Tesla VIN decoder
Tesla VIN decoder
Tesla VINs are easy to read. US-built Teslas start with 5YJ, 7SA or 7G2, and the 4th character names the model: S, 3, X or Y. The 10th character is the model year and the 11th the factory.
Tesla WMI codes
The first three VIN characters. Verified against the NHTSA vPIC database.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Vehicle type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5YJ | Tesla, Inc. | Cars | United States |
| 7G2 | Tesla, Inc. | Trucks | United States |
| 7SA | Tesla, Inc. | SUVs, vans & crossovers | United States |
What to know about Tesla VINs
- The 4th character of a Tesla VIN is the model: S for Model S, 3 for Model 3, X for Model X and Y for Model Y.
- 7G2 is the WMI Tesla registered for trucks, used on the Cybertruck.
- Electric cars can be declared total losses after relatively minor battery damage. Check total-loss and salvage records on any used Tesla.
Tesla models you can decode
- Model 3
- Model Y
- Model S
- Model X
- Cybertruck
Any 17-character Tesla VIN from the 1981 model year onwards can be decoded. Check open recalls for free on NHTSA.
How a Tesla VIN is built
All 17-character VINs for vehicles sold in the US follow the same structure.
Example: 5NPD74LF5LH611542
| Position | What it means | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country / region | Where the manufacturer is registered: 1, 4, 5 and 7 = United States, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = South Korea, W = Germany. |
| 2–3 | Manufacturer | Positions 1–3 together form the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), assigned to one maker and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Manufacturer-coded details such as model line, body style, restraint system, engine and gross weight rating. |
| 9 | Check digit | A 0–9 or X calculated from the other 16 characters. It catches typos and many fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the model year. The codes repeat every 30 years (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory that built the vehicle. Plant codes are defined by each manufacturer. |
| 12–17 | Serial number | The production sequence number that makes the VIN unique. |
VIN model year chart (10th character)
Codes repeat every 30 years. On cars and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means the later year.
A
1980 · 2010
B
1981 · 2011
C
1982 · 2012
D
1983 · 2013
E
1984 · 2014
F
1985 · 2015
G
1986 · 2016
H
1987 · 2017
J
1988 · 2018
K
1989 · 2019
L
1990 · 2020
M
1991 · 2021
N
1992 · 2022
P
1993 · 2023
R
1994 · 2024
S
1995 · 2025
T
1996 · 2026
V
1997 · 2027
W
1998 · 2028
X
1999 · 2029
Y
2000 · 2030
1
2001 · 2031
2
2002 · 2032
3
2003 · 2033
4
2004 · 2034
5
2005 · 2035
6
2006 · 2036
7
2007 · 2037
8
2008 · 2038
9
2009 · 2039
The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the number 0 are never used as year codes.
Where to find the VIN on a Tesla
- Lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, readable from outside the car
- Sticker or plate on the driver’s door jamb (open the door)
- Title, registration card and insurance card
- Engine bay, often on the firewall or the front of the frame on trucks
- Seller’s listing or the dealer’s window sticker
The VIN on the car, the title and the listing must all match. If they do not, do not buy.
VinCode report · $5.99
Before you buy a used Tesla, check its history
Title brands, accidents, total-loss events, odometer readings, owners and service records for the VIN, scored with the VinCode Score.
- Title brand check
- Accidents & damage
- Odometer chart
- Owners & usage
- Service records
- VinCode Score
Which character in a Tesla VIN shows the model?
The 4th character. For example 5YJ3… is a Model 3 and 7SAY… a Model Y.
Does a VIN check show Tesla battery health?
No. Battery health is read from the car. A VinCode report shows accidents, damage, title brands and total-loss events reported for the VIN.
Is the Tesla VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding a Tesla VIN is free. A full VinCode report with title brands, accidents, odometer readings and owners costs $5.99.
Does a Tesla VIN show accident history?
No. The VIN only encodes how the vehicle was built. Accident, damage and title history come from records reported for the VIN, which is what the VinCode report shows.