/vin-lookup
Full VIN decode, listing history timeline, retail and wholesale values — appraisal context in one command
Purpose
A VIN is a vehicle's identity document and its market history combined. The vin-lookup command decodes the full spec sheet, pulls every listing event across every dealer, and returns current retail and wholesale valuations — all in one pass. Appraisers use this to understand a vehicle's market trajectory before committing to a valuation.
Arguments
VINrequired17-character vehicle identification number.
How It Works
Execution flow. MCP tool calls are shown inline on each step.
Reads marketcheck-profile.md for ZIP and country. UK users are redirected: VIN lookup requires US data tools — use /price-check with year/make/model instead.
decode_vin_neovinCalls decode_vin_neovin with include_generic=true to get full spec sheet: year, make, model, trim, body type, drivetrain, engine, transmission, MSRP, and all option codes.
get_car_historyCalls get_car_history with sort_order=desc to retrieve every time this VIN has appeared in a dealer listing, in reverse chronological order. Each event includes date, dealer, asking price, and DOM.
↔ Parallel Execution
predict_price_with_comparablesCalls predict_price_with_comparables with miles=50000 (default) and dealer_type=franchise for the retail market value estimate.
predict_price_with_comparablesParallel call with dealer_type=independent for the wholesale proxy value. The retail-to-wholesale spread is key context for trade-in and recovery estimates.
Shows: full spec sheet, listing history table with price/dealer/DOM per event, total market exposure days, price journey from first to most recent listing, retail and wholesale values with spread, top 3-5 comparables, and red flag notes (rapid dealer hops, steep price drops, extended DOM).
MCP Tool Calls
| Tool | Calls | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
decode_vin_neovin | 1 | Full spec sheet including MSRP and option codes |
get_car_history | 1 | Complete listing history across all dealers |
predict_price_with_comparables | 2 | Retail (franchise) and wholesale (independent) valuations at default 50K miles |
Example Output
VIN LOOKUP — 5J6RW2H87MA003941 ════════════════════════════════════ 2021 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD Body: SUV | Engine: 1.5T I4 | Trans: CVT | Drivetrain: AWD MSRP: $35,050 LISTING HISTORY (most recent first) Date Dealer Price DOM ────────── ──────────────────────── ─────── ─── Feb 14 2026 CarMax Phoenix $27,400 11 Jan 03 2026 AutoNation Scottsdale $28,900 22 Nov 12 2025 Hendrick Honda Phoenix $30,200 19 Sep 01 2025 Original dealer listing $34,900 71 Total market exposure: 123 days | Dealers: 4 | Price drop: -$7,500 (-21.5%) ⚠ NOTE: 4 dealer hops in 5 months — verify condition carefully CURRENT VALUATION (at ~50K miles) Retail (Franchise): $27,100 Wholesale (Indep): $24,600 Spread: $2,500 (9.2%)
Cost Estimate
100 VIN lookups/month ≈ $4–11
Limitations
- US-only — VIN decode and car history require US data tools.
- Valuation uses a default of 50,000 miles when actual mileage is unknown — significant variance affects accuracy.
- Some VINs have no listing history if the vehicle has never been listed at a dealer covered by MarketCheck.
More in the Appraiser Plugin
Same Capability, Different Plugin
These skills share the same underlying methodology but are tuned for a different audience.
Lender vin-lookup adds LTV flagging and collateral-specific risk notes — the same history and valuation data interpreted through a loan recovery lens.
View in Lender →Insurer vin-lookup presents the same history and value data with pre-loss trajectory context — the listing history serves as documentation for claims dispute resolution.
View in Insurer →