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Monthly fee plus per query vs one credit balance1Lookup decodes a VIN for $0.010, where VinAudit charges a $100 monthly fee and $0.10 for every query on top.
VinAudit's VIN Decoder API starts at $100 a month plus $0.10 a query, and its self-service plan is for qualifying developers and early-stage startups. 1Lookup bills 2 credits when a vehicle is found, from a balance that also pays for every other lookup.
VinAudit sells a family of vehicle-data APIs: VIN specifications, market values, vehicle history, images and plate to VIN, with coverage of the United States and Canada. Its VIN Decoder API has a free trial of up to 100 queries, then a $100 monthly self-service fee plus $0.10 a query. 1Lookup sells the decode on its own at 2 credits, about $0.010 on the Starter plan.
The VinAudit decode, priced per vehicle found
VinAudit charges a monthly fee for the plan and then a fee for each query. This is the decode as a single API call on a shared balance.
VIN decode (VinAudit VIN Decoder API)
VIN Decoder API
A 17-character VIN in; the year, make, model, trim, body class, engine, drive type, transmission, plant country, weight class and manufacturer out, from the NHTSA vPIC records.
2 credits per vehicle found, free when the records hold nothing
Try one VIN first
Free VIN Decoder
Decode a VIN in the browser and compare the fields with VinAudit's trial before you commit to either.
Free, no account, one VIN at a time
1Lookup vs VinAudit: the same criteria, side by side
Both products measured on identical criteria, with VinAudit’s numbers taken from its own published pricing.
1lookup1lookup.ioData and validation APIs
vinaudit.comVehicle data- VinAudit · Starts at
- Self-Service for the VIN Decoder API: $100 per month plus $0.10 per query. The pages read print no included query allowance in the $100 base fee.
- 1Lookup: $99/mo for 20,000 credits ($4.95 per 1,000, down to $2.00 on Enterprise)
- VinAudit · Cheapest published per 1,000
- $110.00 at their largest published tier
- 1Lookup: $4.00 per 1,000 VIN decodes on Enterprise (VIN Decoder API, 2 credits each)
- VinAudit · Free trial
- Trial plan, Free, up to 100 queries for the VIN Decoder API (up to 10 queries for the Vehicle History API). Terms: trial access ends automatically when the trial query quota is exhausted and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time.
- 1Lookup: 7-day free trial on every plan: $5 of credits on Starter, $20 on Growth, Professional, and Enterprise, with no payment today
- VinAudit · Do credits expire?
- Not printed for Self-Service. The API error list mentions 'insufficient prepaid balance', but no prepaid credit product or expiry rule was found on the pages read.
- 1Lookup: Unused monthly credits roll over for 3 months; separately purchased credits last 1 year
| Criteria | 1Lookup | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly plans with universal credits; core phone, email and IP lookups cost 1 credit, enrichment and intelligence products cost more | Per API product, three plans: Trial (free, up to 100 queries for the VIN Decoder API), Self-Service ($100 per month plus $0.10 per query) and Enterprise (contact sales, volume discounts, SLA). Self-Service is a monthly subscription charged in advance for each 30-day cycle with the per-query fees consolidated and billed on the renewal date. The Vehicle History API has its own Self-Service plan at $100 per month plus $1 per query. Self-Service is for qualifying developers and early-stage startups only. |
| Starting price | $99/mo for 20,000 credits ($4.95 per 1,000, down to $2.00 on Enterprise) | Self-Service for the VIN Decoder API: $100 per month plus $0.10 per query. The pages read print no included query allowance in the $100 base fee. |
| Free option | Free single lookups via the online tools at 1lookup.io/tools, no account required | Trial: Free, Best for Evaluation & Testing, Up to 100 queries (VIN Decoder API). The product page adds: 'Access the VIN Decoder API with a free developer account. No credit card required.' |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial on every plan: $5 of credits on Starter, $20 on Growth, Professional, and Enterprise, with no payment today | Trial plan, Free, up to 100 queries for the VIN Decoder API (up to 10 queries for the Vehicle History API). Terms: trial access ends automatically when the trial query quota is exhausted and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. |
| Do credits expire? | Unused monthly credits roll over for 3 months; separately purchased credits last 1 year | Not printed for Self-Service. The API error list mentions 'insufficient prepaid balance', but no prepaid credit product or expiry rule was found on the pages read. |
Cost per 1,000: VinAudit and 1Lookup
Published rates only, drawn on one shared scale that starts at $0.
