ABOUT VINSCANPRO – WHO WE ARE, HOW WE WORK, AND WHERE OUR DATA COMES FROM
VinScanPro was founded in early 2024 and already has dozens of everyday-use members who’ve collectively saved thousands of dollars by avoiding shady vehicle deals.
Who we are
We’re not a big corporation. There’s no board of directors, no vague "executive team" with suits and buzzwords. VinScanPro started with just a handful of people who were fed up with how unnecessarily confusing, overpriced, and misleading vehicle history checks had become.
VinScanPro is run by a small, obsessive team who believe that vehicle data should work for the buyer, not just the seller or the marketplace. Our backgrounds range from automotive software to investigative journalism to dealership compliance. But we all share one core belief — that when you're spending thousands of dollars on a car, you deserve the full picture before you commit.
We’re not a big corporation. There’s no board of directors, no vague "executive team" with suits and buzzwords. VinScanPro started with just a handful of people who were fed up with how unnecessarily confusing, overpriced, and misleading vehicle history checks had become.
Also, worth noting: we're not trying to be flashy. You won't find us running ads on Hulu or pretending to be the "#1 VIN check service in America." What we are focused on: the report, the site, and the thing that matters single week — usually based on feedback from customers like you.
We've already helped everyday people avoid cars with rolled-back odometers, salvaged frames, storm damage, even fraudulently listed titles. And we're just getting started.
Founder and Foundation
VinScanPro was started by William Nordwood, a guy who never planned to get into the vehicle history game — until he saw just how broken the system really was.
In late 2023, William was helping a friend buy a used Toyota Tacoma off Facebook Marketplace. Everything looked clean on the surface: the title was "clear," the seller seemed legit, the mileage was right. But something just felt off. So William started digging.
What followed was a deep dive through six different websites, a couple of $25 "full reports," a recall search on NHTSA, and even some DMVs. After a full day's work, he finally connected the dots: the truck had been declared a total loss in Louisiana after hurricane flooding. The title had been laundered across states and came out the other side looking clean.
William started VinScanPro from his home office in Arizona. The first version was rough — just basic VIN lookups with public DMV queries stitched together — but it worked. He showed it to a few friends, then a few used car buyers on Reddit.
The response was overwhelming: "Please keep building this."
And so he did.
Now, VinScanPro operates across all 50 states, pulls from federal and private databases, and has helped thousands of users avoid junk vehicles, misrepresented listings, and hidden damage.
William still personally reviews user feedback and makes changes. His goal has never changed: build the VIN check tool he wishes existed back when his friend almost got scammed.
We believe in one thing above all: clarity
Clarity in the data. Clarity in the pricing. Clarity in what you’re actually getting when you hit “run report.”
There are too many services that call themselves “free” but ask for credit cards. Too many “comprehensive” reports that barely show anything except the VIN decoding and color of the car. Too many platforms that want to trap users in auto-renewing subscriptions without a clear way out.
We hate all of that. Our mission is to fix it.
We want to make checking a car’s history as normal and automatic as getting a home inspection before buying a house. You don’t need to be paranoid to do it — you just need to be smart.
Our reports are built to reveal, not just inform. If something is off, we don’t just bury it in the
fine print — we highlight it. Salvage, theft, mileage inconsistencies, title brand changes — it’s
all surfaced clearly.
We also know that not everyone is a car person. You might not know what a “branded title” is or what
“frame damage” means — and that’s fine. We break things down in plain English, so you can actually
use the information, not just collect it.
Where our data comes from
We don’t run VinScanPro off a single feed or public registry. We combine multiple independent and government data streams, then verify and structure them in ways that are actually useful.
Here’s a breakdown of our core sources and why they matter:
NMVTIS (National Motor Vehicle Title Information System)
This is the federal system that tracks title changes, branding (like salvage or junk), and ownership transitions across most U.S. states. It's one of the most trusted sources in the industry — and many competitors don’t bother using it fully because of cost or licensing limits.
We do. Every report includes full NMVTIS coverage, showing you how the title has moved over time and whether it was ever branded, even if it looks clean now.
NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Every recall issued by a manufacturer — whether it’s a fire hazard, airbag defect, or brake line issue — comes through NHTSA. We pull recall data in real time and show open recalls clearly in the report. We also include crash test data for some vehicles.
Insurance and salvage auction feeds
One of the biggest VIN red flags is when a vehicle has gone through an insurance payout or salvage
auction, especially if that vehicle ends up back on the market without a salvage title.
We’ve integrated with major auction networks and underwriting partners to detect when a car was sold
as damaged, totaled, or recovered — even if that info isn’t reflected in the title.
Open registration databases
In some states, limited vehicle registration info is publicly accessible — but hard to parse. We’ve written tools to scan and normalize that data to add layers like ownership counts, transfer timing, and whether a vehicle seems to have jumped states too quickly (a sign of title washing).
Private dealer data and mechanic reports
We’ve formed partnerships with private dealer-facing vehicle data aggregators to access mileage logs, inspection records, lease return data, and even service histories when available. Some of this comes directly from mechanic shops that report in anonymously to networked databases.
Recall & repair reporting systems
Beyond NHTSA, there are databases used by dealership service centers and regional franchises to track maintenance, repairs, and manufacturer bulletins. We tap into these to expand your visibility beyond just official recalls.
DMV warning systems
We catch records where a DMV issued warnings, pending suspensions, or fraud investigations tied to the VIN. These aren’t always shown on titles but matter when buying.
Why you can trust us
This might be the most important part.
There are too many VIN check sites that do everything except tell you what’s real. They lead with fake urgency — “only 5 reports left today!” — or say you’ll get a “free” report and then ask for $30. They pretend to be government-backed or hide behind unclear branding.
We don’t do any of that.
The point isn’t just to pay — it’s to get the right data before you buy.
We’re not going to say
we’re the only good VIN check service out there — but we will say we’re one of the only ones
who care more about accuracy and ethics than upsells.
Trust also comes from consistency. Here’s how we keep it:
- Every report shows you exactly what data is and isn’t available. If something isn’t there, we explain why.
- We don’t prioritize fluff like “estimated vehicle value” over real issues like prior damage or title inconsistencies.
- We never obscure bad news. If your car has five red flags, they’ll be front and center in the summary.
- We reply to support emails. Real humans. No AI chatbot, no “thanks for your inquiry, we’ll get back to you next week.”
- Our refund policy is fair and visible. If your VIN pulls no data through no fault of yours, we’ll make it right.
And maybe most importantly, we use this tool ourselves. Every single team member has run a VinScanPro report before buying a car for themselves or a family member. If we didn't believe in it, we wouldn't put our names on it.
Looking to run a VIN check?
If you’ve got a VIN and a few seconds, you can avoid getting burned.
Whether you’re checking out a Craigslist listing, browsing Facebook Marketplace, or even eyeing a dealership vehicle, a quick scan through VinScanPro can show you everything the seller might not.
No hidden pricing. No misleading promises. Just straight-up data to help you make the right decision.
