Tesla VIN Decoder

Tesla VIN decoder reads the 17 characters on a Tesla and returns the build details the code holds: model, model year, drive unit, body class and assembly plant. Position four marks the model, with S, X, Y and 3 appearing there, and position eight identifies the motor configuration. Position eleven names the plant, where F means Fremont, California and A means Austin, Texas. A 5YJ prefix marks Fremont and a 7SA prefix marks Austin. The check digit at position nine catches mistyped characters before a search runs.

Tesla VIN decoder separates a dual-motor Long Range from a Performance build, since the eighth character encodes the drive unit rather than the badge. It returns battery and motor details where NHTSA records them, along with open safety recalls and the model year. Fremont builds the Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y, and Austin builds the Model Y and Cybertruck. Position eleven confirms the factory, and the last six characters give the build sequence. The lookup is free and needs no account.

What a Tesla VIN Tells You

A Tesla VIN is a structured record with fixed positions. Federal rules under 49 CFR Part 565 set the 17-character length and reserve certain characters for specific data. The letters I, O, and Q are excluded so they cannot be read as 1 and 0. The format is the same on a 2012 Model S and a 2026 Cybertruck, though the middle characters changed as the lineup grew from one model to several. The first three characters form the World Manufacturer Identifier. Tesla uses 5YJ and SFZ for passenger cars, 7SA for.

Tesla WMI Codes

The codes below returned Tesla as the make in the NHTSA DecodeWMI service on October 19, 2026. Entries tied to trailers, tanks, and unrelated companies that use Tesla in their names are excluded. One code is tied to a specific vehicle class, so the table lists the class for each entry. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state.

The country digit follows a regional scheme. 1, 4, and 5 mean the United States, 2 means Canada, 3 means Mexico, and 7 means the United States for a newer block of manufacturer codes. All four Tesla codes above begin with a US value. A VIN that starts with W, J, or S belongs to a vehicle built outside the United States, so it is not a Tesla from these entries.

Vehicle class matters on a Tesla. The same company builds passenger cars, utilities, and a truck, and the WMI separates them at a glance. A 7SA VIN points to a multipurpose vehicle rather than a sedan. A 7G2 VIN points to a truck. That distinction helps when a listing uses the wrong body label for a vehicle.

Tesla VIN Breakdown

Read a Tesla VIN from left to right and group the characters by function. The sections below cover each group and describe what the decoder can conclude from it. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office. Keep the title, the registration and the photo ID together for the visit.

The First Three Characters: World Manufacturer Identifier

These characters identify the maker and the vehicle class. 5YJ and SFZ are passenger-car codes, 7SA is a multipurpose code, and 7G2 is a truck code. The WMI does not name the model. A 5YJ code can sit on a Model S or a Model 3, so the middle characters carry the model detail. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state.

The Fourth and Fifth Characters: Model and Series

Tesla uses The fourth and fifth characters for the model line or platform. The values changed as the lineup expanded from the Roadster and Model S to the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck. A decoder can map the pair to a model name when the model year is known. Without the year, the same pair can point to more than one vehicle. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

The Sixth Character: Body Style

The sixth character describes the body style or platform class. A sedan, a crossover, and a pickup do not share the same character. On a Model Y, this position helps confirm the utility body. On a Cybertruck, it helps confirm the truck class that the listing claims. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office.

The Seventh Character: Restraint System

The seventh character identifies the factory restraint system. The value can reflect front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, seat belt pretensioners, and a driver knee airbag. Tesla has revised these systems over the years, so an early Model S and a 2024 Model 3 do not use the same code. A decoder may return a short label rather than a full inventory. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

The Eighth Character: Drive Unit and Battery

The eighth character carries drive-unit or battery data in many Tesla VINs. The company has used rear-drive, all-wheel-drive, and tri-motor layouts, with several battery sizes across the lineup. The character does not spell out capacity in plain text. A decoder may return a description such as a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration. Treat that output as a starting point and confirm the build with the vehicle’s software screen or a Tesla service record. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

The Ninth Character: Check Digit

The ninth character is a check character computed from the other 16 characters. Each letter maps to a number, each position carries a weight, and the sum is divided by 11. The remainder becomes 0 through 9 or X. A mismatch suggests a typo or a damaged label. Recheck the characters before you treat the mismatch as fraud. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state.

The Tenth Character: Model Year

The tenth character is the model year code. The code repeats every 30 years, so A can mean 1980 or 2010. A 2026 Tesla carries T, and a 2025 model carries S. The table later on this page lists the full cycle. The model year on the VIN can differ from the calendar year of sale when a new model arrives early. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

The Eleventh Character: Assembly Plant

The eleventh character identifies the plant. Tesla has assembled vehicles in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas, and in Berlin, Germany, and Shanghai, China, for other markets. The character is a plant code, not a city name. A decoder can return a plant city or country when the mapping exists. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a.

The Final Six Characters: Production Sequence

The final six characters are the production sequence. They separate one vehicle from every other unit built with the same WMI and build codes. The sequence does not encode paint color, options, or the selling dealer. Two consecutive numbers can leave the line with very different equipment. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office.

Tesla Model Year Codes at the Tenth Character

The model year character follows a 30-year cycle set by federal rule. The table shows each code with the two years it can represent in the current cycle. Use the documented model year to choose the right value. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office.

The letters I, O, Q, U, and Z do not appear as year codes, and 0 is excluded. That rule removes characters that look like other symbols. A fast check of The tenth character catches many typing errors before a full decode.

Tesla has used this cycle since the Roadster years. A 2012 Model S carries C, a 2018 Model 3 carries J, and a 2026 Model Y carries T. When a listing shows a year that does not match The tenth character, ask for the title and the door-jamb label.