- 1Lookup VIN Decoder API, from its rate card
- VinAudit published tiers
VinAudit, per published tier
100 VIN lookups in a month
$1,100.001,000 VIN lookups in a month
$200.0010,000 VIN lookups in a month
$110.00
1Lookup, reference band (a range, not a bar from $0)
VIN Decoder API at 2 credits each, all 4 plans: 10,000 VIN decodes/mo (Starter) to 500,000 VIN decodes/mo (Enterprise)
Cost per 1,000
| Product | Volume tier | Price | Cost per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| VinAudit | 100 VIN lookups in a month | $110: the $100 monthly fee plus $0.10 each (the page prints no included queries) | $1,100.00 |
| VinAudit | 1,000 VIN lookups in a month | $200: the $100 monthly fee plus $0.10 each | $200.00 |
| VinAudit | 10,000 VIN lookups in a month | $1,100: the $100 monthly fee plus $0.10 each | $110.00 |
| 1Lookup VIN Decoder API | 10,000 VIN decodes/mo | $99/mo (Starter) | $9.90 |
| 1Lookup VIN Decoder API | 42,500 VIN decodes/mo | $299/mo (Growth) | $7.04 |
| 1Lookup VIN Decoder API | 125,000 VIN decodes/mo | $799/mo (Professional) | $6.40 |
| 1Lookup VIN Decoder API | 500,000 VIN decodes/mo | $1,999/mo (Enterprise) | $4.00 |
What VinAudit costs at volume
| Volume | VinAudit price | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 VIN lookups in a month | $110: the $100 monthly fee plus $0.10 each (the page prints no included queries) | $1,100.00 |
| 1,000 VIN lookups in a month | $200: the $100 monthly fee plus $0.10 each | $200.00 |
| 10,000 VIN lookups in a month | $1,100: the $100 monthly fee plus $0.10 each | $110.00 |
VinAudit Self-Service works out to $1,100.00 per 1,000 decodes at 100 a month, $200.00 at 1,000 and $110.00 at 10,000, counting the $100 fee and assuming it includes no queries, which the pages do not say it does. 1Lookup's decode is $9.90 per 1,000 on Starter.
The same month, priced both ways
Pick one of VinAudit’s own published volumes. Their figure is their published price at that tier; ours is the cheapest plan on our rate card that covers it. Nothing here is interpolated.
1Lookup
$99/mo
The Starter plan, 20,000 credits a month at $4.95 per 1,000 credits. 10,000 lookups at 2 credits each use 20,000, which is 100% of the plan, so $9.90 per 1,000 lookups effective.
VinAudit
$1,100
Their published price for “10,000 VIN lookups in a month”, at $110 per 1,000.
$1,001
cheaper with 1Lookup at 10,000 a month, and the same credits work across all 56 1Lookup data products, not just this one.
VinAudit rates as published on data.vinaudit.com, verified October 2026. Check their pricing page
Before you sign: VinAudit and 1Lookup on the operational terms
The terms that decide what a year actually costs, rather than what the first month does. “Not listed” means we could not verify it on either product’s published pages, not that the answer is nothing.
| Term | 1Lookup | VinAudit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum commitment | None. Monthly plans with no contract and no minimum volume; cancel any time | Monthly subscription in 30-day billing cycles that renews automatically until cancelled; the customer can cancel any time with the Cancel Subscription button, but fees for the current period are not refunded or prorated. No annual term is printed for Self-Service. |
| Going over your quota | Not listed | No separate overage tier is printed for Self-Service: usage is the $0.10 per-query fee on top of the $100 base fee. The terms list 'overage fees' among possible charges. |
| API access | Included on every plan and during the free trial; there is no tier that unlocks it | Trial, Self-Service and Enterprise all list API Documentation and require an API key ('Get started today with an active VinAudit API key'); the Trial is the free entry to the API. |
| Rate limit | 1,000 requests per minute on standard accounts, with higher limits available on request | No number printed. Terms: services 'may be subject to plan limits, query caps, rate limits'; the API error code rate_limit_exceeded means 'The account has reached its allowed API usage limit.' |
| Uptime SLA | Not listed | Enterprise only: 'SLA with agreed service targets'. No uptime percentage is printed on the pages read. |
| Support | Starter: Email Support; Growth: Priority Email & Chat Support; Professional: Chat + Live Meeting; Enterprise: Dedicated CSM | Self-Service: standard email support and documentation. Enterprise: dedicated account manager and seven-day support. The support page lists live support 24/7 and business hours Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific time. |
VinAudit fine print worth reading twice
Published terms that change what VinAudit costs or what you can do with it. Each one links to the VinAudit page it was read on, because a claim about somebody else’s contract should be checkable in one click.
Each new monthly subscription is charged the full base fee (for example $100) immediately on activation, and monthly subscription fees are non-refundable in whole or in part, including for any unused portion of a billing period.
Read it on VinAudit’s siteThe pricing page shows a separate Self-Service plan at $100 per month for each API product (VIN Decoder, Vehicle History, Market Values), and adding a second subscription resets the account renewal date with a prorated bridge charge for the earlier subscription.
Read it on VinAudit’s siteFor card payments VinAudit may add applicable taxes and up to 3% in credit card processing fees, and may charge a late fee of up to 3% per month on overdue balances.
