Tesla VIN decoder: model, year, motor and factory
Type a VIN and read what its 17 characters say. It runs in your browser: the VIN is not sent to Tesla or to us.
Decode a VIN
Type or paste a VIN to see what its characters say.
What each position of a Tesla VIN says
| Position | What it is | What it says | What this page reads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Maker | Who made the car. This page reads 5YJ, 7SA, 7G2, LRW, XP7 and SFZ as Tesla. | Whether it is a Tesla |
| 4 | Model | S is Model S, 3 is Model 3, X is Model X and Y is Model Y. R is the Roadster and C is the Cybertruck. | Model |
| 5 | Body and drive side | Body style and left- or right-hand drive. The codes differ by model. | Body, where Tesla’s filings say what the code means |
| 6 | Restraints | The seat belt and airbag set-up. | Nothing |
| 7 | Energy | E means electric. It does not say which battery chemistry the car has. | Nothing |
| 8 | Motor | Single or dual motor, and the performance and Plaid versions. The meaning of a code changes with the model year. | Motor, where Tesla’s filings say what the code means |
| 9 | Check digit | A number worked out from the other 16 characters. It catches a mistyped or altered VIN. | Whether it adds up |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or digit for the model year. It is not the build date. | Model year |
| 11 | Factory | F is Fremont, A is Austin, C is Shanghai and B is Berlin. On a Roadster, 1 is Menlo Park and 3 is Hethel (2008 and 2009). | Factory (Shanghai, C, and Berlin, B, are from public documents) |
| 12 to 17 | Serial number | The car’s production number at its factory. | Serial number |
Where to find the VIN
- At the foot of the windscreen on the driver’s side, read from outside the car.
- On the label on the driver’s door pillar, with the door open.
- In the Tesla app or on the car’s touchscreen, under Software.
- On the registration document, the insurance papers and the seller’s listing.
Common questions
Is the Tesla VIN decoder free?
Yes. It needs no account and costs nothing, and you can decode as many VINs as you like.
Does the decoder contact Tesla or send my VIN anywhere?
No. The characters are read in your browser, and the VIN is not sent to Tesla or to us. It is only used if you choose to check the battery.
Can the VIN tell me when the car was built?
No. Position 10 is the model year, not the build date. The build date is on the car’s label and in its paperwork, not in the VIN.
Can the VIN tell me if the battery is LFP or NMC?
No. Position 7 only says the car is electric, so no decoder can read the battery chemistry or capacity from a VIN. The model pages list chemistry by version, and a battery check shows what Tesla itself reports for the car.
Why does my result show no body or motor?
A code is shown only when Tesla’s own filings say what it means for that model and model year. For any other car the field is left out instead of guessed.
Does it read a Cybertruck or a Roadster VIN?
Yes: the model, the model year, the factory where NHTSA’s records name it, the serial number and the check digit. This site has no battery figures for these two models; the battery check covers Model S, 3, X and Y.
What does the battery check add?
The decoder reads the characters of the VIN. The check asks Tesla about the car and returns its battery state of health and capacity in kWh, with the date the car reported them. Lookups are sold in packs; the price is on the pricing page.