How we write and check our posts
Every post on this site carries the byline VIN Decoder HQ Editorial Team. This page explains what that means: who writes the posts, which sources the facts come from, and what happens when something changes or turns out to be wrong.
Who writes the posts
The editorial team is the small group that runs this site. We write under one shared byline rather than under invented names, and we do not publish author biographies or credentials we cannot back up. If a named person writes or reviews a post, that post shows their name.
We use software tools, including AI writing tools, to help with research and drafting. Before a post goes live, its facts are checked against the sources it lists, and a person on the team reviews it.
Where the facts come from
We aim to base every factual claim on a primary source, meaning the organization that holds the record or makes the rule:
- NHTSA vPIC, the federal vehicle database that our VIN decoder reads, and NHTSA's recall data and pages.
- Federal law: the Code of Federal Regulations and the US Code, read on eCFR or on Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, which publishes the same text.
- State DMV pages and state statutes for titles, transfers and selling a car, read from the state's own website.
- Salvage yards' own published listings and websites for what yards say about themselves, such as entry fees and opening hours. These are the yard's claims, and we describe them that way.
We do not copy text from other websites. Other sites can point us to a topic, but the wording, the tables and the diagrams on this site are our own.
Sources and dates on every post
Each post ends with a list of the sources it relies on, linked so you can read them yourself, and the date we last checked them. The top of each post shows when it was first published and when it was last updated. Where a post has limits, a short section says what it does not cover.
Reviews and updates
Rules on titles, recalls and vehicle sales change. We review posts when we learn that a rule they describe has changed, and when a reader reports a problem. When we change a fact, we update the post and its date. We do not change the date for a typo fix or a layout change.
What we do not do
- No paid placement in articles today. No business pays to appear in a post. If that changes, paid content will be labeled as paid.
- No legal advice. Posts explain general rules and link to the official source. They are not legal advice and do not replace your state DMV, the rule itself, or a licensed attorney.
- No buying or selling. We are not a car buyer, a dealer or a broker, and our posts make no offers. Any estimate on this site is an estimate, not a price any buyer has agreed to.
- No personal data. We do not publish owner, registration or license plate records.
Found a mistake?
Email [email protected] (open in your mail app) with the page address and what looks wrong. A link to the source that shows the correct fact helps us check it faster. We look at reports as they come in and correct a post where the source supports the change.
Questions
Who is the VIN Decoder HQ Editorial Team?
It is the small team that runs this site, writing as one byline. We do not invent author names or biographies. If a named person writes or reviews a post, that post shows their name.
Where do the facts in your posts come from?
From primary sources where one exists: NHTSA's vPIC vehicle database and recall data, federal law on eCFR and the US Code, state DMV pages and state statutes, and the listings salvage yards publish about themselves. Each post lists the sources it relies on.
Is anything in your articles paid for?
No. Today no article contains paid placement or sponsored links, and no business pays to be mentioned. If that changes, paid content will be labeled as paid.
Is this legal advice?
No. Our posts explain general rules in plain English and link to the official sources. They are not legal advice. For a decision that matters, read the source itself or ask your state DMV or a licensed attorney.
How do I report a mistake in a post?
Email [email protected] with the page address and what looks wrong. A link to the source that shows the correct fact helps us check it faster.