Read it on VinAudit’s siteUsage is measured per calendar month while subscription cycles are 30 days, and usage charges are consolidated and billed on the renewal date.
Read it on VinAudit’s siteThe FAQ says Self-Service eligibility requirements are in the Terms of Service, but the Terms page read does not list them, so a buyer cannot check eligibility before subscribing.
Read it on VinAudit’s siteInvoice disputes must be notified in writing within 30 days of the invoice date or the charges are deemed accepted.
Read it on VinAudit’s site
1Lookup
VinAudit
Where 1Lookup wins
- A decode costs about $0.010 on Starter, against $0.10 a VinAudit query on top of a $100 monthly fee
- Public prices for every size of team, where VinAudit's self-service plan is limited to qualifying developers and early-stage startups and larger organizations are quoted by sales
- One credit balance pays for the decode and for every other lookup, and unused monthly credits roll over for 3 months
- A bulk CSV of VINs costs the same per vehicle as the API, and a free one-VIN decoder lets you check the fields before you build
Where VinAudit wins
- A free Trial of up to 100 queries with no credit card, and a free developer account, before any monthly fee.
- One call can return specs, equipment, colors, recalls (NHTSA source in the example), warranties and photos through the include parameter, in JSON or XML.
- Coverage for both the US and Canada (the country parameter accepts usa or canada).
- Standardized year, make, model, trim and style selection lists for building dropdowns and filters, and lookups by VIN, by year/make/model/trim or by ID.
- Sibling APIs under the same account structure: Market Values (US and Canada), Vehicle History (US), Images and Plate to VIN.
- Enterprise tier adds an SLA with agreed service targets, 7-day support and volume discounts, and the pricing FAQ says VinAudit can also provide bulk datasets or data feeds for larger-scale or offline workflows.
VinAudit pricing and product facts verified against data.vinaudit.com as of October 2026. Prices change; always confirm on the vendor’s site. 1Lookup numbers come from the live rate card.
Who this is for
A quick, honest read on which tool fits your use case.
Choose 1Lookup if: you decode VINs from code and want one balance that also pays for phone, email and IP checks, instead of a $100 monthly base fee that is charged whatever you decode.
Consider VinAudit instead if: you need the neighbouring data under one account: VinAudit also sells market values, history and plate to VIN, covers Canada as well as the US, and offers a free trial of up to 100 queries.
Frequently asked questions
What is VinAudit used for?
Looking up vehicles in the United States and Canada. One VIN call can return specifications, equipment, colors, recalls, warranties and photos through an include parameter, and the same account structure covers Market Values, Vehicle History, Images and Plate to VIN. Developers use it to fill vehicle forms and build dropdowns from standardized year, make, model and trim lists.
How does VinAudit pricing work?
Three plans for each API product. The Trial is free for up to 100 VIN Decoder queries, with no card. Self-Service is $100 a month plus $0.10 a query, charged in advance for each 30-day cycle, and the pages read print no included queries in the $100. Enterprise is by quote, with volume discounts and an SLA. Vehicle History is sold separately at $100 a month plus $1 a query.
Who can buy VinAudit's self-service plan?
Its pricing page says Self-Service is for qualifying developers and early-stage startups only, and its FAQ points to the Terms for the criteria, which are not listed on the Terms page as read in October 2026. Other organizations are sent to Enterprise, which has no published price. The $100 monthly fee is charged on activation and is not refundable, including for an unused portion.
How much does 1Lookup charge for the same VIN decode?
2 credits per vehicle found, free when the records hold nothing. On the Starter plan ($99 a month for 20,000 credits) a decode is about $0.010, so a month of 10,000 decodes is $9.90 per 1,000. On VinAudit Self-Service, 1,000 decodes cost $200 and 10,000 cost $1,100 (derived: the $100 fee plus $0.10 a query).
What is the best VinAudit alternative?
If you need only the decode, a per-decode API with no monthly fee for the endpoint is the simpler purchase. 1Lookup's VIN Decoder reads the NHTSA vPIC records, bills 2 credits only when a vehicle is found, and has a free one-VIN tool and a bulk CSV option. If you need Canadian vehicles, vehicle history or market values, those stay with a vendor that sells them.
Where does VinAudit beat 1Lookup?
On scope. VinAudit covers the United States and Canada, returns recalls, warranties and photos in the same call, and sells vehicle history, market values, images and plate to VIN under one account. Its Enterprise tier adds an SLA with agreed service targets, 7-day support and volume discounts, and it can supply bulk datasets for offline work. 1Lookup decodes vehicles built for the US market and does not sell history, values or photos.
Is VinAudit worth it in 2026?
If you need Canadian coverage or the wider vehicle-data catalog under one account, and you qualify for Self-Service, yes. If you only decode US VINs, note that the fee is $100 a month before the first query, it is not refundable, and the price per query is about ten times a per-decode API's.