Body Class and Body Style by VIN
A free VIN decode returns Body Class on almost every US vehicle, from a fixed NHTSA list of 71 values. See what it covers, where it fails, and what to use.
NHTSA vPIC carries this field and populates it for nearly every U.S. vehicle.
Yes, a free VIN decode returns Body Class. NHTSA's vPIC database populated the BodyClass field on all 60 US VINs we tested, drawing from a fixed list of 71 values such as Sedan/Saloon, Pickup, and Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]. It is a regulatory category defined by 49 CFR 565.12(b), not a marketing body style, and the supporting Doors and Series fields are far less complete.
How do I find the body class from a VIN?
- Enter the full 17-character VIN at https://free-vin-lookup.com/check, which queries NHTSA's vPIC DecodeVinValues endpoint at no cost. The same call is available directly at https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/vehicles/DecodeVinValues/YOUR_VIN?format=json.
- Read the BodyClass field first. It returns one of 71 fixed values (Sedan/Saloon, Coupe, Pickup, Cargo Van, Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV], and so on), never free text. You can pull the full list from https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/vehicles/GetVehicleVariableValuesList/body%20class?format=json.
- Check ErrorCode before trusting a blank. Code 0 means the VIN decoded clean. Code 14 means NHTSA could not resolve some characters from the manufacturer's submission, and that is the case where BodyClass comes back empty; a 2018 Land Rover Discovery Sport VIN in our test returned error 1,4,14 and blank BodyClass, Doors and Series.
- If the vehicle is a truck, read BodyCabType and BedType instead of Doors. 49 CFR 565.15 requires trucks to make cab type decipherable from the VIN, but does not require body type or door count, which is why pickups return Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max while Doors stays blank.
- Treat Doors and Series as supporting hints rather than facts. Confirm the door count against the vehicle itself, and confirm Series against the manufacturer's body or frame plate.
- For anything vPIC does not carry (as-built trim, paint code, tire size, towing capacity), go to the vehicle's own labels listed in the alternatives below rather than to another VIN decoder.
vPIC BodyClass values most likely to appear on a US road vehicle, with the internal IDs NHTSA assigns them. The full list contains 71 values, including motorcycle, off-road and incomplete-vehicle categories, and can be pulled from GetVehicleVariableValuesList/body class.
| vPIC ID | BodyClass value returned (exact string) | What it covers | Verified in our 60-VIN sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Sedan/Saloon | Three-box car with a trunk separate from the cabin | 2023 Tesla Model 3, 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, 2016 BMW 328i |
| 3 | Coupe | Two-door fixed-roof car | 2018 Ford Mustang, 2006 Chevrolet Corvette, 2019 Porsche 911 |
| 1 | Convertible/Cabriolet | Car with a folding or removable roof | 2018 Ford Mustang GT Convertible |
| 5 | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback | Car whose rear liftgate opens into a shared cabin and cargo space | 2018 Toyota Prius, 2017 VW Golf, 2018 Nissan Kicks |
| 15 | Wagon | Extended-roof car with a rear cargo area | Not returned in our sample |
| 10 | Roadster | Two-seat open car | Not returned in our sample |
| 117 | Limousine | Stretched sedan | Not returned in our sample |
| 7 | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] | Catch-all used for most SUVs and most crossovers; 28 of our 60 VINs | 2020 Toyota RAV4, 2019 Honda CR-V, 2020 BMW X5, 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe |
| 8 | Crossover Utility Vehicle [CUV] | Car-based crossover; elected by some manufacturers only | 2018 Nissan Murano, 2017 Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti QX50 |
| 2 | Minivan | Passenger van on a car platform, typically sliding rear doors | 2022 Honda Odyssey, 2019 Toyota Sienna, 2006 Toyota Sienna |
| 60 | Pickup | Truck with an open cargo bed; pair with BodyCabType and BedType | 2013 and 2021 Ford F-150, 2021 Ram 1500, 2016 Toyota Tacoma |
| 119 | Sport Utility Truck [SUT] | Pickup bed on an SUV-derived body | Not returned in our sample |
| 11 | Truck | Truck not classified as pickup, van or truck-tractor | Not returned in our sample |
| 9 | Van | Van with passenger seating | Not returned in our sample |
| 95 | Cargo Van | Van without rear passenger seating | 2019 Ford Transit, 2014 Ford Transit Connect |
