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
hi, I have imported 2022 Toyota Landcruiser Prado from Japan. The vin is GDJ150-0074813. I want to get towing Bars installed and I need confirmation from Toyota regarding the Towable Weights. Would you be able to provide specific technical information on above or information relating to similar UK car which shares the same platform GDJ150. Thanks
Good morning,
As your Land Cruiser wasn’t produced for the UK market, we wouldn’t hold the technical details. Sorry!
We’d recommend reaching out to Toyota from the country of origin.
Thank you.
Dear Toyota Parts Team,
I am writing to request the correct OEM part number for the complete Electric Power Steering assembly for my vehicle.
Vehicle details:
Toyota Auris Hybrid
Year: 2015
VIN: SB1MS3JE70E206303
I would be grateful if you could confirm the correct part number for the complete unit, including the steering column, EPS motor, and control module / ECU.
This may be listed as one of the following:
• Steering Column with Electric Power Steering (EPS)
• Complete Steering Column Unit
• EPS Column Assembly
• Steering Column + Motor + ECU
If possible, please also confirm whether the steering angle sensor is included as part of the same assembly.
Many thanks for your assistance.
Kind regards,
Jamal
Good morning Jamal,
For assistance with parts, we’d recommend contacting the parts department at your local Toyota Centre: https://brnw.ch/21x1ZUm
Thank you.
How do I find out where my Toyota was manufactured by VIN?
If it has the VIN JTDKBCBB00AXXXXXX, is it possible that it was produced in Europe?
Hi Izy,
Please could you send us your full, uncensored VIN number so we can confirm this for you.
We will make sure to protect your information upon posting.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi, could you please confirm the production year for VIN: SB1Z93BE********?
Hi Anna,
Build Date: 01/2022
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hi, would you please check the VIN number of my Toyota Prado and let me know the model number and year of production?
VIN: JTEAR9AJ7********
Hi Bonsa,
Here are the details for the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado:
Build Date: 03/2024
Model Number: GDJ250L-GNZAY
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Hello there and many thanks for this service. Kudos !
I really need to know the year and, most importantly, the month of construction regarding this VIN: SB1EB76L4********
Much appreciated !
Thank you.
Hi Marco,
This Toyota Avensis was produced on 25/04/2009.
We hope this helps.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Please i want to know the manufacturer of my toyota corolla with this vin number AHTLB58EX********
Hi Michael,
This Toyota Corolla was manufactured in South Africa.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
Please what year is the Toyota Corolla with VIN number AHTLC56E7******** manufacture. It is the South African Version
Hi Bassey,
Thanks for your question.
This Toyota Corolla was built in 11/2013.
We hope that helps. Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK