Towing capacity by VIN
A VIN tells you which truck you have, not what it can tow. Enter yours and we decode it with NHTSA's free federal decoder, then show the manufacturer's towing, payload, GVWR and GCWR for every configuration that matches your year, model, cab, drivetrain and engine.
| Configuration | Towing | Payload | GVWR | GCWR | Package or axle |
|---|
Can you find towing capacity by VIN number?
Not from the VIN alone. Federal rules require a truck's VIN to identify its make, model or line, series, chassis, cab type, engine type, brake system and gross vehicle weight rating. Axle ratio and towing package are not on that list, and they are often exactly what separates two ratings on the same truck.
The federal decoder reflects that. None of the fields NHTSA's vPIC service can return is towing capacity or payload; the closest is a GVWR class, a band such as 7,001 to 8,000 lb. So a VIN lookup works in two steps: decode the VIN to find the configuration, then read that configuration's rating from the manufacturer's towing guide. This page does both.
Why the second step matters: the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado is rated at 7,700 lb with the Trailering Package and 3,500 lb without it. Two trucks with the same cab and engine can decode identically and still differ by more than half their rating.
What the VIN decoder for towing capacity shows
| VIN characters | What federal rules say they identify | Use for towing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Manufacturer and vehicle type | Picks the make |
| 4 to 8 | For a truck: model or line, series, chassis, cab type, engine type, brake system, GVWR | Narrows cab, engine and GVWR class |
| 9 | Check digit | Catches a mistyped VIN |
| 10 | Model year | Ratings change by year |
| 11 | Plant of manufacture | None |
| 12 to 17 | Production sequence number | None |
How to find tow rating by VIN, in three steps
- Decode the VIN above. It fixes the model year, cab, drivetrain and engine, and removes every row that does not match.
- Pick your row by package and axle. Where more than one row remains, the last column names the package or axle ratio each rating needs. If you cannot confirm yours, use the lowest towing figure left.
- Check the door labels. The certification label in the door jamb gives your GVWR and axle ratings; the tire and loading placard on the door pillar gives payload as your truck was built. Then run your trailer through the towing calculator, because payload usually runs out before the towing rating. The guide to GVWR vs GCWR vs payload explains why.
Frequently asked questions
How much can my truck tow by VIN?
Decode the VIN above and read the towing column for the rows that match your truck. If one row remains, that is the manufacturer rating for your configuration. If several remain, they differ by axle ratio, package or trim, which the VIN does not record, so use the last column to pick yours or take the lowest figure until you confirm.
Is there a free tow capacity by VIN lookup?
Yes, this page. The decoding step uses the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's free vPIC service, and the ratings come from the manufacturer documents we publish on each model page. There is no sign-up, and the VIN goes only to NHTSA's decoder; we do not store it.
What is payload capacity by VIN?
Payload is not encoded in the VIN, and the federal decoder does not return it. Your exact figure is on the tire and loading placard on the driver's side door pillar, which states the most that occupants and cargo combined should weigh. The table here shows the manufacturer's payload for matching configurations where it is published.
Can you find GCWR by VIN?
Not as an exact figure. The NHTSA decoder has a gross combination weight rating field, but it holds a weight class range rather than your truck's rating. The exact GCWR comes from the manufacturer towing guide for your model year, which is what the GCWR column here shows.
Does this work for Ford, Ram, Chevy and GMC towing capacity by VIN?
It decodes a VIN from any maker and shows ratings when we have verified that model year. Today that covers 29 models from Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Nissan, Ram and Toyota, all listed on the towing capacity by vehicle page. For anything else it still shows the decoded year, model, cab, drivetrain, engine and GVWR class.
Sources
- 49 CFR 565.15, VIN content requirements
- 49 CFR 565.13, VIN location and allowed characters
- 49 CFR 567.4, certification label contents
- 49 CFR 571.110, FMVSS No. 110, tire and loading placard (S4.3)
- NHTSA vPIC (Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing) API
- TrimFacts methodology: where each rating comes from