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

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:

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

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.
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.
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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.

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