VIN check in Slovakia - car history, mileage and service book
The VIN is a car's 17-character "birth certificate". With it you can find out whether the car is wanted by police, what mileage it had at inspections, how many owners it had and whether there is a lien on it. Here is what you can check for free, what an official registry report costs, how to spot a rolled-back odometer and how to use the car's history when you sell.
What a VIN is and where to find it
The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a car's unique identification number. It has 17 characters - letters and digits, without I, O and Q so they are not confused with 1 and 0. No two cars share a VIN.
Registration certificate, part I
The osvedčenie o evidencii (small registration document) - field with code E.
Manufacturer's plate
Usually on the B-pillar by the driver's door or in the engine bay.
On the body
Stamped into the metal, often under the bonnet or under the passenger seat.
Under the windscreen
On most newer cars the VIN is visible from outside in the lower left corner of the glass.
The VIN must match everywhere. How to compare it during a viewing is in our guide: How to buy a used car
What the VIN itself tells you
Even without any registry, the number says something:
| Position | Section | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 3 | WMI | Manufacturer and country of production |
| 4 - 9 | VDS | Vehicle description - model, body, engine (manufacturer's scheme) |
| 10 | VIS | Model year - e.g. L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026 |
| 11 | VIS | Production plant |
| 12 - 17 | VIS | Serial number |
Note: European manufacturers do not have to encode the model year in position 10. If the year from the VIN does not match the documents, compare it with the date of first registration - it is not automatically fraud.
What you can check for free
A basic check costs nothing and takes a few minutes.
STK, EK and originality check validity
Online by plate number (EČV) or VIN. An expired inspection is a reason for caution and for a discount.
Liens
In the Notarial Central Register of Pledges on the website of the Slovak Chamber of Notaries. You can search by VIN, but if it was not entered in the same form when the pledge was registered, the register will not find the car. An official extract from a notary gives certainty.
Whether an ODO-Pass was issued
Enter the VIN on the RPZV website. If the seller gives you the ODO-Pass number, date and last mileage, you can check the history for free.
Basic data from the VIN
Manufacturer, country and often the model year - see the table above.
How to check STK validity and what happens after the deadline: STK and EK 2026
Official RPZV reports: ODO-Pass and AUTO-Pass
The Register of Vehicle Operating Records (RPZV) was set up by the Slovak Ministry of Transport under Act No. 106/2018 as part of a European project against odometer fraud. Odometer readings are entered by STK, EK and originality check stations, garages and other contributors. Reports can be bought online or at issuing points across Slovakia.
| Report | What it contains | Price incl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| ODO-Pass | Odometer reading history | €7.90 (€0.24 with at most 1 record) |
| AUTO-Pass basic | Technical data, country of origin, number of owners and keepers, police search, originality check, service records, PZP insurance, STK and EK validity, sale ads, suspended operation | €5.90 |
| AUTO-Pass extended | Plus liens, vehicle blocking, tax debtors, leasing, equipment | €9.90 |
| AUTO-Pass full | Plus detailed vehicle damage | €16.90 |
| ODO + AUTO-Pass | ODO-Pass and AUTO-Pass in the highest available version | €19.90 |
Prices per the RPZV price list valid from 1 March 2025. Private services also offer reports from databases in several countries - for imported cars they can fill in what the Slovak register lacks. They are paid and their data coverage varies.
Rolled-back mileage: how to spot it
Odometer tampering is the most common used-car fraud. One source is not enough - compare several.
Compare the ODO-Pass records
Mileage must only go up over time. A drop or a suspiciously small increase between two inspections is a warning sign.
Be careful with imported cars
RPZV only has records from Slovakia and only from 20 May 2018 - history from abroad is missing.
Service book and invoices
Mileage in service records must match RPZV and the odometer.
Interior wear
The steering wheel, pedals, driver's seat and gear lever should match the mileage. A worn steering wheel at "80,000 km" is a reason to ask more.
