How to decode a Lotus Elise VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Lotus Elise VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter or digit code that is the distinctive mark of every vehicle manufacturer worldwide. For the Lotus Elise, the WMI is SCC, signaling that the vehicle is produced by Lotus Cars Ltd., an iconic British manufacturer of sports and racing cars. This code not only confirms the manufacturer but also indicates that the Elise was crafted in Lotus’s production facilities, most likely in their headquarters located in Norfolk, United Kingdom. Recognizing this WMI is the first step in decoding the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), allowing you to authenticate the car’s origins and often its primary market. When examining a Lotus Elise’s VIN, the presence of SCC at the beginning confirms its prestigious lineage in the realm of lightweight and high-performance vehicles.

List of WMI Codes for a Lotus Elise

WMI: SCC

Model Years Covered: 2005-2011
Example VIN: SCCPC11105HL30067
Manufacturer Name: Lotus Cars Ltd
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Gaydon
State or Province: Norfolk
Country: United Kingdom

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Lotus Elise 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 Lotus Elise:

Known VDS for a Lotus Elise
PC111	WC111	VC111	LHCPC	LHCZC

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 Lotus Elise 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 Lotus Elise VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
B	2011 Lotus Elise
A	2010 Lotus Elise
9	2009 Lotus Elise
8	2008 Lotus Elise
7	2007 Lotus Elise
6	2006 Lotus Elise
5	2005 Lotus Elise

11th Character in the Lotus Elise VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Lotus Elise Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
H	Hethel		United Kingdom		SCCPC11105HL30067

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Lotus Elise

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

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How to find a Lotus Elise’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your Lotus Elise is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Lotus Elise, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN should be visible from outside the vehicle.
Open the door on the driver’s side of your Lotus Elise and examine the door jamb area. The VIN might be found on a sticker or a metal plate where the door latches when closed.
Check the Lotus Elise’s engine bay; the VIN can sometimes be found stamped on the firewall or on a plate attached to the engine bay.
Inspect the Lotus Elise’s trunk area, where the VIN might be on a sticker placed on the trunk’s lid or in the spare tire well.
Look for the VIN underneath the carpeting or behind the seats in the Lotus Elise. It may be stamped on the chassis or on a dedicated plate.
Review your Lotus Elise’s vehicle registration documents or insurance papers where the VIN is typically recorded.
Consult the Lotus Elise’s owner’s manual or service book, which usually contain a record of the VIN.

What info can a Lotus Elise VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2011, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
Manufacturer Name: The VIN identifies Lotus Cars Ltd. as the likely manufacturer of the vehicle, providing some indication of the car’s origin.
Vehicle Type: The VIN suggests that the Lotus Elise is likely classified as a passenger car, although there’s a chance it may vary by region or specific model type.
Plant Company Name: The Lotus Elise VIN specifies Hethel as the plant company name, potentially indicating where the vehicle was assembled.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN identifies the body class of the Lotus Elise as a Convertible/Cabriolet with 2 doors, giving detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Engine Model: The VIN provides information about the engine model, such as the 2ZZ 190 evap, which may help in understanding the performance and specifications of the vehicle’s engine.
Restraint System Info: The VIN indicates that the Lotus Elise is equipped with a front 3pt. Dual SIR restraint system, possibly contributing to the vehicle’s safety features.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a Lotus Elise

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Convertible/Cabriolet
Displacement (CC)	1800.0
Displacement (CI)	109.84273937051
Displacement (L)	1.8
Doors	2
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	Toyota
Engine Model	VVT and Lift Intelligence 2ZZ
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Model	Elise
Model Year	2010
Other Restraint System Info	Front 3 point Belts. Dual Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
Plant City	Hethel
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	United Kingdom
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	111
Turbo	No
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	SCCLHCPC*AH
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	SCCLHCPC1AHA10550