Lexus VIN Decoder

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Lexus VIN Check: What is a Lexus VIN?

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.

List of Lexus Models

Lexus VIN Number Lookup

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.

Where to Search for the VIN?

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.

Where to find VIN on a vehicle?
🟡 Basic Report Cost: Free
🟡 Lexus VIN Database: 8.1M+
🟡 Car-on-Sale Photos: Up to 100
🟡 Full Report: Extensive History

Comprehensive VIN Decoder Guide

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.

VIN Decode Guide

Digit 1

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.

Digit 2

This is the manufacturer: which is “T” for Toyota.

Digit 3

This is the brand division: which is “H” for Lexus.

Digit 4

For Lexus cars built before 1996, the following digits represent the car models:

CodeModel
FLS400
KES300
SGS300
VES250
ZSC300 and 400

For Lexus cars built between 1996 and 2008 the following digits indicate the frame construction and drive type:

CodeDrive type
BFour door, two wheel drive sedan or crossover with four wheel drive
CTwo door, two wheel drive coupe or four door four wheel drive vehicle
DLong wheelbase four door with four wheel drive
EFive door wagon with two wheel drive
FTwo door convertible with two wheel drive
GCrossover with two wheel drive or long wheelbase sedan with two wheel drive
HCrossover with four wheel drive
ZCrossover 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:

CodeBody Style
BFour door, two wheel drive sedan or crossover with four wheel drive (GX 460 base or NX luxury)
CFour door, four wheel drive
DLong wheelbase four door with four wheel drive
FTwo door convertible with two wheel drive
FTwo door convertible with two wheel drive
GLong wheelbase sedan with two wheel drive
HCrossover with four wheel drive, two door with two wheel drive (LFA and RC F) or four wheel drive (RC 350 AWD)
J4x4 crossover
KHatchback four door with two wheel drive
STwo door with four wheel drive
YWagon with five doors and two wheel drive
ZCrossover with two wheel drive

Digit 5

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

CodeEngine
A3MZ-FE
B2GR-FXE and 4JM
C2GR-FSE and 1KM
C2GR-FXE, 4JM and 2FM
D2JZ-GE
E2GR-FSE
F1MZ-FE
H1UZ-FE or 3GR-FSE
J1FZ-FE
K4GR-FSE or 2GR-FE
13UZ-FE
11UR-FSE
N3UZ-FE
P2UR-GSE
T2UZ-FE
U2UR-FSE
W3MZ-FE, 1JM and 2FM
Y3UR-FE

2009 and later

CodeEngine
A1AR-FE and 8AR-FTS
B2GR-FXE and 2JM
C2GR-FXE
D2ZR-FXE and 3JM
E2GR-FSE
F4GR -FSE
F2GR-FXS
G2GR-FXS
J2AR-FXE
K2GR-FE
L1UR-FSE
M1UR-FE or 2GR-FSE
N3UZ-FE
P2UR-GSE
S2GR-FSE
S2GR-FXE and 1KM
U2UR-FSE and 1KM
V1VD-FTV
W2AR-FXE
X1LR-GUE
Y3UR-FE
Z2GR-FKS

Digit 6

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:

CodeEquipment
1Seat curtain airbags
2Knee airbags
5Side curtains and knee airbags
7Side airbags for first and second row, side curtain airbags
8Side airbags and driver’s knee airbag
MSide airbags for first and second row, side curtains, driver’s knee airbag, front passenger inflatable cushion
RSide airbags for first and second row, side curtains for first and second row, driver’s knee airbag, front passenger inflatable cushion

Digit 7

This digit identifies equipment options in Lexus cars built up to 1996. From 1996 and on, it identifies safety and security equipment.

Digit 8

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.

Digit 9

This is a VIN check digit, which is used to verify the number's authenticity.

Digit 10

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.

CodeCountryCodeCountryCodeCountryCodeCountry
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

Digit 11

This is the manufacturing plant:

0-9 - Japan

“A” - Motomachi, Japan

“C” - Cambridge (Canada)

Digits 12-17

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.

Lexus VIN Samples

Here are a few examples of Lexus VINs, and some of the information you get when you decode them.

  • JTJYARBZ2H2051612: 2017 Lexus NX made in Japan with an 8AR-FTS 2.0l turbo
  • JTHFN45YX99020748: 2009 Lexus SC made in Japan with a 3UZ-FE V8
  • JTHBK1EG4A2360729: 2010 Lexus ES made in Japan with a 2GR-FE 3.5l V6

Want to know more? Order a vehicle historyreport with us.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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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