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.
Hi, I have this VIN number JTEFJ71500******, could you say me the fabrication year?
Hi Marco,
Thank you for you question.
This VIN does not appear in our systems. Please check whether there is an error.
Alternatively, please check with your local Toyota dealer for further guidance.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi I have bought a bakkie in Japan but and I am in Africa country Namibia, I have a problem with the Vin number on the car (GUN125-3944477) they are saying it’s not working on their system and now I am confused I don’t know if there is onther way to get the Vin number that will work in my country please help!
Hi Amoomo,
Thank you for your question.
To provide some guidance, the reason your VIN number does not register on their system, is probably because your vehicle in a Japanese import (therefore the VIN will be incompatible). Your VIN is correct on our system.
Please contact your local Toyota dealership for further assistance.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hello. How about this VIN number?
SB1BE76LX0E015679
Hi Gabriel,
Please could you specify what you need assistance with?
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi
I need a breakdown of YAREFYHT********* in order to find the factory it was built in for revenue in Ireland .
Hi Fiona,
Thank you for your question.
Please could you clarify what exactly you would like to know.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi .. my name is Andy and i bought my 1996 Toyota Celica (VIN JT164STL200109759) at Chelmsford Toyota during Dec1996 .. i would like to know (i) where it was manufactured, (ii) the engine size/type (3S-GE??) and (iii) Style/Trim configuration (ST-202??) .. i am curious because mine has a sun roof and water jets to clean the headlights .. i hope i am not asking for too much info .. the car and i currently live in Australia and sometimes it is difficult to find spare parts because the Toyota Celicas sold here seem to be a bit different ..
Cheers
Andy
Good afternoon Andy, thanks for your message.
We were able to track down the following info for VIN – JT164STL200109759;
Production – Japan
3S 2.0 Petrol
Katashiki: ST202R-BLMGFW – This code can help you identify trim and specs.
We hope this helps, thank you.
Thanks Toyota UK .. i should have given you my UK rego P9***** .. i’m not sure where or who i can contact to help identify Katashiki: S***2R-****** (although the ST202 certainly look normal) .. but i will try with my local Toyota dealer here in Frankston Vic or online .. anyway thanks so much for your reply ..
Cheers
Andy
How come that my toyota ch-r VIN starts with J even though all productions are in Turkey?
Hello Louie,
The VIN starting with “J” for the Toyota C-HR is a common misconception. In reality, the VIN system used for Toyota vehicles, including the C-HR, is based on the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) system. The first three characters of the VIN, which include “J,” are part of the WMI and do not indicate the country of manufacture. Instead, they are used to identify the manufacturer and the type of vehicle.
The VIN system is designed to be globally consistent, and the “J” designation does not imply that the vehicle was built in Japan. In fact, the C-HR is produced in Turkey, and the VIN system used for Toyota vehicles does not include the “J” designation.
We hope this helps.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi admin,
I am trying to find out the colour code of a specific part from a Toyota Yaris but only have the VIN. The VIN is VNKKD3D3********.
If you are able to find out the colour code of the car (hoping it is 8T7), do let me know.
Many thanks
Hi Awais,
Thank you for your question.
Yes, we can confirm that the paint code for your Toyota Yaris Hybrid is 8T7.
Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any further questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi I have a 2004 lwb Toyota hi ace and can’t find my vin plate can u please help where these are located thank you
Morning Darren,
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.
If you’re still unable to locate the VIN, you could visit your local Toyota Centre for further assistance.
Thank you.
Hello I have bought a Toyota CHR but the engine number is different from the logbook. Could you please let me know which car this engine number 2ZRW658341 belongs to?
I am extremely confused and worried about it.
Thanks
Hi Sham,
Thank you for getting in touch.
We have investigated the given number, and unfortunately, it does not show up on our system.
We would recommend visiting your local Toyota dealer, who should be on hand to assist you with any concerns you have.
Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any further questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Good morning, My VIN is JTDKBAA30001001516 . Could you tell me the year of manufacture?
Thank you
Good morning Sandra,
That VIN has 18 digits so is not recognised in our systems, sorry. Usually they are 17 digits.
Please double check the VIN and let us know.
Thank you.