The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) 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.
How to locate your 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.
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 VIN 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.
What does your Vehicle Identification Number mean?
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
Hello.
I’m going to buy a Toyota Aqua Car..Where is the vin number?
Hi there,
Thanks for your post. VIN numbers are usually inside the glove box or on the inside of the passenger side door. Hope this helps!
Hi need vin number for Toyota celica 1999
Hi James,
Thanks for getting in touch. The VIN number will be stamped into the metal and located on the front bulkhead. Hope this helps!
Hi there.
Here is the information:
Boulevard Denis Sassou Nguesso M’Pila
B.P. 247 BRAZZAVILLE
Tel. + (242) 05 550 17 78 /06 665 44 65
Hope this helps!
Hi, can anyone help me as to what is the chassis number of Toyota Prado VX (2015/2016, 4000cc). Like prado TZ-G , number is GDJ151W
Hi there,
Thanks for your post. This vehicle registration number isn’t showing up on our system. Is this a UK based car? Many thanks.
Hi my dad has a 84 hilux where is the vin lockets on them we carnt find it
Hi James,
Thanks for your post. Generally this would be located on the firewall or bulkhead within the engine compartment. For some vans the plate is located on the body, under a carpet flap directly below one of the front seats – this is for models prior to 1989. Hope this helps!
Hi , i have Toyota Camry 2009 LE assembled in USA . It has only two VIN # on windshield , second one next to the driver seat ( near the edge not on door)
i am worried why i only have 2 of them while i saw models of camry that all doors have vin#
please advise ?
Hi Bassem,
Thanks for your post. The VIN locations noted in this blog post primarily apply to current generation cars. There are some exceptions, and these are noted within the article.
The UK-specification Camry was discontinued in 2004, so your US-built 2009 model would not have been built to the UK or European specifications described in this article.
However, as well as the VIN plates on the windscreen and chassis near the driver’s seat, you should also be able to find another VIN plate on the front bulkhead within the engine bay.
Hope this helps!
hi , i have camry 2009 LE , and i am wondering is that ok if I dont have Vin # on all doors?
Because I have only 2 Vin # one on windshield another one near to driver seat edge (no Vin at any of the doors )
please replay as soon as you can ?
Thanks
Hi Bassem,
Thanks for your post. The VIN locations noted in this blog post primarily apply to current generation cars. There are some exceptions, and these are noted within the article.
The UK-specification Camry was discontinued in 2004, so your US-built 2009 model would not have been built to the UK or European specifications described in this article.
However, as well as the VIN plates on the windscreen and chassis near the driver’s seat, you should also be able to find another VIN plate on the front bulkhead within the engine bay.
Hope this helps!
where can I find engine number of 2016 highlander XLE
Hi Kenechi,
Due to this vehicle not being sold in the UK we are unable to advise on where the engine number would be found. We would suggest contacting your local dealership! 🙂
Why does New Aygo have a J vin number if it is NOT built in Japan???
??Totally do not understand your reply Ella??
Hi Jim,
Sorry for the confusion. Essentially, the letter on your VIN does describe where the vehicle is manufactured, but the letter does not necessarily correspond to the country that begins with that letter. In this instance, the Aygo is made in Kolín, Czech Republic despite its J registration.
Hi Jim,
Please see our revised reply. Sorry again for the confusion.
Hi, my Aygo has a J prefix VIN number, where is this built please?
Many Thanks
Hi Steve,
Thanks for getting in touch. All Toyota Aygo models are made in Kolín, Czech Republic.
Where is the Vin number on a Toyota proace