1. A computer readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a process comprising: receiving an image which includes a vehicle identification number (VIN); making a color assumption with respect to the VIN; preprocessing the image; segmenting the image to identify candidate text strings that may include the VIN; performing an optical character recognition on the candidate text strings; validating the candidate text strings; and outputting a confirmed VIN value for nay validated candidate text strings.