Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 29, 2026
VIN Brief does not collect, store or share personal data. There is no account, no advertising and no analytics.
What stays on your phone
The cars you check, your garage and your checklist marks are saved by the app on your device and are included in your iPhone backups when backups are on. Deleting the app deletes them from the phone; your backups stay where they are.
What leaves your phone
When you check a car, the app sends its VIN to the public service of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the make, model and year decoded from it to NHTSA, to the US Environmental Protection Agency (fueleconomy.gov) and, if you open Canadian recalls, to Transport Canada. The requests go directly from your phone; the developer of this app does not receive them. These agencies, like any website, see the internet address a request comes from. Their own privacy policies apply, for example NHTSA’s.
Camera and photos
The camera and the photos you pick are used on your device only, to read the VIN. Pictures are not saved by the app and are not sent anywhere.
Notifications
If you turn on recall alerts, your phone asks NHTSA about new recalls and shows a notification. No server of ours is involved.
Not affiliated with the agencies
VIN Brief is an independent app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA, EPA or Transport Canada.