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.
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.
Please confirm the year of manufacture of Toyota Hilux with VIN AHTFX22G********.
The 10th digit is 0 and it is confusing to me.
Thanks
Allan.
Hi Allan,
Thank you for your question.
Your vehicle is an import, hence the VIN will look different from a European VIN.
The vehicle was built in 07/2012.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi, im looking for the passenger tailight gasket part or part number for vin Vnkkj3d390a008742 for the yaris plate BV61 OGC with 1.3 petrol 5dr t spirit with the standard halogen rear lights. Please provide a part number or link to purchase as not on the eBay store.
Hi Mohammed,
Thank you for your comment.
For any technical or parts-related queries, we would recommend you contact your local Toyota dealer, who should be on hand to assist you: https://www.toyota.co.uk/
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch in you have any other questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Please confirm the year of manufacture of Toyota Auris
SB1ZS3JE3O*******
The 10th digit is O vagy 0digit
Thanks Laszlo
Hi Laszlo,
Thank you for your question.
Your vehicle was produced in 07/2017.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
I am having difficulty in locating and year of my vehicle
it is TOYOTA c-hr 2024 VIN JTPAAAAA4********.
NEED IT TO CHECK FOR SOFTWARE ENTERTAINMENT UPGRADE AND UPGRADE OF THE FULL SYSTEM.
DEALER IS NOT REALLY FORTHCOMING ALSO LANGUAGE BARRIER
other idents on door panel are
E6*2018/8*******
ZYX20L-AH*******
Hi Alexander,
Thank you for your question.
Your vehicle was produced on 18.03.2024.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi,
Please what year was this coaster bus (JTGFM518********) manufactured?
Thanks
Hi Washington,
Thank you for you question.
We can confirm that the build date for this vehicle is 01/2002.
Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any further questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi, i cannot find my Prius VIN number at windshield and front passenger seat door, but only can find frame no. under driver seats near car
Hi Francis,
Thank you for your comment.
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.
If you still cannot find your VIN, please email our Customer Services team, who should be able to clarify this for you.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
I’d like to ask if my Toyota Corolla excel hev cvt 2020
Has the option for the remote access through the app. (NA20***)
Hi Ilyas,
Thank you for your question.
Unfortunately, your vehicle doesn’t support any remote access features.
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Please help me to check the manufacture year of my LC300: JTMAB7BJ004******
Hi Jackie,
Your vehicle was manufactured on 07/2025.
Please don’t hesitate to ask any further questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi,
could you help me to finde VIN nimber on vehicle body of Toyota Highlander XLE 2018? There is no under the front passenger seat.
Maybe somewhere under the hood? It would be very helpful if you showed it schematically or in a photo.
Hi Ievgen,
Thank you for your question.
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.
Some exceptions 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.
Please let us know if you require any further assistance.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
I’m thinking of importing a Prius to the UK, however it is not from Japan and has a 17 digit VIN. The VIN is JTDAE3AU103******, are you able to supply a COC for it?
Hi Darren,
Thank you for your question.
Unfortunately, we cannot supply a COC for this vehicle, as it is a Grey Import vehicle, and will not have been manufactured in accordance with Euro emissions standards. However, depending on your requirements, we may be able to provide a Dating Letter: Build date, make and model.
Please contact coc@toyota.co.uk for further information.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi
I have a car imported the chassis number is NHP13020*****
Hi Eeman,
Do you have a particular question regarding your vehicle?
Many thanks,
Toyota UK