What our free Toyota VIN decoder shows
One VIN, the key facts about any Toyota. When you enter a Toyota VIN, the decoder reads the codes built into those 17 characters and matches them to records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In a few seconds you see:
- Model and trim: whether it is a Camry, RAV4, Tacoma or another Toyota, and the trim when it is encoded.
- Model year: taken from the 10th character of the VIN.
- Engine and powertrain: engine size, fuel type and whether it is a gas, hybrid or plug-in hybrid model.
- Drivetrain: front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or 4x4 on trucks and SUVs.
- Body style and cab type: sedan, hatchback, SUV, minivan, or pickup cab and bed configuration.
- Assembly plant: the factory that built the vehicle, in Japan or North America.
- Open safety recalls: any recall on record with NHTSA for that exact VIN.
This helps when you are checking a used Toyota for sale, ordering the right parts, comparing a listing to the real vehicle or getting an insurance quote.
How to look up a Toyota VIN
- Find the 17-character VIN on the vehicle or its paperwork (see where to find it below).
- Type it into the box at the top of this page. Letters are not case-sensitive.
- Select Decode VIN.
- Compare the results with the seller’s listing: model, year, engine and drivetrain should all match.
A valid VIN never contains the letters I, O or Q, because they look too much like 1 and 0. If the decoder rejects a VIN, check for those letters first.
How to read a Toyota VIN
Every Toyota built since 1981 has a 17-character VIN that follows the same international standard. Here is the VIN from one of our sample reports, a 2020 Toyota Avalon:
4T1 FZ1FB 1 L U 051174
| Characters | In this VIN | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 · WMI | 4T1 | The manufacturer and country. 4T1 is a Toyota passenger car built in the United States. |
| 4–8 · Vehicle descriptor | FZ1FB | Model line, body type, engine and restraint systems. |
| 9 · Check digit | 1 | A calculated number that confirms the VIN is valid and not mistyped. |
| 10 · Model year | L | The model year: L is 2020. |
| 11 · Plant code | U | The assembly plant. This Avalon was built in Georgetown, Kentucky. |
| 12–17 · Serial number | 051174 | The unique production number of that vehicle. |
Toyota WMI codes
Toyota builds vehicles in Japan and at several plants in North America, so the first three characters vary. These are the codes you will see most often on Toyotas sold in the United States:
| WMI | Built in | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
JTD | Japan | Passenger cars such as Prius and Corolla |
JTE | Japan | SUVs such as 4Runner, Land Cruiser and older Highlanders |
JTM | Japan | SUVs such as RAV4 |
4T1 | United States | Cars built in Kentucky, such as Camry and Avalon |
5TD | United States | SUVs and minivans built in Indiana, such as Highlander and Sienna |
5TF | United States | Tundra and Sequoia built in Texas |
5YF | United States | Corolla built in Mississippi |
2T1 / 2T3 | Canada | Corolla (2T1) and RAV4 (2T3) built in Ontario |
3TM | Mexico | Tacoma |
Source: NHTSA vPIC.
Toyota model year codes
The 10th character shows the model year. The letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used for the year.
| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | 2016 | K | 2019 | P | 2023 |
H | 2017 | L | 2020 | R | 2024 |
J | 2018 | M | 2021 | S | 2025 |
N | 2022 | T | 2026 |
Where to find the VIN on a Toyota
- Dashboard: on the lower corner of the dashboard on the driver’s side. Look through the windshield from outside the vehicle.
- Driver’s door jamb: on the label on the door pillar, visible when the door is open.
- Frame (trucks and body-on-frame SUVs): on Tacoma, Tundra and 4Runner the VIN is also stamped on the frame rail.
- Documents: the title, registration and insurance card all list the VIN.
Make sure the VIN on the vehicle matches the VIN on the title. If they are different, do not buy until you know why: it can be a sign of a stolen or rebuilt vehicle.
Popular Toyota models
Pick a model to decode its VIN and see recalls by model year:
- Toyota Camry: Toyota’s midsize sedan, sold with gas and hybrid powertrains.
- Toyota Corolla: the compact sedan and hatchback, one of the most common used cars in the US.
- Toyota RAV4: the compact SUV, available as gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid.
- Toyota Tacoma: the midsize pickup, with several cab and bed configurations.
- Toyota Tundra: the full-size pickup built in San Antonio, Texas.
- Toyota Highlander: the three-row midsize SUV, also sold as a hybrid.
- Toyota 4Runner: the body-on-frame SUV popular for off-road use.
- Toyota Prius: Toyota’s best-known hybrid.
- Toyota Sienna: the minivan, sold only as a hybrid since the 2021 model year.
- Toyota Avalon: the full-size sedan, discontinued after the 2022 model year.
Toyota recalls and how to check them
NHTSA lists 333 recall campaigns for the Toyota models on this page. Recalls are issued for specific VINs, so two vehicles of the same model and year can have different results. The repair for a safety recall is free at any Toyota dealer, even if you are not the first owner.
To check a Toyota for recalls, enter its VIN above. If a recall is open, contact a Toyota dealer to book the repair, and ask the seller of a used vehicle for proof that past recalls were completed.
Free VIN decoder vs full vehicle history report
The decoder tells you what the vehicle is. A history report tells you what happened to it.
| Information | Free decoder | Full history report |
|---|---|---|
| Model, year, engine, plant | Yes | Yes |
| Open safety recalls | Yes | Yes |
| Title brands (salvage, flood, rebuilt) | No | Yes |
| Odometer readings | No | Yes |
| Accident and damage records | No | Yes |
| Sales and ownership history | No | Yes |
If you are about to buy a used Toyota, run a full vehicle history check or see a sample report first.
Buying a used Toyota: what to check
- The VIN on the dashboard, door jamb and title all match.
- No open safety recalls, or proof that they were repaired.
- No salvage, flood or rebuilt title brand.
- Odometer readings that go up steadily over the years.
- On hybrids, ask about the hybrid battery’s age and any service records.
- On Tacoma, Tundra and 4Runner, check the frame for heavy rust.
- A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.
Toyota VIN FAQs
How do I decode a Toyota VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN into the box at the top of this page and select Decode VIN. We read the manufacturer, model, engine and year codes and match them to NHTSA data.
Is the Toyota VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding the specs and checking for open recalls is free and does not require an account. A full vehicle history report is a separate paid option.
Why do some Toyota VINs start with J and others with 4, 5 or 2?
The first character shows the country where the vehicle was built. J means Japan, 4 and 5 mean the United States, 2 means Canada and 3 means Mexico. Toyota builds many of its US models in North America.
Which character shows the Toyota model year?
The 10th character. L stands for 2020, P for 2023 and S for 2025.
Can a VIN tell me if a Toyota is a hybrid?
Usually yes. Toyota encodes the engine and powertrain in the vehicle descriptor section, so the decoder can show whether a Camry, RAV4 or Highlander is a gas or hybrid model.
Does a Toyota VIN show recalls?
Yes. Safety recalls are issued by VIN, so checking the exact VIN tells you whether a recall applies to that vehicle and whether it is still open.
VIN decoder for other makes
Choose another brand to decode its VIN and see recalls by model.
- Ford
- Chevrolet
- Honda
- Nissan
- Hyundai
- Kia
- Jeep
- Ram
- GMC
- Subaru
- Mazda
- Volkswagen
- BMW
- Mercedes-Benz
- Lexus
- Tesla
- Dodge
- Audi
- Cadillac
Source: NHTSA public data, updated October 8, 2026. HistoryByVIN is not affiliated with Toyota. Toyota and the Toyota logo are trademarks of their owner.