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

Find your Toyota VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)

By Joe Clifford
Vehicle Identification Number

Key takeaways

  • Your car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code that identifies your car and never changes.
  • Your VIN reveals key details like where and when your car was built, plus its specification.
  • You can usually find the VIN at the base of the windscreen, inside the front door shut, and stamped into the floor under the driver’s seat.
  • Although the information below is correct for current UK Toyota models, VIN placement tends to be consistent from car brand to car brand.

What is a Vehicle Identification Number?

The Vehicle Identification Number (often referred to simply as VIN or slightly redundantly as VIN number) is your Toyota’s legal identifier, and is applied to the vehicle during production.

Each VIN is unique, and since 1981 consists of a 17-character code made up of letters and numbers. It reveals important details about your vehicle, including information on the time and place of manufacture, as well as its specification and design.

First introduced in 1954, the Vehicle Identification Number is 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 (commonly known as its logbook). But while licence plates can be altered, each car’s VIN remains unchanged, and therefore is its primary identification number.

Why is the Vehicle Identification Number important?

The Vehicle Identification Number can be useful if you are checking a car’s history prior to purchase. You might be asked to provide your Vehicle Identification Number when ordering replacement parts for your car. A stolen vehicles can often be identified via its VIN. You might also require your VIN if your vehicle is subject to a recall. You can read more about Toyota recalls in the UK on our official website here.

Where is the Vehicle Identification Number?

In most modern Toyota vehicles sold in the UK, you’ll find a visible Vehicle Identification Number through a special cut-out at the bottom of the windscreen.

Additional VINs are repeated in a couple of places on the unibody chassis. One is stamped into the metal floor under the offside (driver’s side) front seat – usually visible behind a small flap cut into the vehicle’s carpet. The other is printed on a tamper-proof label located on the lower half of the nearside (kerb side) B-pillar.

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There are a few additions to these standardised positions. Due to their separate body on frame construction, the latest Hilux and Land Cruiser models have an extra Vehicle Identification Number stamped into the underlying frame.

On the Hilux this stamp can be found behind the offside rear wheel, while on the Land Cruiser it is located behind the offside front wheel.

Finally, Proace and Proace Max vans have an additional VIN stamped into the centre of the chassis within the engine bay.

How do you read a VIN 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.

Frequently asked questions

Is the VIN the same as a registration number?

No. A VIN is permanent to the vehicle, while a registration plate can be changed.

Can two cars have the same VIN?

No. Every VIN is unique to a specific vehicle.

Is it safe to share a VIN?

Generally yes, but it should only be shared when absolutely necessary.

How can I get more information?

Feel free to ask additional questions about Vehicle Identification Numbers in the comments section below, but please be aware that our support team can only answer queries related to the UK market. If you are not in the UK, please direct your query to the Toyota organisation in your country.

If you have specific technical concerns about your Toyota in the UK, please contact your nearest centre.

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579 comments

  1. Hi
    I recently transplanted the engine from my imported 1991 Toyota Soarer into my 1998 Toyota Hiace. The UK log book for the Soarer has no engine number printed and I could do with confirmation that the engine number belongs to that chassis from factory to register the swap with the DVLA and for my van to taxed and emissions tested as a 1991 vehicle that the engine is from.

    Would you know how I can obtain this information?

    Thanks for your time
    Dan

    Reply

      1. Thank you for the reply. It really is much appreciated! I will send my info across now. Thanks again.
        Dan

  2. Hi,

    I am trying to find the factory tyre size for my 1997 80 Series Toyota Landcruiser GX. There is no tyre placard on the vehicle and I need to prove the tyre size on the vehicle when released. Is there a digital version of the owners manual or something like that?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  3. Since first ever owning a fab car it’s like a dream come true until a stupid bloke smashed into our car head on and wrote it off completely so we’ve decided to go fo a toyta 1.8chr. Designe

    Reply

    1. Hi Edward, we’re really sorry to hear that.

      Hope everyone involved is safe and well. We wish you many happy and reliable miles in your new Toyota C-HR.

