Free VIN decoder

Toyota VIN decoder

Decode a Toyota VIN character by character: SB1, NMT and VNK explained, why the year read needs care on European Toyotas, and a free check of what the registries hold on the exact car.

Updated 8 September 2026

Example: Free preview included

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MrVIN the bear How the free check works

Enter a Toyota 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. The opening code tells you which continent built your Toyota, which is worth knowing: the European plants built different specifications than Japan did.

Toyota WMI codes (characters 1 to 3)

Toyota built European cars in three European countries plus Japan, and the code names the source:

CodeWhat they say
SB1Toyota UK, Burnaston (Corolla, Auris, Avensis)
NMTToyota Turkey (Corolla saloons, C-HR)
VNKToyota France, Valenciennes (Yaris)
JTDToyota Japan, one of several JT codes on Japanese built cars
2T1Toyota North America (imports)

The year read needs care on a Toyota

Toyotas built for North America carry the industry year code at position 10. On European and Japanese market cars that position belongs to Toyota's own coding and is not a reliable year read, so a generic table can be a year or more off.

When the year matters, and on an import it always does, date the car through factory and registration records: that 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.

  1. Windscreen base visible from outside through the glass on the driver side.
  2. Door jamb sticker on the driver side B pillar on most cars.
  3. Body stamp under the bonnet, under a floor flap, or in the boot, depending on the make.
  4. Documents the registration certificate and the service book both carry it, and both must match the metal.

Works for every Toyota

The check reads the VIN, not the badge, so every model is covered. The ones buyers look up most:

Decoding VINs at volume?

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 →
MrVIN the bear checking a car's history report

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 Toyota VIN for free?

Yes. The tables on this page decode the structure by hand, and 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 SB1 or NMT at the start of a Toyota VIN mean?

SB1 is Toyota's British plant at Burnaston, NMT the Turkish plant, VNK the French Yaris plant, and the JT codes are Japan. The code stays with the car for life, so it also exposes imports.

Does a Toyota VIN show the model year?

Only reliably on cars built for North America. On European and Japanese market Toyotas position 10 is part of Toyota's own coding, so date the car through records rather than a generic table.

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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