- Analytics. If enabled, we use a privacy-friendly, cookieless analytics tool (Umami) that records aggregate page views without identifying individual visitors.
2. Why we process it
To decode the VIN you request, to cache results so repeat and shared lookups are instant, to build search-indexable vehicle reference pages, to protect the service from abuse, and to understand aggregate usage. The legal basis is our legitimate interest in operating and securing a free public service.
3. Who it is shared with
- CarAPI — performs the VIN decode (the VIN is sent to them).
- Cloudflare — hosting, edge cache (KV), and Turnstile anti-abuse.
- Umami — cookieless, aggregate analytics (if enabled).
We do not sell personal data or share it for advertising.
4. Retention
Decoded VIN results are cached and may be retained indefinitely to serve cached
and indexed pages. Server logs are short-lived. You can ask us to remove a
specific /vin/<VIN> page (see contact below).
5. Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, or
delete data relating to you, or to object to processing. A contact channel for
exercising these rights — and for requesting removal of a specific
/vin/<VIN> page — will be published here.
6. Changes
We may update this policy; material changes will be reflected by the "last updated" date above.