How to Understand a Toyota VIN

Every car, truck or motorcycle on the road has a specific VIN (vehicle identification number) associated with it. These VIN numbers are like the fingerprint of the vehicle, as no two VINs are alike. Toyota VIN numbers are no exception and, although all Toyota VIN numbers start with the same codes, each one is different. The VIN on a Toyota indicates the place of origin, make, model, year of production and the vehicle's serial number.

• 1

  Read the first character in the Toyota VIN number, which will be a "J" (Japan) meaning the country of origin of the vehicle. The second character represents the manufacturer of the vehicle, which in this case will be a "T" for Toyota.

• 2

  Read the third character in the sequence to determine type of vehicle. A "2" means the vehicle is a passenger car (cars, trucks and SUVs all count as passenger cars in VIN numbers.)

• 3

  Look to the 4th and 5th characters for the body type, as these two digits will explain if the vehicle is a minivan (11-12,) a Pickup (31-33,) a sedan (52-54,) or a cargo vehicle (21-22.) Character 6 is the type of engine in the vehicle, the code differs when referring to an off-road vehicle or two-wheeler. For standard passenger vehicles the codes will be an "L" for a liter engine or a "Y" for larger pickups.

• 4

  Character 7 is the model of the vehicle such as "C" for Camry, "B" for Supra, "E" for Corolla, "Z" for Land Cruiser and "N" for 4runner. Character 8 is the model code of the vehicle for different editions of the model.

• 5

  Disregard the 9th character, known as the "check" character and used at Toyota's discretion (or any manufacturer) for various reasons such as special editions or to single out a batch of the vehicle for special attention; but it primarily stays as the number "1." The 10th digit is the year of manufacture and follows this order: B -- 1981, C -- 1982, D -- 1983, E -- 1984, F -- 1985, G -- 1986, H -- 1987, J -- 1988, K -- 1989, L -- 1990, M -- 1991, N -- 1992, P -- 1993, R -- 1994, S -- 1995. From 1996 on, the VIN starts at "1" and continues to rise with the year.

• 6

  Read the 11th character to determine the factory where where the vehicle was built. "C" refers to the Ontario, Canada, plant. "O" is the specialty plant that makes the Toyota Supra, "U" is for Georgetown, Kentucky and "Z" for Fremont, California.

• 7

  The last six digits of the VIN number are the vehicle's serial number and are specific to the vehicle.