Home How To Find your Toyota VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)

Find your Toyota VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)

By Toyota Blog
Vehicle Identification Number

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is your Toyota’s legal identifier, and is applied to your car during production.

Each VIN is unique, and is usually a 17-character code made up of letters and numbers, and reveals important details about your vehicle. As well as containing information on the time and place of your car’s creation, it also contains information about its specification and design.

First introduced in 1954, Vehicle Identification Numbers are an important component in determining the history and identity of a vehicle, particularly when combined with the car’s DVLA licence plate and V5 or V5C documents.

While licence plates can be altered, the car’s VIN remains unchanged, and therefore is the primary identification number for your Toyota.

How to locate your Vehicle Identification Number

In most modern Toyota cars, you’ll find a visible Vehicle Identification Number through a special cut-out at the bottom of the windscreen. Additional VINs are printed on tamper-proof stickers located just inside the shut line of the front nearside door. Earlier models may have a metal plate instead of a sticker.

The VIN is repeated on the vehicle’s chassis, stamped into the metal floor of the car under the right-hand (driver’s side) front seat. It’s usually visible through a small flap, deliberately cut into the vehicle’s carpet.

Read more How to connect your phone to your car

Of course, there are some important exceptions to the rule…

These include the four-door Hilux pick-up – in which the tamper-proof sticker is mounted just inside the nearside rear door, and the five-door Aygo – in which it is applied to the body just inside the offside rear door shut.

Decoding your Vehicle Identification Number

Although there are exceptions to the rule, the first three digits of the Vehicle Identification Number usually refer to the country of manufacture, the vehicle maker and the vehicle type.

For example, if you check the first letter of the code, ‘J’ references Japan, ‘S’ references England, while ‘V’ identifies France. Turkey gets an ‘N’, while Thailand and South Africa (where some of our Hilux vehicles are produced) get an ‘M’ and ‘A’ respectively.

The second letter is usually ‘T’, which describes Toyota, the third describes which group of cars (or sometimes which chassis type) the vehicle sits on.

The next six numbers reference the car’s body style, engine and gearbox, while the remaining eight is a combination unique to the car, listing the year the car was made, the factory it was produced in and where it came in the production process.

For more on your VIN, please contact your nearest dealer, or visit toyota.co.uk/mytoyota

420 comments

  1. I need a piece of advice on maintenance of my GT86 2018 but I’m out of country where I’d be able to use the official Toyota center services. Where do I can send an email to?
    My car was made in Japan so I don’t have a 17-digit VIN number so i can’t send a request at Toyota support form, and I know that you work with UK cars only but the question is completely technical and doesn’t depends on a country. I can’t get the recommended transmission oil and need for some alternative. So I’m searching at least for a properly listed specifications. The question is simple but turns out to be a headache.

    Reply

    1. Hello Arthur,

      We’re sorry you’re having trouble finding the answer.

      We’d recommend contacting the head office for the country in which your GT86 was produced for.

      Thank you.

      Reply

  2. Dear Toyota team
    I have purchased second hand Toyota Corolla Indus 1998 model. But it’s chassis number plate is damaged. How can I find and and confirm the chassis number of the car please guide me. I am in a big big problem now.

    Reply

    1. Hi Arslan, thanks for your question.

      Please provide a Vehicle Registration so that we can look into this.

      Thanks.

      Reply

      2. Hi Abu, thanks for your comment.

        Which question is this Vehicle Registration referring to?

        Thanks.

    1. Hi Harry,
      Please confirm your vehicle registration so we can look into this for you.
      Thanks.

      Reply

      2. Hi Harry, thanks for your question.

        This vehicle has Remote Control Services, which means that you can pre-heat or cool the cabin to the temperature of your previous journey.

        In regards to your second question, this vehicle was built in March 2023 in France.

        Thanks.

  4. I have just purchased a toyota estima and i can’t seem to locate the vin number..please help

    Reply

    1. Hi, congratulations on your new Toyota!

      Please provide a Vehicle Registration so that we can look into this.

      Thanks.

      Reply

    1. Hi Nardos, thanks for your question.

      Please provide a Vehicle Registration so that we can look into this.

      Thanks.

      Reply

  6. New app coming. Tried to put vin in manually but rejected. Not clear how to do it through the media panel. Can you help

    Reply

  7. Is it possible to have the VIN etched onto the windows of a Yaris cross on ordering from the dealership (Edgware Road) or do I need to buy the car and take it elsewhere to get this done? Many thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rachel,
      Thanks for your question.
      Your Toyota Centre would be best placed to assist you further with this query.
      Thanks.

      Reply

  8. I ordered and placed a deposit for a blue RAV4 dynamic premium fully loaded top spec in April 2022, the car turned up this month July 2023, Toyota sent a blue basic standard model. No leather, no memory seats, no sound system, no HUD, nothing, empty spec car, and no one seems to know what is actually going on, the dealer hasn’t any answers, I’m completely in the dark, what a waste of 15 months. They returned my deposit with no explanation. It’s only a car but now I’ve got to wait another 2 years for the next model. I thought Toyota/Lexus were better than this.

    Reply

    1. Hi Robert, thanks for getting in contact.

      We understand your frustration and apologise for any inconvenience.

      Our Customer Relations team are best placed you to support you with this issue. They can be contacted here: https://fal.cn/3Ab4r

      Furthermore, we recommend contacting your dealership for up-to-date news and support.

      Thanks.

      Reply

  9. Hi Toyota active members
    I bought a corolla 2005 s class, what’s the difference between s class and non s class? Could you tell me in detail ?
    Thank you in advance

    Reply

  10. Hello
    My dealer has confirmed my car is at sea on its way to the UK from France.
    So do I have a right to get the vin the number . It’s a Toyota so is it the case once it arrives in Zeebrugge

    Reply

      1. Hi Frederic, thanks for your query.

        This question is best answered by the Toyota Centre through which you purchased your vehicle.

        Thanks.

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