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How to Check My Gas Tank Size by VIN Number
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Read moreCheck vehicle information with Lexus VIN
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When Toyota first launched Lexus in the U.S market in 1989, it turned the luxury car industry on its head with its LS400 model-featuring unparalleled luxury and reliability. From small hybrids to the F1-inspired LF-A, this brand has built a long list of exciting and practical luxury cars that live up to Toyota's reputation for industry-leading build quality.
If you already own a Lexus or are searching for your next car, it's a great idea to look up the VIN for a detailed vehicle history report. The Lexus manufacturer assigns the vehicle identification number to cars before production, which stays as a unique identifier throughout the car's lifetime – sort of like a fingerprint. Each VIN contains 17 characters – a combination of numbers and letters holding a great deal of information about a vehicle's past, such as previous accidents and owners, the plant where it was made, the engine size, airbag type, and other valuable information. With our VIN decoder, it's easy to turn those numbers and letters into something you can read.
What makes the VIN so important? By looking up your vehicle's VIN, you can discover tons of valuable information about your vehicle that you might've not known before. You will see your vehicle's year, make, and model, where your vehicle was made, place of assembly, and other manufacturer information. You will also discover what parts your vehicle originally came with, ranging from chassis and engine, allowing you to spot any unoriginal or false modifications since leaving the factory. Additionally, by checking your VIN, you can see who previously owned your vehicle and whether it's been in any major accidents or natural disasters. This 17-character code is also essential for registering and insuring your vehicle.
Like on most vehicles, the Lexus VIN is displayed on a metal tag attached to the car’s dashboard, which you can view by looking from the outside through the windshield on the driver’s side of the car, next to the cowl.
Additionally, you may find the VIN on the service tag, typically located inside the driver's door jamb, between the door latch and where the door meets the sill. This tag displays several codes used to identify the axle, paint color, transmission, and other features.
Other locations where you may look for the VIN include the engine compartment, under the hood or trunk, other door jambs, rear-wheel well, or even underneath a spare tire.
Can't look for the VIN on your car? The VIN can also be found on documents such as the vehicle's title, registration, and insurance card.
🟡 Basic Report Cost: | Free |
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🟡 Lexus VIN Database: | 8.1M+ |
🟡 Car-on-Sale Photos: | Up to 100 |
🟡 Full Report: | Extensive History |
Before we crack the code, it's important to note that Lexus changed their VIN codes in 1996 and 2009 – changing the meaning of some characters based on model year. However, you don't have to worry about that as our decoder will do the work for you. Here's how you can decode and check VIN letters and numbers to learn more about the vehicle.
This is the location of the assembly plant: “J” is for Japan, “1” and “5” are for the United States and “2” is for Canada.
This is the manufacturer: which is “T” for Toyota.
This is the brand division: which is “H” for Lexus.
For Lexus cars built before 1996, the following digits represent the car models:
Code | Model |
---|---|
F | LS400 |
K | ES300 |
S | GS300 |
V | ES250 |
Z | SC300 and 400 |
For Lexus cars built between 1996 and 2008 the following digits indicate the frame construction and drive type:
Code | Drive type |
---|---|
B | Four door, two wheel drive sedan or crossover with four wheel drive |
C | Two door, two wheel drive coupe or four door four wheel drive vehicle |
D | Long wheelbase four door with four wheel drive |
E | Five door wagon with two wheel drive |
F | Two door convertible with two wheel drive |
G | Crossover with two wheel drive or long wheelbase sedan with two wheel drive |
H | Crossover with four wheel drive |
Z | Crossover with two wheel drive |
For Lexus models built in 2009 and later the following digits indicate the body style, drive type, and in some cases the trim level:
Code | Body Style |
---|---|
B | Four door, two wheel drive sedan or crossover with four wheel drive (GX 460 base or NX luxury) |
C | Four door, four wheel drive |
D | Long wheelbase four door with four wheel drive |
F | Two door convertible with two wheel drive |
F | Two door convertible with two wheel drive |
G | Long wheelbase sedan with two wheel drive |
H | Crossover with four wheel drive, two door with two wheel drive (LFA and RC F) or four wheel drive (RC 350 AWD) |
J | 4x4 crossover |
K | Hatchback four door with two wheel drive |
S | Two door with four wheel drive |
Y | Wagon with five doors and two wheel drive |
Z | Crossover with two wheel drive |
For Lexus cars built before 1996, this indicates the vehicle model. For Lexus cars built from 1996 and on, this indicates the engine model. Each character in the engine name represents a specific feature. For example, engines with a “G” have a high performance cylinder head.
