Bogdan Sterpu
Co-founder & Automotive Writer at VinSpectorAI
Bogdan Sterpu is the co-founder of VinSpectorAI and the editorial voice behind the blog. A lifelong car enthusiast, Bogdan has personally bought and sold over 30 vehicles across private sales, auctions, and dealerships. He draws on firsthand experience navigating dealer negotiation tactics, lemon law claims, and used car inspections to write practical, no-nonsense advice for car buyers. His focus is translating complex automotive and legal topics into actionable guidance that saves readers real money.
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Articles by Bogdan Sterpu
- Where Is the VIN Number Located on a Car? 7 Places to Find It
Where is the VIN number located on a car? See all 7 places to find it, on the vehicle and in your paperwork, plus how to spot a tampered VIN.
buying-guide
- Nissan VIN Decoder: Read Any Nissan VIN by Plant, Year and Engine
Decode a Nissan VIN character by character: WMI codes, model year, assembly plant and engine, plus what a decode can't tell you. Free check included.
buying-guide
- Toyota VIN Decoder: Japan, USA or Canada? What Every Digit Means
Decode a Toyota VIN digit by digit: see if it was built in Japan, the US, Canada or Mexico, plus the engine, model year and plant, all tested on NHTSA vPIC.
buying-guide
- GMC VIN Decoder: What Your GMC's VIN Tells You, Digit by Digit
Decode any GMC VIN for free: what 1GT, 1GK and 3GT mean, how the 8th digit sets the engine, and where to find the build sheet, window sticker and paint code.
buying-guide
- Tesla VIN Decoder: How to Decode Any Tesla VIN Number
Decode your Tesla VIN to find the model, plant, year, motor and battery. See where to find the VIN, what each character means, and what it can't tell you.
buying-guide
- Ford VIN Decoder: What Your Ford's VIN Tells You, Position by Position
Ford VIN decoder guide tested on NHTSA data: read the model, engine, year and plant, then see where the build sheet, paint code and recalls come from.
buying-guide
- Chevy VIN Decoder: What Your Chevy's VIN Tells You, Digit by Digit
Free Chevy VIN decoder guide tested on NHTSA data: what the 8th digit engine code means, plus how to get the GM build sheet, RPO codes and window sticker.
buying-guide
- How to Decode a BMW VIN Number: A Complete Trim & Engine Guide
Learn to decode a BMW VIN and confirm the real engine and trim — since BMW's badge numbers no longer match displacement the way they used to.
buying-guide
- Lexus VIN Decoder: Check Any Lexus's Model, Recalls & History
Decode any Lexus VIN in seconds. See why Takata recalls and the RZ's electrical issue mean even a Lexus needs a real VIN check before you buy.
buying-guide
- Kia VIN Decoder: Check Recalls, Theft History & Model Issues
Decode any Kia VIN in seconds — model, engine, plant, and recalls by trim. See which Kia models have the most reported problems before you buy.
buying-guide
- Volkswagen VIN Decoder: Check Any VW's History | VinSpectorAI
Decode any Volkswagen VIN in seconds. See recalls, model, engine, and known issues by trim — plus how to run a full VW history check before you buy.
buying-guide
- Are Rebuilt Titles Bad? What They Actually Cost You | VinSpectorAI
Are rebuilt titles bad? What the brand costs you in resale value, insurance, and financing — and when the 20–40% discount is actually worth taking.
buying-guide