Free VIN decoder
Nissan VIN decoder
Decode a Nissan VIN character by character: what SJN means, why the year is not in a European Nissan VIN, and a free check of what the registries hold on the exact car.
Updated 8 September 2026
Example: Free preview included
- Cars
- Motorcycles
- Vans
- Trucks
How the free check works
Enter a Nissan VIN in the box above and we check it against official registries and manufacturer build data, with a free preview of what exists for the exact car. Most European Nissans are British builds, the opening code says so, and the year is not in the number, so the records do the talking.
Nissan WMI codes (characters 1 to 3)
The code names the plant, and for the European volume models that means Sunderland:
| Code | What they say |
|---|---|
SJN | Nissan UK, Sunderland (Qashqai, Juke, Leaf, older Micra) |
VSK | Nissan Spain, Barcelona (pickups and vans, built to 2021) |
JN1 | Nissan Japan (cars built for export) |
JN8 | Nissan Japan (SUVs built for export) |
Where is the year in a Nissan VIN?
Not in a European one. Nissan stamps the year character only on cars built for North America; on European market cars the position belongs to Nissan's own coding, and characters that are never valid year codes turn up there. Date the car through records, which is what the check above reads.
What the free check adds
The VIN describes the car as built. The check above adds what happened since: odometer readings recorded at inspections and services across 30+ European countries, damage and theft records, the import trail, and the manufacturer build data where it is available for the make.
The preview of what exists for the exact car is free, and only the full history report is paid. If the preview looks empty, you have lost nothing.
Where to find the VIN on the car
Check at least two locations and make sure they agree with each other and with the documents. A VIN that differs between locations is a walk away flag on its own.
- Windscreen base visible from outside through the glass on the driver side.
- Door jamb sticker on the driver side B pillar on most cars.
- Body stamp under the bonnet, under a floor flap, or in the boot, depending on the make.
- Documents the registration certificate and the service book both carry it, and both must match the metal.
Works for every Nissan
The check reads the VIN, not the badge, so every model is covered. The ones buyers look up most:
The same decoding sits behind our partner API: send a VIN, get the identity and the recorded history back as JSON. Dealers, marketplaces and fleets use it to check cars before listing them.
Read the VIN decoder API reference →
Decode your VIN now
See what the registries hold on the exact car: recorded mileage, damage, imports and the factory build. The preview of the findings is free.
Example: WVWZZZ1JZ3W386752Free preview included
Not ready yet? See a full sample report
Frequently asked questions
Can I decode a Nissan VIN for free?
Yes. The check box runs the VIN against official registries and manufacturer build data with a free preview of what exists for the exact car. Only the full history report is paid.
What does SJN at the start of a Nissan VIN mean?
Nissan's British plant at Sunderland, which built the Qashqai, Juke, Leaf and older Micras for Europe. JN1 and JN8 open the Japanese built exports.
Can I tell the year from a Nissan VIN?
Not on a European Nissan: the year character exists only on cars built for North America. The date comes from factory and registration records, which is what our check reads.
What can a VIN check tell me that the VIN itself cannot?
Everything that happened after the factory: odometer readings recorded at inspections and services, damage and theft records, the import trail across countries, and the factory specification to compare against the advert. The preview of those findings is free at MrVIN.
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MrVIN is operated by VERIFY SIA and is independent of the maker of Nissan vehicles. Nissan and the model names on this page are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify the vehicles this page is about.