Vehicle code decoder
Paste a VIN or a Japanese chassis number. Nothing is sent anywhere: the check runs in your browser.
How a 17-character VIN is built
| 1–3 | World manufacturer identifier: region, country and maker. A leading J means Japan. |
|---|---|
| 4–8 | Model, body, engine and so on. The maker decides the meaning. |
| 9 | Check digit (required in North America, calculated from the other 16 characters). |
| 10 | Model year, one letter or digit. The cycle repeats every 30 years. |
| 11 | Assembly plant. Meaning set by each maker. |
| 12–17 | Production serial number. |
What a Japanese chassis number looks like
A Japan-market car is identified by a model code and a serial, usually joined by a hyphen, for example BNR32-305366. The model code says which model and generation it is. The serial is the production order.
Serial length depends on the maker. One owners-club post says Toyota serials usually run to 7 digits and Nissan to 6. Treat that as a guide, not a rule: the full number is normally 9 to 12 characters.
The chassis number does not describe trim or options. Those sit in a separate model code, which is why the export certificate and auction sheet matter.
This tool reads the structure of a code. It does not look up the vehicle's history, so it cannot confirm a car exists, has no accident or has the right mileage. Always compare the number on the car's plate, the auction sheet and the export certificate.