Home How To Find your Toyota VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)

Find your Toyota VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)

By Joe Clifford
Vehicle Identification Number

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.

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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.

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579 comments

  1. Hi there
    Have a 2013 dual cab hilux, anyway bought of auction as stolen recovered repairable right off, it’s missing the compliance plates and the chassis vin been rubbed off, i got the vin number on the invoice from auction, but where else i could find the vin number on the chassis to make the process easy to get it registered, I’m in Melbourne

    Reply

    1. Hi Ray,
      Thanks for getting in touch. You’ll be able to find the VIN on the floor plan under the drivers seat where there is a plastic cap in the carpet.
      Hope this helps.

      Reply

      1. Hiya you can help me, I have a 2003 avensis but I need to replace the gearbox, where can I find the code please n Ty

      2. Hi Melissa,

        Thanks for contacting us. If you could please provide us with a VIN for your vehicle then we will be able to assist you further.

        Thanks.

  2. Hi,

    Please, I just bought a second hand 1993 Toyota Camry in Nigeria. I couldn’t find the chasis number because the whole body had been repainted. Please, where else can I check in the car to get the VIN/Chasis number?

    Reply

    1. Hi Clement,
      Thanks for getting in touch. The VIN/Chasis number would be found under the drivers seat. Hope this helps.

      Reply

      2. Hi Clement,
        We would advise checking under the carpet if possible. If not, let us know so we can help you further.
        Thanks.

      3. Thanks so much for your assistance. I tore the carpet but I couldn’t see the VIN/Chasis numbers. Is there another place in the car where I can see the number?

      4. Hi Clement,
        The best course of action would be to contact Toyota in your region as they are in the best position to assist you further.
        Thanks.

  3. I have a 51 plate Avensis 2 litre VVt-i engine where can I find the engine code as I need to purchase a serpentine belt and it the supplier lists 2 types ?

    Reply

  4. My car chassis number is 10 digits starting from NV1 …. it’s on the dash board and the custom papers etc is this real and correct or what can I do

    Reply

  5. Hi, I have a Toyota Hilux with a an 11 digit VIN and would like to know the place of manufacture and year of manufacture please. LN166-009534. Thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Nabeel,

      Thanks for getting in touch. We have entered your VIN into our UK vehicle information system and it is not recognised. This is most likely because it is not a UK vehicle. We’d recommend contacting the Toyota distributor in your region for more information.

      Thanks.

      Reply

    2. Pl just purchased second hand Toyota picnic 1998 model with chassis NOS JT172SM1007107887 as indicated in documents given me but search for the VIN I could not find the NOS physically on the vehicle.. I Google result is MISSING was found on it.Please want happen and I could I find it on the vehicle.

      Reply

      1. Hi Muraina,

        Thanks for getting in touch. Please contact a Toyota centre in your region for further assistance.

        Thanks.

    1. Hi there,

      Thanks for getting in touch.

      There should usually be a sticker on the body of the vehicle if you open the driver’s or passenger door.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply

  8. How do i find my VIN on toyota estima 1996 without entering the car and without all the documents? i’ve lost my keys and documents are in the car.

    Reply

  9. Hi William,

    Thanks for getting in touch. If you could please provide a registration, we will be able to assist you further.

    Thanks.

    Reply

    1. Awesome thanks!
      Ect 138.
      Im in new zealand and its a new Zealand number plate.. I’m guessing that is an issue?

      Let me know what you can do!

      Reply

      2. Great help thanks for that!

        I have gotten into the car. I now need to find the lock number to get another key cut. What are the steps to getting this from the door? I have tools and I know it’s inside the door panel. Please don’t say go to a mechanic! I’m broke

      3. Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with this. We would recommend for you to contact your local Toyota Centre and see if they are able to get a key for the VIN. If this is not possible, it is likely you’ll need to contact a technician.

        We hope this helps and that you resolve this issue.

  10. Hi, FIrst of all, I would like to thaank you for this service.
    I need a Gear box for my Toyota Car. But it seems that there are two types. Could you help me to identify this for me? Please let me know what do you require.

    Reply

    1. Hi Ravin,

      Thanks for getting in touch. If you could please provide a reg or VIN number, we will be able to assist you further.

      Thanks.

      Reply

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