      Thanks,

      Toyota UK

      Reply

    2. I own a Toyota aqua or Prius C. I tried to find the VIN number of my car. But there is no VIN number. Instead I have a chassis number. How do I gety VIN number. My chassis is…

      Reply

      1. Hi Anas,
        Thanks for your comment.
        The Chassis number and the VIN number are the same.
        Thanks,
        Toyota UK

  4. Hi Folks,

    I am in the process of selling my car and have stumbled upon a problem with the chassis number. The tamper proof stickers in the two rear door arches and the the passengers door and the plate showing through the windscreen are considered insufficient. There is no visible number on the chassis behind the front offside wheel – is there anywhere else on the chassis I should check? Thanks in anticipation.

    Reply

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

      Reply

      2. Hi there,

        Vehicle Identification Number or VIN, just helps to recognise that specific vehicle. Similar to the registration number, although it cannot be changed and is unique to that particular vehicle only.

        Thanks,

        Toyota UK

  5. I have a Toyota Land Cruiser. 2008. Where do I find the vin number. Has been sitting a while. Starts with starting fluid but will not keep running. Put new gas in. Same thing. Could the fuel sensor be bad or what else. Fuel pump? Thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Dick, thanks for getting in touch.

      Try looking on the engine bay or inside the doors. Your local Toyota Centre can also grab this for you via your reg.

      Thanks,

      Toyota UK

      Reply

      1. Hi. I am in the USA but I had a used engine block installed a few years ago
        because mine died due to the infamous piston holes in my 2001 Corolla.
        The repair garage was very secretive about the source of the engine, so
        naturally I suspected it was grey market in some way, probably not something
        that would make the US Environmental “Protection” Agency happy.
        The only interesting marking on the engine was a foil sticker that was half English
        and half German. “HINWEIS” (Notice) “UTILISEZ DES BOGUIES IRIDIUM”, and so on.
        Can I be reasonably sure that this was an engine made in Europe? It would make
        me very, very happy!!!!

      2. Hi Sean
        We cannot advise on non UK specification and we would suggest contacting Toyota US.
        If this is a UK specification, we will require the vehicles original registration or chassis number to be able to advise anything further.
        Kind regards

  6. Hi There, I am looking for WMI document to decode a vin number for a Toyota Proace that I exported. The complance centre said they dont need a COC but a WMI that explains the VIN number. Do you know where its possible to obtain or purchase this info. Its for a UK van. Thanks

    Reply

  7. Hi,I have a Toyota Alphard and I could not find the VIN ,when I opened the passenger side door,I just saw the Model ,Engine and Frame.Please help me find my VIN number.

    Thanks,

    Ryan

    Reply

    1. Hi Ryan,thank you for getting in touch.

      As an imported vehicle from Japan, this will only have a frame number.

      Thanks,

      Toyota UK

      Reply

  8. Is the VIN number also on the Chassis above the rear drivers side wheel?
    I have tried to sell my pickup but without seeing this number I can’t sell it to the potential buyer. Can any one help.
    I have a 2012 hylux invincible double cab

    Reply

    1. Hi Nick, thanks for getting in touch.

      Yes, that would also be your VIN number. Your local Toyota Centre can also confirm this for you.

      Thanks,

      Toyota UK

      Reply

  9. Hello
    I have a 1987 MR2
    Please explain the VIN number
    JT1C0AW1100112091
    If you know the caution plate, please explain
    AW11R-WCMQFW
    Thank you
    Ishii

    Reply

    1. Hi there, thanks for getting in touch.

      Our systems don’t hold much information as this is an older vehicle. Your local Toyota Centre may be able to take a closer look for you.

      Thanks,

      Toyota UK

      Reply

  10. Hi would it be normal for my 2020 Hilux to have two different VIN numbers printed as my local mechanic
    Has just flagged this to me today. Thank you

    Reply

    1. Hello Noel,
      Thanks for your question.
      No, it is not normal for a vehicle to have two different VIN numbers.
      The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) should be unique to your vehicle and consistent across all documentation and physical markings.
      We would advise contacting your local Toyota Centre to investigate this discrepancy further.
      Thanks.

      Reply

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