Free Land Rover Defender VIN Decoder

How to decode a Land Rover Defender VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Land Rover Defender VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle. It’s the first section of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which serves as the automotive equivalent to human DNA for a car, encoding various details about its origin and specifications. For the Land Rover Defender, the WMI is ‘SAL’, signaling that the vehicle is manufactured by Jaguar Land Rover Limited, based in the United Kingdom. This prestigious automaker is renowned for producing rugged yet luxurious off-road vehicles. On Land Rover Defenders, the WMI not only signifies the legacy of British engineering but also marks the vehicle as a part of a lineage known for its balance of durability and refinement.

List of WMI Codes for a Land Rover Defender

WMI: SAL

• Model Years Covered: 1993-1995, 1997, 2020-2024
• Example VIN: SALDH1280PA920663
• Manufacturer Name: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
• Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
• City: Whitley
• State or Province: Coventry
• Country: United Kingdom

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Land Rover Defender VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

• Engine type
• Transmission
• Model or trim
• Body style
• Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a Land Rover Defender:

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Land Rover Defender VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the Land Rover Defender VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the Land Rover Defender VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Land Rover Defender Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Land Rover Defender

The final 6 characters in a Land Rover Defender’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a Land Rover Defender VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can provide insights into the model year of the Land Rover Defender, indicating the year of manufacture and potentially offering historical value.
• Manufacturing Plant: It’s possible that the VIN may contain details about the specific manufacturing plant where the Land Rover Defender was built, offering insights into its production origin.
• Trim Level: The VIN might include information about the trim level or variant of the Land Rover Defender, potentially revealing specific features and options available for the vehicle.
• Body Style: The VIN can possibly provide information about the body style of the Land Rover Defender, which can include whether it is an SUV or a multi-purpose vehicle.
• Engine Specifications: The VIN could potentially encode details about the engine of the Land Rover Defender, such as the number of cylinders and displacement, for a more comprehensive understanding of the vehicle’s powertrain.
• Transmission Type: It’s possible that the VIN may reveal the type of transmission used in the Land Rover Defender, offering insights into whether it is equipped with an automatic or manual transmission.
• Safety Features: The VIN may possibly provide clues about the safety features included in the Land Rover Defender, such as the number of airbags or the type of seat belts, offering insights into the vehicle’s safety capabilities.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Land Rover Defender