Garage diagnostics
Some control units store mileage independently of the instrument cluster - a garage will spot a mismatch.
Service book
The service book shows how the previous owner looked after the car: regular servicing, oil, timing belt and brake changes. Many brands now keep service history electronically - an authorised garage can print it by VIN.
- Look for regularity - intervals per the manufacturer, without big gaps.
- The garage stamp and date should match the mileage in RPZV.
- Invoices are stronger evidence than a stamp alone.
- A missing service book is not automatically fraud, but it is a reason for a closer check and a lower price.
Checking a car by VIN in 6 steps
This way you check a car in a few minutes for a few euros - ideally before the viewing.
Get the VIN
From the registration certificate (code E), or ask the seller.
Compare the VIN on the car
Document, manufacturer's plate, body and windscreen must match.
Check STK and EK validity
Online by plate number or VIN, free.
Check for liens
In the Notarial Central Register of Pledges, free.
Buy an ODO-Pass or AUTO-Pass
Mileage history, owner count, police search and service records from RPZV.
Compare with the service book and odometer
All mileage readings must make sense over time.
Selling a car? History as an argument in your ad
Buyers now ask for the VIN first. If you have it ready together with the history, you save phone calls and build trust.
- Get an ODO-Pass and put its number, date and last mileage in your ad - buyers can verify it for free.
- Photograph the service book and invoices for bigger repairs.
- State the VIN or send it on request - if you hide it, buyers get suspicious.
- Be open - if the car was in an accident, say so before the buyer finds it in a report.
The whole selling process: How to sell a car quickly
Warning signs
- The VIN in the document and on the car does not match, the plate is re-stuck or damaged.
- The seller does not want to show the VIN or "does not have the documents on them".
- Mileage in RPZV goes down or barely increased between inspections.
- Many owners in a short time.
- A record of police search, lien, leasing or blocking.
- A price well below the market.
Compare what the car is really worth here: How much is my car worth
Do you offer pre-purchase car checks?
Do you do diagnostics, pre-purchase checks or servicing? Add your service to OZNA.SK in the Technical maintenance category. Listing is free and people buying or selling a car will find you.
VIN check FAQ
How can I check a car by VIN for free?
For free you can check STK, EK and originality check validity (by plate number or VIN), liens in the Notarial Central Register and whether an ODO-Pass was issued for the car. Mileage history and owner count come in a paid official RPZV report.
How much does an ODO-Pass cost?
€7.90 incl. VAT if the register has at least 2 records; €0.24 with 0-1 records. Price per the RPZV price list valid from 1 March 2025.
What is the difference between ODO-Pass and AUTO-Pass?
ODO-Pass shows only the odometer reading history. AUTO-Pass contains more data - owner count, police search, service records, PZP insurance, STK and EK validity, and in the extended version also liens and leasing.
Where do I find the VIN?
In the registration certificate part I (code E), on the manufacturer's plate, stamped on the body and on most newer cars also under the windscreen.
Can I find out by VIN whether a car is stolen?
Police search data is part of the RPZV AUTO-Pass. For imported cars, private reports with databases from several countries also help.
Does RPZV show mileage for a car imported from abroad?
Only readings recorded in Slovakia, and only from 20 May 2018. History from abroad is not in the register.
Is a missing service book a problem?
Not automatically, but it is a reason for a closer garage check and for negotiating the price.
Should I put the VIN in my sale ad?
It is not mandatory, but buyers will ask for it anyway. A ready VIN and ODO-Pass build trust and save both sides time.
Is a VIN personal data?
A VIN identifies the vehicle, not a person. The VIN alone does not reveal the owner's name.
More car guides
A VIN check takes a few minutes and costs a few euros at most - next to the price of a car, that is negligible. If you are buying, check the documents, RPZV records and the service book and compare everything. If you are selling, prepare the VIN and an ODO-Pass in advance - a buyer who sees the history decides faster and haggles less.
Published 17.10.2026 · Updated 17.10.2026
Information only - check the current RPZV price list before buying a report.
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