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VIN Decoding

Type a VIN and DMS fills in the make, model, year and specs for you, then creates the listing. It saves typing and avoids spec mistakes.

Each lookup uses one VIN lookup credit. VIN decoding works one VIN at a time. To load many vehicles at once, use a CSV or XML import instead; those don't use VIN credits.

Adding a listing from a VIN

On the Add New page of an inventory type, a VIN box sits at the top. On the All Listings page the same box is in the toolbar on wide screens, and on smaller screens it becomes an Add From VIN button that opens it in a pop-up.

  1. Type or paste the VIN.
  2. Pick a VIN import from the dropdown next to the box, if you have more than one.
  3. Click Import Data.

DMS decodes the VIN, creates the listing with the status your VIN import is set to, and opens it so you can add photos, price and anything else.

You need a VIN import first

The first time, the button reads Import Data but sends you to the VIN import setup instead, with your VIN already filled in. See the next section.

Setting up a VIN import

A VIN import is a saved recipe. It says which decoded values go into which of your categories and fields, and what status new listings get. You set it up once per inventory type.

  1. Go to the Import / Export page for the inventory type and add a new VIN import.
  2. Enter a VIN and click Grab Data. This is a real lookup and uses one credit.
  3. Map the data. Drag the decoded values onto your categories and fields, the same way as in a CSV import.
  4. Give the import a name and choose the status new listings get (Publish, Draft and so on).
  5. Finish. From now on the quick VIN box uses this import.

You can make several VIN imports per type, for example one that publishes straight away and one that saves drafts for review.

Lookup credits

  • The Import / Export VIN page shows Lookup Credits with your balance, and a Buy More button.
  • Every plan gets a set of free lookups once, at sign-up (not every month). See your plan on the pricing page for the number.
  • Extra credits come in packs. Purchased credits never expire, and free credits are used first.
  • One successful decode costs one credit. A VIN that fails to decode, or is rejected as invalid, costs nothing.
  • When your balance drops to 5 or fewer, DMS emails the account owner. You can switch this email off in your account area under email preferences.
  • At zero credits, VIN lookups stop until you buy more. Everything else on the site keeps working.

What counts as a valid VIN

A VIN is exactly 17 letters and numbers, and never contains the letters I, O or Q. Anything else is rejected before a credit is spent. A VIN that passes this check but isn't found by the decoder shows an error and also costs nothing.

Turning it off for a type

If an inventory type isn't vehicles (parts, for example), open that type's settings, go to Advanced and turn on Disable VIN Functionality. The VIN box and VIN import are hidden for that type.

Who can use it

Adding from a VIN needs both the Add Inventory and Manage Imports permissions. See Permissions & Roles.