Free Toyota VIN Decoder

How to decode a Toyota VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Toyota VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique sequences that identify the maker of a vehicle and provide specific information about it. For Toyota vehicles, these codes can pinpoint not only the manufacturer, such as Toyota Motor Corporation or Toyota Motor Manufacturing in various countries including the United States, Canada, France, and Mexico, but also the type of vehicle, whether it be a multipurpose passenger vehicle (MPV), truck, or passenger car. For instance, WMI codes beginning with JT generally indicate vehicles manufactured by Toyota in Japan, while those starting with 4T, 5T, or 2T are indicative of Toyota vehicles assembled in North America. Additionally, the vehicle type and production location are identified, from Georgetown, Kentucky, to Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, reflecting Toyota’s global manufacturing footprint. With a history spanning from 1981 to 2024, these codes offer a comprehensive overview of Toyota’s diverse vehicle lineup and its international production base.

List of WMI Codes for a Toyota

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Toyota VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

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

Below find the most popular vehicle descriptor codes for a Toyota:

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 Toyota 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 Toyota VIN — Year Code

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

Known Toyota Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Toyota

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

What info can a Toyota VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, being possibly the year 2018, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
• Engine Type: Essential engine details such as the type, manufacturer, and displacement are encoded within the VIN. For instance, it may specify an In-Line engine by Toyota with a possibly 1.8-liter displacement.
• Safety Features: The VIN can possibly highlight the range of safety features a vehicle is equipped with, including but not limited to Adaptive Cruise Control, Anti-lock Braking System, and Forward Collision Warning, all of which may be standard.
• Fuel Type and Efficiency: It may provide insight into the primary and secondary fuel types the vehicle utilizes, for example, Gasoline and Electric, indicating a possible hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) design for improved fuel efficiency.
• Body Class and Size: Information on the vehicle’s body class, like Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback, and other physical dimensions are potentially part of the VIN’s details, offering insights into its design and functionality.
• Plant and Manufacturing Details: The VIN decodes to give specifics on where the vehicle was manufactured, somewhat pointing to the Toyota Motor Corporation-Tsutsumi plant in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan, which can be valuable for verifying authenticity and origin.
• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): It indicates the possible incorporation of advanced systems such as Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance, and Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking, amongst others, showcasing modern vehicle safety and convenience technologies.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Toyota