/vin-lookup
VIN decode, listing history, and collateral valuation — full context for any loan file in one command
Purpose
Loan officers and risk analysts need full context on a collateral VIN before approving or flagging a deal. The vin-lookup command decodes the complete spec sheet, pulls the full listing history, and returns a collateral valuation — all in one pass. Rapid dealer hops, steep price drops, or extended DOM in the history are collateral risk signals that any origination workflow should surface.
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, country, risk_ltv_threshold, and high_risk_ltv_threshold. UK users are redirected — VIN lookup requires US data tools.
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 option codes. Confirms the collateral identity.
get_car_historyCalls get_car_history with sort_order=desc. Retrieves every dealer listing event for this VIN in reverse chronological order. Rapid dealer hops (4+ dealers in 12 months) or steep price drops (>15% in one listing) are collateral risk red flags.
predict_price_with_comparablesCalls predict_price_with_comparables at default 50,000 miles (actual mileage unknown). Single call — includes top 3-5 comparables. Notes that actual mileage should be confirmed for a binding collateral figure.
Shows: full spec sheet, listing history table (price/dealer/DOM), total market exposure days, price journey, estimated collateral value at 50K miles, top 3-5 comparables, and collateral risk flags. Red flags: extended DOM >90 days, 4+ dealer hops, price drop >20% in history.
MCP Tool Calls
| Tool | Calls | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
decode_vin_neovin | 1 | Full spec sheet and MSRP |
get_car_history | 1 | Complete listing history across all dealers |
predict_price_with_comparables | 1 | Estimated collateral value at default 50K miles |
Example Output
VIN LOOKUP (COLLATERAL) — 5YJSA1E28MF456789 ════════════════════════════════════════════════ 2021 Tesla Model S Long Range AWD Body: Sedan | Engine: Electric | Trans: Single-Speed | Drivetrain: AWD MSRP: $79,990 LISTING HISTORY (most recent first) Date Dealer Price DOM ────────── ──────────────────────── ─────── ─── Jan 22 2026 CarMax Austin $41,200 18 Nov 08 2025 AutoNation Houston $46,800 34 Aug 14 2025 Tesla Certified Used $52,100 51 Apr 02 2025 First dealer listing $64,900 93 Total market exposure: 196 days | Dealers: 4 | Price drop: -$23,700 (-36.5%) ⚠ RED FLAG: 4 dealer hops, 196 DOM, -36.5% price drop — verify condition and mileage COLLATERAL VALUATION (at ~50K miles) Estimated Retail: $40,800 Note: Actual mileage required for binding collateral figure
Cost Estimate
200 VIN lookups/month ≈ $6–18
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 — use vehicle-appraiser skill with actual odometer for binding origination figures.
More in the Lender Plugin
Same Capability, Different Plugin
These skills share the same underlying methodology but are tuned for a different audience.
Appraiser vin-lookup presents the same history data with appraisal context — no LTV flags or collateral risk framing, focused on market value trajectory for valuation purposes.
View in Appraiser →Insurer vin-lookup presents the same listing history as pre-loss documentation evidence — the multiple dealer hops and price trajectory serve as claims context rather than collateral risk signals.
View in Insurer →