Tesla VIN decoder: read the 17 characters.

Paste a VIN and get the model, year, drive unit, body and assembly plant — decoded against NHTSA's own public database, plus any open safety recalls. Free, no account, nothing stored.

Decode a VIN

17-character VIN .

How to read a Tesla VIN

Every VIN is 17 characters and the positions are standardised, so the same slots mean the same thing on every car:

Position	What it encodes
1–3	World manufacturer identifier — who built it and where
4–8	Model, body type, restraint system and drive unit
9	Check digit, a checksum that validates the other sixteen
10	Model year
11	Assembly plant
12–17	Sequential production serial number

The decode above comes from NHTSA's vPIC database rather than a hand-written lookup table, so it stays correct as Tesla adds models and plants.

Tesla VIN codes, digit by digit

These are the codes Tesla filed with NHTSA for the 2024 model year (Tesla's MY2024 VIN decoder). Example: a VIN that starts 7SAYGDEE reads 7SA (Model X or Y family), Y (Model Y), E in digit 7 (electric) and E in digit 8 (dual motor).

Digit	Code	Meaning
1–3	5YJ	Passenger car: Model S, Model 3
1–3	7SA	Multipurpose vehicle: Model X, Model Y
1–3	7G2	Truck: Cybertruck, Semi
4	S / 3 / X / Y	Model S / Model 3 / Model X / Model Y
4	C / T	Cybertruck / Semi
7	E	Electric
7	F	Electric, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery
10	L M N P R S T	Model year 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
11	F	Fremont, California
11	A	Austin, Texas
11	N	Reno, Nevada (Semi)

Digit 8 is the motor. For the 2024 model year:

Code	Model 3	Model Y	Model S / X	Cybertruck
A	Single motor
B	Dual motor
C	Dual motor, Performance
D		Single motor		Dual motor
E		Dual motor		Triple motor, Performance
F		Dual motor, Performance
5			Dual motor
6			Tri motor

Tesla files new codes each model year, and cars built outside the US use different plant letters. If this chart and the decoder disagree, trust the decoder: it reads NHTSA's current table. A digit-7 F tells you the pack chemistry; see battery health and charging cost for what that means day to day.

Questions

What does a Tesla VIN tell you?

The 17 characters encode the plant, model, body and restraint configuration, drive unit, model year and a serial number. Decoded against NHTSA's own database you get the model, year, body class, drive unit and where it was built — without needing the car present.

Where do I find my VIN?

Bottom corner of the windscreen on the driver's side, on the door-jamb placard, on your registration and insurance documents, and in the Tesla app under the car's details.

Is this the same as a VIN history report?

No, and that is deliberate. This decodes what the VIN itself encodes, using NHTSA's free public database. It does not include accident history, title status or ownership records — those come from paid services and are a different product entirely.

Does a VIN reveal the build date?

Not exactly. Position 10 encodes the model year, which is not the same as the month the car rolled off the line. The plant code in position 11 tells you where it was assembled.

What year is my Tesla from the VIN?

Read position 10. Tesla uses the standard model-year letters: L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026. That is the model year, not the build month.

What do 5YJ, 7SA and 7G2 mean?

They are Tesla's world manufacturer identifiers, the first three characters. In Tesla's NHTSA filing, 5YJ is a passenger car (Model S and Model 3), 7SA is a multipurpose vehicle (Model X and Model Y) and 7G2 is a truck (Cybertruck and Semi).

Can I check recalls with my VIN?

Yes — this tool queries NHTSA's recall database for your decoded model and year, so any open safety recalls for that vehicle show up alongside the decode.

Independent fan project. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Tesla, Inc. Figures are estimates for planning only, not a quote or a substitute for a service diagnosis.