1996-2009
Code | Engine |
---|---|
A | 3MZ-FE |
B | 2GR-FXE and 4JM |
C | 2GR-FSE and 1KM |
C | 2GR-FXE, 4JM and 2FM |
D | 2JZ-GE |
E | 2GR-FSE |
F | 1MZ-FE |
H | 1UZ-FE or 3GR-FSE |
J | 1FZ-FE |
K | 4GR-FSE or 2GR-FE |
1 | 3UZ-FE |
1 | 1UR-FSE |
N | 3UZ-FE |
P | 2UR-GSE |
T | 2UZ-FE |
U | 2UR-FSE |
W | 3MZ-FE, 1JM and 2FM |
Y | 3UR-FE |
2009 and later
Code | Engine |
---|---|
A | 1AR-FE and 8AR-FTS |
B | 2GR-FXE and 2JM |
C | 2GR-FXE |
D | 2ZR-FXE and 3JM |
E | 2GR-FSE |
F | 4GR -FSE |
F | 2GR-FXS |
G | 2GR-FXS |
J | 2AR-FXE |
K | 2GR-FE |
L | 1UR-FSE |
M | 1UR-FE or 2GR-FSE |
N | 3UZ-FE |
P | 2UR-GSE |
S | 2GR-FSE |
S | 2GR-FXE and 1KM |
U | 2UR-FSE and 1KM |
V | 1VD-FTV |
W | 2AR-FXE |
X | 1LR-GUE |
Y | 3UR-FE |
Z | 2GR-FKS |
On Lexus cars built up until 2008, this represents the trim level options. On Lexus cars built from 2009 and on, this indicates safety equipment:
Code | Equipment |
---|---|
1 | Seat curtain airbags |
2 | Knee airbags |
5 | Side curtains and knee airbags |
7 | Side airbags for first and second row, side curtain airbags |
8 | Side airbags and driver’s knee airbag |
M | Side airbags for first and second row, side curtains, driver’s knee airbag, front passenger inflatable cushion |
R | Side airbags for first and second row, side curtains for first and second row, driver’s knee airbag, front passenger inflatable cushion |
This digit identifies equipment options in Lexus cars built up to 1996. From 1996 and on, it identifies safety and security equipment.
On Lexus cars built before 1996, it identifies the body style: “C” for coupes and “E” or “T” for sedans. On newer Lexus cars, it identifies the model.
This is a VIN check digit, which is used to verify the number's authenticity.
This is the model year. It alternates between letters and numbers. 1-9 were used from 2001 to 2009, while other model years use letters.
Code | Country | Code | Country | Code | Country | Code | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | 1986 | T | 1996 | 6 | 2006 | G | 2016 |
H | 1987 | V | 1997 | 7 | 2007 | H | 2017 |
J | 1988 | W | 1998 | 8 | 2008 | J | 2018 |
K | 1989 | X | 1999 | 9 | 2009 | K | 2019 |
L | 1990 | Y | 2000 | A | 2010 | L | 2020 |
M | 1991 | 1 | 2001 | B | 2011 | M | 2021 |
N | 1992 | 2 | 2002 | C | 2012 | N | 2022 |
P | 1993 | 3 | 2003 | D | 2013 | P | 2023 |
R | 1994 | 4 | 2004 | E | 2014 | R | 2024 |
S | 1995 | 5 | 2005 | F | 2015 | S | 2025 |
This is the manufacturing plant:
0-9 - Japan
“A” - Motomachi, Japan
“C” - Cambridge (Canada)
These digits represent the vehicle’s serial number. Lexus does not standardize their serial numbers. Even if two cars left the factory the same day, which are the same model, year and equipment level, they won’t have sequential serial numbers.
Here are a few examples of Lexus VINs, and some of the information you get when you decode them.
Want to know more? Order a vehicle historyreport with us.
Locations vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, there are three places you can find the code on most vehicles:
- Look through the windshield at the dashboard. On the driver’s side, you should see a small metal plate with the number stamped into it.
- Open the driver’s door. Look at the front and side of the door pillar for an I.D. sticker. It usually has the manufacturer’s logo on it. The code should be on this sticker.
- Open the hood. You may see a sticker on the firewall or near the passenger’s side strut tower. Some cars have the number engraved in one of these areas.
Since this number is used to identify the vehicle on official documents, you can also find it on the title, the window sticker, and on insurance policies.
We also decode numbers for RVs, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. If you need to decode an RV number, make sure it’s the one issued by the chassis manufacturer, not the RV outfitter.
No. Canadian and Mexican cars usually use the same format. Other countries use their own formats.
It’s up to the manufacturer to determine what they want to include for some parts of the number. For example, some companies don’t include information about transmissions or trim levels.
Usually, no. A few manufacturers stamp the code into the engine. If the VINs on the engine and car match, then it’s the original engine. On most vehicles, there isn’t anything that ties an engine to a specific vehicle. At most, looking up the vehicle on our website will tell you if a different type of engine was installed. For example, if someone swaps a V8 into a Ford Mustang, our site will tell you it originally came with a V6.
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