| 111 | Step Van/Walk-in Van | Walk-through delivery van | Not returned in our sample |
| 66 | Truck-Tractor | Semi tractor built to pull a trailer | 2020 Volvo VNL |
| 62 | Incomplete - Cutaway | Cab and chassis cut away behind the cab for a second-stage body builder | 2019 Ford E-450, 2021 Ford E-350 |
| 63 | Incomplete - Chassis Cab (Single Cab) | Cab and frame delivered for a body builder to complete | Not returned in our sample |
| 108 | Motorhome | Self-propelled recreational vehicle | Not returned in our sample |
| 16 | Bus | Bus not classified as school, transit or motor coach | Returned on a coach VIN we tested |
| 61 | Trailer | Towed unit with no propulsion | Not returned in our sample |
| 4 | Low Speed Vehicle [LSV]/Neighborhood Electric Vehicle [NEV] | Speed-limited street-legal vehicle | Not returned in our sample |
Where the VIN route stops for body class
- BodyClass is a regulatory category, not a marketing body style. 49 CFR 565.12(b) defines body type by the number of doors or windows, cargo-carrying features and the roofline, and NHTSA's own vPIC variable documentation states that definitions are not provided for individual body types in the regulation. That is why one value, Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV], covered 28 of the 60 VINs we decoded.
- The SUV versus crossover split is manufacturer-elected, not normalized by NHTSA. In our sample only Nissan and Infiniti returned Crossover Utility Vehicle [CUV] (Murano, Rogue, Pathfinder, QX50), while Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and BMW X5 all returned Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]. Two identical-segment cars can land in different buckets.
- Doors was blank on 10 of the 60 VINs we decoded, including 4 of 7 pickups, both cargo vans, both incomplete cutaway chassis and the truck-tractor. Where it is present the counting is inconsistent: a 2019 Honda CR-V returns 5 and a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox returns 4 for the same basic shape, because some manufacturers count the rear liftgate as a door and others do not.
- Series was populated on only 19 of 60 VINs (32%), and it holds different things by make. Toyota returns factory body codes (2018 Prius: ZVW50L/ZVW51L), BMW returns 3-series, Ram returns DT, Chevrolet returns 1500. It is not a trim level, despite looking like one. Per 49 CFR 565, series is a manufacturer marketing subdivision of a line.
- vPIC has no field for paint code, tire size or towing capacity. None of the 144 variables in its published variable list covers them, so no free VIN decode, on this site or any other, can return them. The wheel fields it does have (WheelSizeFront, WheelSizeRear) are rim diameters, not tire size designations, and were blank on every VIN we tested.
Where to get it instead
- Driver's-side B-pillar tire and loading placard, for tire size and seating capacity. FMVSS No. 110 S4.3 requires every vehicle except trailers and incomplete vehicles to carry a permanent placard on the driver's side B-pillar, showing designated seating capacity, vehicle capacity weight, the tire size designation fitted at the factory and the recommended cold inflation pressures. On vehicles without a B-pillar and with opposite-opening doors it moves to the forward edge of the rear side door, otherwise to the rear edge of the driver's door. This is the authoritative source for tire size, which vPIC does not carry at all. Source →
- Certification label plus the manufacturer towing guide, for exact GVWR and towing capacity. vPIC returns GVWR only as a class band; a 2013 Ford F-150 comes back as Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb, not a number. 49 CFR 567.4 requires the certification label, usually on the driver's door jamb, to show GVWR followed by the value in pounds and a GAWR in pounds for each axle front to rear. Use those exact figures together with the manufacturer's towing guide for your model year, engine, axle ratio and cab configuration to establish towing capacity, which no VIN decode returns. Source →
- Manufacturer paint code label, for exterior color. Paint codes are not encoded in the VIN and are not among vPIC's 144 fields. Each manufacturer prints the code on its own body or service parts label, in its own format, commonly on the driver's door jamb, the strut tower, the glovebox, the radiator support or under the trunk mat. A dealer parts department can look the code up from your VIN, which is the reliable route when the label is missing or painted over.