Popular Tesla Models

The NHTSA model list for Tesla contains eight names, and the table below covers all of them. Each uses the same 17-character layout, though the middle codes differ by year. The list includes production models, a commercial truck, and a planned robotaxi. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office.

Model S and Model 3 units carry a 5YJ or SFZ code. Model X and Model Y units carry 7SA. The Cybertruck carries 7G2. When a listing names one model but the WMI points to a different vehicle class, compare the door label and the title.

Where to Find the VIN on a Tesla

Tesla places the VIN in several locations so that a buyer or technician can confirm the vehicle without removing parts. The windshield view is the fastest check. The door-jamb label carries the same 17 characters plus the build date and tire data. Check two locations on the vehicle and compare both numbers with the title. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office.

• Windshield, driver side: Look through the glass at the lower corner of the dashboard. The plate sits on a small pad and is visible from outside.
• Driver door jamb: Open the door and find the certification label on the body pillar. It lists the VIN, the build date, and the tire and loading values.
• Front trunk area: Model S and Model X vehicles carry a label or stamp under the front hood near the cowl. The area can collect leaves and water, so wipe the surface before you read it.
• Touchscreen: Open Controls, then Software, and the VIN appears with the software version and vehicle details. This is the fastest check when you are already in the car.
• Tesla app: The vehicle page in the app shows the VIN for each vehicle on the account.
• Documents: The title, registration, insurance card, buyer’s order, and Monroney sticker all list the VIN. Compare two sources before a purchase.

The windshield plate and the door label should match character for character. A mismatch is a warning sign. So is a VIN that does not match the title. Do not rely on a photo of the dashboard alone, since a plate can be swapped between vehicles.

On a used Tesla, the software screen and the app are useful cross-checks, yet neither replaces the physical label. A vehicle with a replaced touchscreen can show a different configuration than the body. Read the door-jamb label and the windshield plate before you trust any screen.

How to Decode a Tesla VIN for Free

You can decode a Tesla VIN at vinnumber.us without an account or a payment. The home page accepts a 17-character VIN and returns the make, model, model year, body class, drive type, plant data, and other fields supplied by the NHTSA vPIC service. The output appears in plain text that you can read on a phone. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state.

• Find the 17-character VIN on the windshield or door jamb.
• Check the length and confirm that the string has no letter I, O, or Q.
• Enter the VIN in the decoder field on the home page.
• Compare the make, model, year, and drive type with the listing.
• Open the NHTSA recall page linked in the result to check for open campaigns.

The decoder uses public data that dealers, insurers, and state agencies query. It does not store a payment method since there is no charge. If the result returns a make other than Tesla, recheck the first three characters. One mistyped character can change the WMI, the year, or the check digit.

Some VINs return partial results. A very early Roadster, a vehicle built before 1981, or a model not sold in the United States may have fewer fields in the federal database. A partial result is not a decoder error. It means the manufacturer did not submit the detail for that combination, or the vehicle predates the current format.

Tesla Recalls

Safety recalls are tied to the VIN, not just the model name. A campaign may cover a narrow build window, so two 2023 Model Ys can have different open recalls. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the campaigns that apply. A recall notice means the manufacturer has determined that a defect or a noncompliance with a safety standard affects the vehicle. An authorized service center performs the remedy, and federal law requires the remedy to be free for the owner. Some Tesla remedies arrive as an over-the-air software update, and others.

What a Tesla VIN Does Not Show

A VIN is a build identifier. It is not a title report, an accident report, or a service log. The string does not contain the owner’s name, the lienholder, the registration state, the odometer reading, or the sale price. A decoder that claims to return those details is pulling from a separate commercial database, not from the VIN itself. The VIN does not show whether a Tesla has been in a collision, whether the battery has been replaced, or whether the vehicle has a salvage or rebuilt title.

Tesla VIN Questions and Answers

These are the questions drivers ask most about Tesla VIN Decoder, with answers drawn from the official sources used on this page. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office. Keep the title, the registration and the photo ID together for the visit. A second check at the counter saves a return trip.

Where Is the VIN on a Tesla?

The easiest spot is the lower driver-side corner of the windshield, viewed from outside. The driver door jamb carries a certification label with the same VIN. The touchscreen shows the number under Controls, then Software, and the app lists it for each vehicle. Compare two of those sources with the title. A mismatch is a reason to walk away until it is described. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

Can I Decode a Tesla VIN for Free?

Yes. Enter the 17 characters and the decoder returns the NHTSA vPIC record at no cost, with no account, email address, payment or paid report. The response lists the make, model, model year, engine, fuel type, plant city and open safety campaigns tied to that build. Trim often stays out of the record, so confirm it with the window sticker and the door jamb label. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

Does a Tesla VIN Show the Battery Size?

Sometimes. The eighth character can carry battery or drive-unit data, and a decoder may return a description that includes the pack or motor layout. Many VINs return only the model and body class. The software screen and the Monroney sticker are better sources for the exact capacity, so ask for both before you agree on a price. A diagnostic report shows the present pack health. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

Does a Tesla VIN Show Autopilot or FSD?

No. Those features are software options tied to the vehicle account, not characters in the VIN. A VIN decode cannot confirm that a car has Full Self-Driving or an active subscription. Check the vehicle’s software menu and the account transfer rules before you rely on a feature claim in a listing. Ask the seller to show the menu in person. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state.

Can a VIN Tell Me If My Tesla Has an Open Recall?

A VIN is the key to the NHTSA recall lookup. Enter the 17 characters at nhtsa.gov/recalls and the site returns the campaigns that apply to that build. The VIN string itself does not list recalls, and a decode page with no recall field is not confirming that the vehicle is clear. Keep the repair order as proof that the remedy was completed. Official sources: Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

• https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
• https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls