Can-Am VIN Decoder
Decode any Can-Am VIN free in seconds. Enter the identification number from your Can-Am Spyder, Ryker, Outlander, Maverick, Defender, or Commander into the decoder above and get the model, model year, engine, plant of origin, and recall status instantly, with no sign-up and no credit card.
This page is the Can-Am VIN hub. Below you’ll find Can-Am’s WMI codes, how VIN and identification numbers differ between the road-legal Spyder/Ryker three-wheelers and the off-road ATV/side-by-side lineup, where to find the number on each type of machine, and how to check for open recalls.
About Can-Am
Can-Am is the powersports brand of BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products), a Canadian manufacturer headquartered in Valcourt, Quebec. The name has been used twice on very different products, which is the single biggest source of VIN confusion for owners.
The original Can-Am was a motocross and enduro motorcycle brand launched by Bombardier in 1972, built with Rotax engines and raced successfully through the 1970s. Production of those off-road motorcycles ended in 1987 as Japanese manufacturers came to dominate the segment. In 2003, Bombardier Inc. spun off its recreational products division into an independent company, BRP, owned by a group that included Bain Capital, the Bombardier-Beaudoin family, and the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec. In 2006, BRP revived the Can-Am name for a new lineup of ATVs, followed in 2007 by the three-wheeled Spyder roadster and later the Ryker. If you’re decoding a vintage 1970s or 1980s Can-Am dirt bike, it predates the 17-character VIN standard and is not covered by this page; if you’re decoding a modern Outlander, Maverick, Defender, Spyder, or Ryker, you’re in the right place.
Today Can-Am’s lineup splits into two distinct product families that are identified differently: the road-legal Spyder and Ryker three-wheelers, which are classified as motorcycles/autocycles and carry a standard 17-character VIN, and the off-road-only ATVs and side-by-sides (Outlander, Renegade, Maverick, Defender, Commander), which are not street-legal vehicles under federal law and are identified and recalled through a different regulatory path.
Can-Am WMI codes (positions 1-3)
The first three characters of a Can-Am identification number are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), assigned by SAE International. According to NHTSA’s vPIC database, BRP holds the following WMIs:
| WMI | Registered to | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2BX | Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. | Canada | Motorcycle (Spyder, Ryker) |
| 2BV | Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. | Canada | Motorcycle (Spyder, Ryker) |
| 2BW | Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. | (unassigned in registry) | Off-Road Vehicle (ATV, side-by-side) |
| 3JB | BRP Mexico, S.A. de C.V. | Mexico | Motorcycle |
| 3JC | BRP Queretaro, S.A. de C.V. | Mexico | Motorcycle |
Spyder final assembly takes place at BRP’s home plant in Valcourt, Quebec, which lines up with the Canada-registered 2BX and 2BV codes. The Ryker is built at BRP’s Juarez, Mexico facilities, which is consistent with the Mexico-registered 3JB and 3JC codes. If your Spyder or Ryker VIN doesn’t start with one of the codes above, decode it with the tool at the top of this page to check further before assuming it’s a rebadge or a typo.
Spyder and Ryker: standard 17-character VINs
Because the Spyder and Ryker are street-legal, on-road vehicles classified by NHTSA as motorcycles (specifically as “unenclosed three-wheeled or open autocycle” under body class, with a reverse-trike chassis), they are built to the same ISO 3779 17-character VIN standard used by cars and motorcycles, and they fall under NHTSA’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The VIN splits into the same three blocks as a car VIN: the WMI at positions 1-3, a Vehicle Descriptor Section at positions 4-9 (model, engine, series), a check digit at position 9 within that block, and a Vehicle Identifier Section at positions 10-17 that includes the model year code and serial number. NHTSA’s own vehicle database confirms real-world example VINs such as a 2019 Spyder RT beginning 2BXNBDD20KV, which decodes to a 1330cc three-cylinder Rotax ACE engine built at a Canadian BRP plant.
