Terms of Service

Last Updated: February 2026

Important: VINorNOT provides automated analysis of publicly available vehicle data only. It uses the NHTSA federal database and AI-powered web search to compile information. Results are not guaranteed and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. This tool is not a substitute for a professional vehicle inspection and is not affiliated with CarFax, AutoCheck, or any commercial vehicle history provider.

1. Acceptance

By accessing or using VINorNOT, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the service.

2. How It Works

VINorNOT is a client-side web application that runs entirely in your browser. You provide your own Groq API key for AI-powered scanning, and all processing is performed directly between your browser, Groq's API at api.groq.com, and the NHTSA federal vehicle database at vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov. There is no VINorNOT server — the site is static code hosted on Cloudflare's CDN. No VIN data, scan results, or vehicle information is received, processed, or stored by us.

3. Your API Key

You are responsible for your own Groq API key. By using VINorNOT, you agree to:

Comply with Groq's Terms of Use
Keep your API key secure
Accept responsibility for all usage under your key

VINorNOT does not have access to your API key and cannot be held responsible for charges incurred on your Groq account.

4. Data Sources

VINorNOT retrieves vehicle information from two sources:

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) — A free, public federal API providing VIN decoding, recall data, safety complaints, and investigations. No API key required.
Groq AI — Used for VIN image scanning and AI-powered vehicle analysis. Requires your own free API key.

All data comes from publicly available sources. VINorNOT does not access private databases, dealer networks, insurance records, or law enforcement systems.

5. No Guarantees

Vehicle history results may be incomplete, inaccurate, or miss records entirely. Common limitations include:

Accidents not reported to insurance or police
Title washing across state lines
Odometer rollbacks not yet detected
Service records from independent mechanics
Flood, fire, or hail damage not reported
AI analysis errors or misinterpretations

You agree that results are informational only and require further verification. A clean result does not guarantee a clean vehicle.

6. Not a Professional Inspection

VINorNOT is not a substitute for:

A pre-purchase vehicle inspection by a qualified mechanic
A comprehensive vehicle history report from a paid service
A title check through your state's DMV
A lien search through appropriate authorities

Always have a used vehicle professionally inspected before purchasing.

7. Not Affiliated with Vehicle History Providers

VINorNOT is an independent tool. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to CarFax, AutoCheck, Bumper, EpicVIN, or any other commercial vehicle history report provider. We do not access their databases or provide their reports.

8. Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use VINorNOT for:

Commercial resale of vehicle history reports
Automated bulk VIN lookups or data scraping
Fraudulent misrepresentation of vehicle condition
Any purpose that violates federal, state, or local laws

9. No Data Retention

Because VINorNOT operates entirely in your browser, no scan data is retained by us. VIN numbers, vehicle details, and analysis results exist only in your browser tab and are lost when you close it. See our Privacy Policy for full details on our BYOK architecture.

10. Limitation of Liability

VINorNOT is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We are not liable for:

Any vehicle purchase decisions made based on scan results
Inaccuracies in NHTSA data or AI-generated analysis
Vehicle defects, damage, or issues not identified by the tool
Any issues arising from your use of the Groq API
Financial losses resulting from reliance on scan results

11. Free Forever Guarantee

VINorNOT is and will remain completely free for all users, with zero tracking. This is a fundamental term of the product:

No premium tiers, paywalls, or paid features — ever
No analytics, tracking pixels, cookies, or user data collection
No advertisements
The BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) architecture ensures user privacy by design

In the event of a sale or transfer of ownership, these terms are binding on any successor. The product must remain free with zero tracking as a condition of any acquisition.

12. Changes

We may update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the service indicates acceptance of any changes.

13. Contact

If you have questions, join our Discord.

Remember

VINorNOT is a free tool that helps you quickly check publicly available vehicle data. It's a great first step — but never your only step. Always get a professional inspection before buying a used vehicle.