- Window sticker or factory build record, for as-built trim, cab and bed configuration. The Monroney window sticker and the manufacturer's build or RPO record list the exact trim, package, bed length and options for one individual vehicle. vPIC's Trim field cannot do this because it returns every trim sharing that VIN pattern; a 2017 VW Golf decodes to S, Wolfsburg, SE, SEL. Most manufacturers offer an owner portal or dealer lookup keyed to the VIN, and many vehicles carry an RPO or option code label in the glovebox or spare-tire well.
Primary sources
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing (vPIC) API, including DecodeVinValues and GetVehicleVariableValuesList for Body ClassNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- 49 CFR 565.12 - Definitions, including body typeOffice of the Federal Register (eCFR)
- 49 CFR 565.15 - Content requirements, Table I: attributes decipherable from VIN positions 4-8 by vehicle typeOffice of the Federal Register (eCFR)
- 49 CFR 571.110 - FMVSS No. 110, Tire selection and rims, S4.3 placard requirementsOffice of the Federal Register (eCFR)
- 49 CFR 567.4 - Requirements for manufacturers of motor vehicles, certification label contentOffice of the Federal Register (eCFR)
Body Class and Body Style by VIN — questions
How do I find out the trim level of my vehicle?
A vPIC VIN decode returns a Trim field, populated on 45 of the 60 VINs we tested, but it frequently lists every trim sharing that VIN pattern rather than yours. A 2017 VW Golf returns S, Wolfsburg, SE, SEL. For the trim your car was actually built as, use the window sticker, the RPO or option label, or the dealer's build record.
Can I determine the truck bed size from the VIN for any specific truck model?
Not reliably. vPIC defines BedType with the values Long, Short, Extended and Standard, plus a BedLengthIN field, but both were blank on most pickups we decoded. A 2021 Ram 1500 returned Short while 2021 F-150, 2019 F-250 and 2021 Silverado returned nothing. 49 CFR 565.15 requires trucks to encode cab type, not bed length. Measure the bed or check the window sticker.
How can I decode the MFR body code on my Toyota?
For many Toyotas the manufacturer body code comes back in vPIC's Series field. A 2018 Prius returns ZVW50L/ZVW51L and a 2020 RAV4 returns AXAA52L/AXAA54L/AXAH54L, which are factory body and chassis designations. Coverage is thin overall, though: Series was populated on only 19 of the 60 VINs we tested. The same code is stamped on the vehicle's frame or door-jamb plate.
How do I find the build sheet for my truck or SUV using the VIN?
A VIN decode is not a build sheet. vPIC returns the body class, cab type, engine and safety equipment your truck or SUV was certified with, but never the option codes, packages or as-built configuration. For those, use the Monroney window sticker, the RPO or option label often found in the glovebox or spare-tire well, or your dealer's build record keyed to the VIN.
Can I check the VIN of my car at AutoZone and find details like engine type or year?
Yes, and the underlying data is the same. AutoZone and most free VIN tools query NHTSA's public vPIC database, which returns year, make, model, body class, engine displacement, cylinders and fuel type at no cost. You can query it directly at free-vin-lookup.com/check. None of these routes, AutoZone included, can return an option list, service history or paint code, because vPIC does not hold them.
How can I find out the towing capacity of my vehicle for trailers and RVs?
Not from a VIN decode. Towing capacity is not among vPIC's 144 variables, so no free VIN lookup returns it. vPIC does return GVWR, but only as a class band such as Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb. Get exact figures from the certification label required by 49 CFR 567.4 on the driver's door jamb, then the manufacturer's towing guide for your model year and axle ratio.
How do I find the exact paint code for my vehicle's color?
Not from the VIN. Paint codes are not encoded in the VIN and are not among vPIC's 144 fields, so any site claiming to decode your color from a VIN alone is guessing. The code is on the manufacturer's own body or service parts label, commonly on the driver's door jamb, the strut tower, the glovebox or under the trunk mat. A dealer parts desk can confirm it from your VIN.
Why does my crossover decode as an SUV instead of a crossover?
Because the choice belongs to the manufacturer, not NHTSA. vPIC offers both Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] and Crossover Utility Vehicle [CUV], but manufacturers pick which one they submit. In our testing only Nissan and Infiniti models returned CUV, while the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 all returned the SUV/MPV value. Neither label reflects any technical difference.