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 (see below), inside the front door shut, and stamped into the floor under the driver’s seat. It’s also printed on the vehicle’s V5 (logbook) document.
- The VIN may be needed to check whether your Toyota is affected by a vehicle recall – click here for more information.
- 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. So it is recommended that you check that the VIN displayed on the car matches that printed on the logbook.
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.
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.
VIN visible through 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.
VIN visible on the vehicle’s chassis
Finally, it’s often possible to locate the VIN stamped into a panel on the inside edge of one of the front doors.
VIN visible inside front door
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 (FAQs)
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.
HI
im from iran and i have toyota hybrid with navigation can you help me i download the offline map and use the software and bytheway i can’t finde my VIN in your site.
Hi there,
We can only help with UK queries.
Thanks,
Most web sites state my vin number is incorrect I have a 2012 Toyota Yaris petrol vin number
*************** Reg RAY515S can you check this for me thank you
Hi Raymond,
Thanks for your comment.
As we wouldn’t like to share you VIN in a public forum, please may you email cr@toyota.co.uk for further assistance with this.
Thank you.
Hello I from Iraq and I bought a car corolla 2024 le from Copart , how can I find my VIN car, Model ID 5YFB4MDE6RP106904 . thanks
Hi there,
We can only assist with UK queries.
Thanks,
How to enter last 5 digit of chasis number in vahan as – showing
Where can I locate the Vin of Toyota probox in Kenya manufactured2017
The VIN number of my CHR 2024 starts with JTP, was it manufactured in Japan or Turkey?
Hello,
The new C-HR is manufactured in Turkey.
We hope this helps.
Thank you.
can you help locate a stolen car if it has an infotainment GPS system
Hi Boitshepo,
Unfortunately not.
We apologise that you have been affected by this horrible crime.
Thank you.
hi dears…. please check for me my car Chasiss No. KSP130-4020206 what the initialy color, engin etc… i can not find any where
Hi Gul,
As we are the distributors of Toyota in the UK, we only hold information on vehicles originally produced for the UK market. This means we are unable to supply any vehicle history, data, specifications or information on imported vehicles.
I apologise for any inconvenience.
Thank you.
Please confirm date of manufacture Toyota Yaris chassis no .KSP 210-0088867
Hi Sumith,
Thanks for your comments but the chassis number you provided is not appearing on our database. If you would be so kind as to double check number or provide the vehicle registration we would be happy to check this for you.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi
I have a toyota corolla 1996 and how can i check my chassis number.
Hi Khan,
Thank you for your comment.
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.
Thank you.
Can you confirm what damages did this vehicle had before being imported in Belize? the vehicle concern is a toyota rav 4 2014 mileage 90,000. the VIN number is: JTMBD9EV5ED016927. the person selling it said that it came from Japan with no damages. can you confirm this?
Hi Jafet,
As we are the distributors of Toyota in the UK, we only hold information on vehicles originally produced for the UK market. This means we are unable to supply any vehicle history, data, specifications or information on imported vehicles.
I apologise for any inconvenience.
Thank you.
I have a Toyota Hiace Inyathi probably a 1998 model. I am struggling to know if the number which starts with KZH is the vin number? Also which other minibus has similar parts as this one.
Hello,
You can locate your Vehicle Identification Number with the below instructions.
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.
In relation to relatable parts we would recommend going to your local Toyota Centre in order for them to assist in any repairs and parts ordering.
Many Thanks
where is the location of VIN NO location to TOYOTA RAV4 LE AWD 2014 canada
Hello Siam,
Thank you for your enquiry.
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.
Hi I am about to buy a Corolla from salvage market. It is stolen and recovered with the windscreen and door pillar vin incorrect I have the correct vin in the floor and on the ecu can you supply the window and door pillar vins ?
Hi Glyn,
Your local Toyota Centre would be best placed to assist you further with this query.
Thank you.