Use Look Up Car when someone hands you a windshield VIN sticker, a registration card, or a key tag and you need the matching record right away.

This guide is especially helpful on a phone or tablet while you are walking the lot. You do not need to type the full 17-character VIN by hand if your device camera can scan the barcode.

What you will accomplish

You will either open the correct car detail page in seconds, or start a new car intake when that VIN is not in your facility yet.

Expected outcome: You land on the right car record with full history, parking location, and customer details—or you begin a photo walkthrough with the VIN already filled in.

When to use VIN lookup

• A vehicle is on your lot but you are not sure which record matches the windshield sticker.
• A customer calls about a car and you have the VIN from their paperwork.
• A new vehicle is arriving and you want to confirm it is not already in your system before creating a duplicate record.
• You are doing a quick lot walk and want the fastest path to each car's page.

Before you start

• Sign in to the dashboard on your phone or tablet.
• Allow camera access when the browser asks. VIN scanning needs the camera.
• Have the VIN visible on the vehicle, registration, or insurance card.

Open the VIN lookup screen

1. Open the dashboard on your phone

   Sign in and go to any dashboard page—for example Cars or your home screen.

   Expected result: You see the bottom bar with icons along the lower edge of the screen.

2. Tap Scan

   In the bottom navigation bar, tap Scan (the barcode icon between the first menu item and the round New button).

   Why this matters: Scan is built for fast lot work. It is separate from New, which starts scheduling work instead of searching records.

3. Allow the camera if prompted

   The first time you use VIN lookup, your browser may ask for camera permission. Tap Allow.

   Expected result: A screen titled Look Up Car appears with a live camera view and the message to scan a VIN.

If the car is already in your system

1. Scan the VIN barcode

   Hold your phone steady so the barcode fits inside the camera frame. The app reads the VIN automatically when the scan is clear.

   You can also type the VIN manually if the sticker is damaged or hard to reach.

2. Wait for the lookup

   A short Looking up car... message appears while the system searches your facility's records.

   Expected result: When a match is found, you see a success message with the year, make, and model, then land on that car's detail page.

3. Confirm you have the right vehicle

   On the car detail page, check the banner title and the VIN field in Vehicle Details before you move the car, add notes, or talk with the customer.

   Why this matters: One wrong digit in a VIN can point to a different vehicle. A five-second check prevents costly mistakes.

If the car is not in your system yet

When the VIN does not match any record, the screen shows Car Not Found with the VIN you scanned.

1. Read the message carefully

   Confirm the VIN on screen matches the sticker on the vehicle. If it does not, tap Scan Again and rescan.

2. Start a new intake when the car is new

   Tap Create a New Car With This VIN. The app starts a photo walkthrough intake with the VIN already attached.

   Expected outcome: You follow the walkthrough steps to capture photos and readings, then the system creates a new car record. See Add a car for what happens next.

3. Or scan again if you made a mistake

   Tap Scan Again when the barcode was blurry, partially covered, or you scanned the wrong vehicle.

Troubleshooting

What to do next

• When the car is new, finish intake with Add a car or continue the walkthrough you started from VIN lookup.
• When the car already exists, assign parking with Move a car or review history with Review car activity, notes, and photos.