ATVs and side-by-sides: a different identification path
Outlander, Renegade, Maverick, Defender, and Commander models are off-highway vehicles, not intended or approved for public road use, so they are not regulated as motor vehicles under FMVSS the way the Spyder and Ryker are. NHTSA’s vPIC registry does still list a WMI for this category (2BW, “Off-Road Vehicle”), and most modern Can-Am ATVs and side-by-sides carry a 17-character identification number stamped on the frame that follows the same general SAE/ISO character format. The important practical difference is regulatory, not the character count: because these are not on-road vehicles, their safety oversight and recalls run through the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) rather than through NHTSA. Always confirm the number stamped on your specific machine against your title, registration, or owner’s manual rather than assuming it behaves identically to a car or motorcycle VIN for decoding purposes.
Where to find the identification number on a Can-Am
Because Can-Am spans road-legal roadsters and off-road machines with no windshield, door jamb, or dashboard, the number isn’t in the same spot on every model.
Spyder and Ryker (road-legal three-wheelers):
– Stamped on the frame near the steering head, similar to a motorcycle
– Also found on the right-side main frame rail on some models
– Printed on the title, registration, and insurance documents
Outlander, Renegade (ATVs):
– Stamped on the frame or front differential on the passenger side, between the front wheels
– On some model years, also printed on a label under the seat
Maverick, Defender, Commander (side-by-sides):
– 2019 and earlier: label under the glove box
– 2020 and newer: label inside the passenger-side front wheel well
– Also stamped directly into the frame rail near the front of the chassis
If a label is damaged, faded, or missing, the frame stamp is the fallback source for every model, and your dealer can also pull the number from BRP’s records using your purchase paperwork.
Check Can-Am recalls and safety information
Where you check for a recall depends on which type of Can-Am you own, because two different federal agencies oversee the two product families.
- Decode the VIN or identification number with the tool above to confirm the model and model year
- For Spyder and Ryker (road-legal motorcycles), search by VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup or BRP’s own safety recalls page
- For ATVs and side-by-sides (Outlander, Maverick, Defender, Commander), these are off-road recreational products, so recalls are issued jointly by BRP and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Contact an authorized Can-Am dealer with your identification number to confirm whether a specific open action applies to your unit
Recent verified examples include a 2023 NHTSA campaign covering 2020-2023 Spyder RT and 2022-2023 Ryker models for a brake light defect, and CPSC-issued recalls covering fuel hose assemblies on 2023 Commander, Defender, and Maverick side-by-sides and a speed limiter malfunction on 2025-2026 Outlander Pro models. Recalls are repaired free of charge regardless of ownership history.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode my Can-Am VIN?
Type the identification number from your Spyder, Ryker, Outlander, Maverick, Defender, or Commander into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include model, model year, engine, and plant of origin where available. No registration is required.
Is a Can-Am ATV VIN the same as a car VIN?
Not entirely. Both use a similar 17-character format, but ATVs and side-by-sides are off-highway vehicles that are not regulated under the same federal motor vehicle safety standards as road-going cars and motorcycles. The Spyder and Ryker, by contrast, are road-legal and do follow the standard on-road VIN framework, including NHTSA recall coverage.
Why do some Can-Am VINs start differently than others?
The first three characters identify the assembly plant and country. Spyder and Ryker models built in Valcourt, Quebec typically start with 2BX or 2BV; models from BRP’s Mexico plants typically start with 3JB or 3JC. ATVs and side-by-sides are registered under a separate off-road WMI.
Is the vintage 1970s-80s Can-Am motorcycle the same brand as today’s Can-Am?
They share a name and a parent company lineage but are not the same product line. The original Can-Am motorcycle brand ran from 1972 to 1987 under Bombardier. BRP revived the name for ATVs in 2006 and the Spyder in 2007, decades after the original motorcycles stopped production. A vintage Can-Am dirt bike VIN or frame number will not decode against modern Can-Am records.
Is the Can-Am VIN decoder free?
Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes Can-Am identification numbers free of charge with no sign-up or credit card. Full vehicle history reports, including ownership records and accident history, are available as an optional paid upgrade.
Can a Can-Am VIN be faked?
The characters can be retyped, but on Spyder and Ryker models the check digit within the VIN makes silent tampering difficult to pull off cleanly: change one character and the math stops working. If you suspect a cloned or altered VIN on any Can-Am, our guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the next steps.
Decode any Can-Am VIN free
Type your Can-Am’s identification number into the decoder at the top of this page and get a full breakdown instantly. To learn more about VIN structure in general, see our guides: