VIN Decoder
Decode the manufacturer prefix, model year, and check digit from any standard 17-character VIN.
Enter a 17-character VIN
17 of 17 characters
The 10th character's year code repeats every 30 years — pick the cycle that matches the vehicle's actual era.
Structure decoder, not a model database. This reads the manufacturer prefix, year code, and check digit — all universally standardized parts of a VIN. It cannot identify the exact model, trim, or engine, which needs the manufacturer's own database.
Decoded structure
- World Manufacturer Identifier (chars 1-3)
- JT2 — Toyota Motor Corporation (Japan)
- Vehicle Descriptor Section (chars 4-8)
- SV22E — manufacturer-specific, not decodable here
- Check digit (char 9)
- 9 — matches calculated value ✓
- Model year (char 10)
- W — 2028
- Plant + serial (chars 11-17)
- 0123456 — sequential, not decodable
What a VIN can and can't tell you
Every 17-character VIN follows a universal structure: the first three characters (the World Manufacturer Identifier) identify the manufacturer and country of origin; the 9th character is a check digit calculated from the rest of the VIN; and the 10th character is a model-year code that cycles every 30 years. All three are standardized across every manufacturer worldwide, which is why they can be decoded reliably without needing that manufacturer's internal database.
Everything else — the vehicle descriptor section (characters 4-8) and the plant/serial section (characters 11-17) — is defined entirely by the manufacturer. Toyota's internal coding scheme for those positions is different from Nissan's, which is different from Honda's, and none of it is published in a single universal standard. Decoding those sections accurately requires that specific manufacturer's own reference data, not a generic algorithm — which is why this tool doesn't attempt to guess model or trim from them.
A mismatched check digit is worth a second look, but it isn't automatic proof of a problem. The check-digit convention is a North American requirement; VINs assigned for other markets frequently don't follow it, so a "mismatch" on a JDM-export vehicle's VIN is often just a normal non-US format, not an error. Cross-check any VIN concern against the vehicle's actual export certificate and physical chassis stamping before drawing conclusions.
VIN decoder FAQ
Do Japanese domestic-market vehicles have a 17-digit VIN?
Not always. Vehicles built for Japan's domestic market typically use a chassis number and engine number system rather than the 17-character VIN standard used in North America and increasingly worldwide. Export-spec vehicles built for markets that require a full VIN will have one. For JDM chassis numbers like DBA-NZE141, use the Chassis Decoder instead.
What does the VIN check digit tell you?
The 9th character of a VIN is a check digit calculated from the other 16 characters using a standard weighted formula. If the calculated value doesn't match the 9th character, it can indicate a typo when the VIN was transcribed - but many non-North-American-market VINs don't follow this convention at all, so a mismatch alone doesn't prove a VIN is fraudulent.
Can this tool tell me the exact model and trim from a VIN?
No. This tool decodes the parts of a VIN that are universally standardized: the manufacturer/country prefix (WMI) and the model year code. The middle section of a VIN (positions 4-8) is manufacturer-specific and requires that manufacturer's own database to decode into exact model, engine, and trim - which this tool does not have access to.
Verifying a vehicle's identity
Chassis Decoder
For JDM domestic-market chassis and model codes like DBA-NZE141, not full VINs.
Free ToolCar Age Calculator
Check the manufacture date this VIN's year code points to against import age limits.
GuideCar Export Inspection & Quality Control Guide
How chassis and document matching fits into pre-shipment inspection.
Keep VIN, chassis, and document records in one place
CarDeal365 attaches every vehicle's identifiers and documents to a single record your whole team can trust.