I was curious to know about decoding the VIN on our car and I saw the decoder on this site but how exactly does that work; like I guess I'm asking is it free, and is it like part of Pontiac Historical Services or something, as we were looking into sending the VIN there but I know they want money for that, which is fine I was just curious if the one on the forum is free then I would just put the VIN in there instead. I just couldn't seem to find any explanation about the decoder on the forum so I figured I better ask. Thanks

Ours is free but nowhere near the accuracy and depth of PHS.

Are you looking for a detailed explanation of what each item in your iVIN means?

PHS provides a lot more information about your car besides decoding your VIN. They give you the build sheet, what dealer it was shipped to, and the MSRP sticker. Well worth the $75 or do they are asking for.

Edited April 27Apr 27 by Frosty

I think the PHS price has gone up. Its $110.00 USD now and its somewhat more than that for a window sticker depending on the boxes you check for laminating and extra copies, etc. I have yet to do any of this but will likely order it all someday.

Rick

15 hours ago, Frosty said:

Are you looking for a detailed explanation of what each item in your iVIN means?

PHS provides a lot more information about your car besides decoding your VIN. They give you the build sheet, what dealer it was shipped to, and the MSRP sticker. Well worth the $75 or do they are asking for.

Yeah that's more what I was thinking about was getting more of that kind of info, as nothing about the car is known after it left the states; we're not even sure which state it came from, either Montana or Arizona. So we are definitely going to do PHS. But so long as the decoder on the forum is free, I might as well put it in there first just to see what sort of info it comes up with.

22 hours ago, LeMans69 said:

I was curious to know about decoding the VIN on our car and I saw the decoder on this site but how exactly does that work; like I guess I'm asking is it free, and is it like part of Pontiac Historical Services or something, as we were looking into sending the VIN there but I know they want money for that, which is fine I was just curious if the one on the forum is free then I would just put the VIN in there instead. I just couldn't seem to find any explanation about the decoder on the forum so I figured I better ask. Thanks

Sorry, but I wouldn’t put any faith into the online one. I put the indian in JustA for the heck of it. It tells me it’s my 2000 Grand Prix, but it has a 4 cylinder in it! Which the Grand Prix never had! It also tells me it as built in Flint Michigan! Which none were! So much for a vin decoder. Fortunately I bought the car new so I have all of that info!

Well it seems Pontiac Historical Services is the way to go, which I was always thinking of doing anyway; I did just want to explore my options, and so now I know for sure what'll work best. Thanks for the help guys. I'll be sure to let you guys know what sort of history is revealed about the car, once I get it.