#Decoding toyota vin how to#
#Decoding toyota vin serial#

Used car sellers often try to sell cars welded from separate pieces. One of the reasons the VIN numbers on cars are placed in multiple locations is to avoid scams. Remember that you don’t need to decode VIN numbers manually – even a free Toyota VIN decoder can do that for you. Also, you’ll never find letters 'O', 'I', and 'Q' because these are never used due to visual similarities to numbers. Toyota VIN numbers only consist of numbers and capital letters. Meanwhile, the other two reveal the model year and manufacturing plant.

#Decoding toyota vin serial#

Vehicle Identification Section – the last piece contains eight characters, six of which form a unique serial number.Check digit – this one digit offers mathematical proof that the VIN is legitimate.Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) – the five characters in this section describe the vehicle’s brand, engine, transmission, body style, series, etc.World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) – the first three characters reveal the manufacturer and country of origin.To make things simpler, it’s best to separate a Toyota car VIN number into four sections: What does a Toyota VIN contain?Įach Toyota VIN number consists of 17 characters, each of which has a coded meaning for equipment, brand, main features, model year, and other basic vehicle information. Owners can even use it when searching for spare Toyota parts or checking the history of a used car.Īll car manufacturers apply the same format when creating VIN numbers – a 17-character code consisting of coded brief data about the vehicle. The VIN is essential to keep track of maintenance, claim insurance, and much more. It works as a unique vehicle identifier, which helps to record various data about the vehicle. What is a Toyota VIN?Įvery Toyota vehicle has a unique combination of numbers and letters – it’s called a vehicle identification number (VIN). Nowadays, Toyota owners praise these cars for affordability, reliability, and safety. However, eventually, Toyota became one of the most capable car brands in the world. The company has gone through rough patches during WW2 and the 1973 oil crisis.

#Decoding toyota vin how to#

He purchased some cars from Ford, Chevrolet, and Chrysler and took them apart to find out how to build and improve a vehicle. The country began importing American vehicles, and Kiichiro Toyoda (the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation) found this as an opportunity to get into the car market. In the 1930s, after The Great Depression and several earthquakes, Japan developed a huge demand for cars. Founded in 1937, Toyota Motor Corporation is known all over the world.