Peterbilt VIN Decoder

Decode any Peterbilt VIN free in seconds. Enter the 17-character vehicle identification number from your truck into the decoder above and get the model, model year, chassis configuration, GVWR class, engine, assembly plant, and recall status instantly, with no sign-up and no credit card.

This page is the Peterbilt VIN hub: Peterbilt-specific WMI codes, the brand’s assembly plant locations, a position-by-position guide to reading a Peterbilt VIN, where to find the VIN on the truck itself, and how to check recalls for the 389, 579, 567, and other current models.

About Peterbilt

Peterbilt Motors Company was founded in 1939 by T.A. Peterman in Tacoma, Washington, after Peterman bought the surplus truck-manufacturing assets of the Fageol Motors Company. Pacific Car and Foundry Company, later renamed PACCAR, acquired Peterbilt in 1958. PACCAR also owns Kenworth (acquired 1945) and the Dutch manufacturer DAF (acquired 1996), both covered elsewhere on this site. Peterbilt and Kenworth are often called “sister” brands: they share PACCAR engineering, powertrains, and platforms under the hood, but keep separate dealer networks and distinct styling identities. Peterbilt built its name on owner-operator and premium Class 8 trucks, best known today through the 379 (out of production but still common on the road), the 389, and the 579.

Peterbilt’s manufacturing footprint has shifted over the decades. The original Tacoma operation moved to Oakland, then to a new plant in Newark, California, in 1960. A second US plant opened in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1969. Peterbilt consolidated primary production at a new plant in Denton, Texas, starting in 1980; Newark closed in 1986 and Nashville closed in 2009. Denton is Peterbilt’s current headquarters and main assembly plant. PACCAR also builds Peterbilts in Sainte-Therese, Quebec, and Mexicali, Mexico, though the Quebec plant has seen significant production cuts since late 2024 as PACCAR shifts more build volume to its US plants.

Peterbilt WMI codes (positions 1-3)

The first three characters of your VIN, the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), identify the manufacturer, country, and vehicle type. Here are the WMIs assigned to Peterbilt Motors Company, per NHTSA’s vPIC database:

If your VIN begins with any of the codes above, it’s a genuine Peterbilt. An “incomplete vehicle” WMI (1NP, 2NP, or 3BP) means the truck left the factory as a cab and chassis, finished later by a second-stage manufacturer, common for vocational trucks built for dump, mixer, fire, or utility applications.

How to read a Peterbilt VIN: position by position

Every Peterbilt VIN built since the modern 17-character standard took effect follows ISO 3779. The 17 characters split into three blocks:

Here is what each block means specifically on a Peterbilt.

Positions 4-8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

Like other heavy-truck builders, Peterbilt uses this five-character block to encode the chassis and axle configuration, the model series (379, 389, 567, 579, 520, and the medium-duty 220), cab style (day cab, flat-top or high-roof sleeper), GVWR class, and the powertrain and brake system fitted at the factory. Peterbilt trucks are built around the PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines as well as Cummins options depending on model and vintage, so this block is what distinguishes two trucks that look identical on the outside but are speced very differently underneath.

Position 9: Check digit

The check digit is the most important single character in any VIN. It is calculated from the other 16 characters using a fixed weighting table and modulo-11 math. If even one character of a Peterbilt VIN is mistyped, the check digit will not match, and any compliant decoder, DMV, or fleet-management system will flag the VIN as invalid.

Position 10: Model year

The 10th character maps to a model year on a repeating cycle used across the North American VIN standard, including Peterbilt. Skim the chart below to translate yours:

The letters I, O, and Q are never used in any VIN, including Peterbilt, because they look too similar to the digits 1 and 0.

Position 11: Assembly plant

The single character at position 11 identifies the specific factory that built the truck. Current Peterbilt production runs through Denton, Texas (the main plant since 1980), with additional volume built in Sainte-Therese, Quebec, and Mexicali, Mexico. Older trucks may carry a code for the discontinued Newark, California, or Nashville, Tennessee, plants. Peterbilt does not publish a plain-language plant-code table, so use the decoder above to confirm a specific VIN’s plant of origin rather than guessing from the character alone.

Positions 12-17: Serial number

The final six characters are the production sequence number assigned to your truck as it rolled off the line, making every Peterbilt VIN globally unique.

Where to find the VIN on a Peterbilt

Peterbilt trucks are heavy commercial vehicles, and federal VIN-placement rules treat them differently from cars. Under 49 CFR 565.15, the windshield-visibility requirement applies only to vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less. Every Peterbilt Class 6 through Class 8 truck is built well above that threshold, so there’s no windshield VIN plate to look for. Instead, look here:

• The certification/compliance label on the driver’s side door frame or hinge pillar, visible when the door is open. It lists the VIN, GVWR, GAWR, and date of manufacture
• The VIN stamped into the top flange of the left frame rail, typically over or near the front axle
• The vehicle’s title, registration, and dealer service records

For trucks built before the modern 17-character VIN standard, use our classic car VIN decoder guide; Peterbilt’s own history stretches back to 1939, well before the current format existed.

Check Peterbilt recalls and safety information

Peterbilt recalls, like all US motor vehicle recalls, are tracked by NHTSA. Because Peterbilt trucks operate as commercial motor vehicles, fleet owners should also know FMCSA’s separate role in roadside inspection and maintenance compliance. The fastest way to check a specific Peterbilt:

1. Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the model, model year, and GVWR class
2. Look it up on Peterbilt’s official recalls page or NHTSA’s recall database; NHTSA holds recall authority, while FMCSA governs how carriers maintain and inspect vehicles in service
3. Contact your nearest Peterbilt dealer for the free recall repair

Recalls are repaired free of charge regardless of vehicle age, mileage, or ownership history.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode my Peterbilt VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from your Peterbilt’s door-frame certification label, frame rail stamp, or title into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include model, model year, chassis configuration, GVWR class, engine, assembly plant, and open recalls. No registration is required.

Where is the VIN on my Peterbilt?

Unlike a car, a Peterbilt’s VIN isn’t required to be visible through the windshield; that rule only applies under 10,000 lbs GVWR. Check the certification label on the driver’s door frame or hinge pillar, and the VIN stamped into the left frame rail near the front axle.

Is the Peterbilt VIN decoder free?

Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every Peterbilt VIN free, with no sign-up or credit card. Full vehicle history reports, including title records, accident history, and odometer history, are available as an optional paid upgrade.

What does the VIN tell me about my Peterbilt?

A VIN decode confirms the original factory configuration: model (379, 389, 567, 579, 520, 220, and others), chassis and axle configuration, GVWR class, engine and brake type, model year, assembly plant, and any recall actions issued against that VIN. It does not record current mileage, accident history, or ownership chain. For those, you need a paid vehicle history report.

What’s the difference between 1XP and 1NP in a Peterbilt VIN?

Both are WMI codes assigned to Peterbilt Motors Company for US-built trucks. 1XP marks a complete vehicle certified at the factory. 1NP marks an incomplete vehicle, a cab and chassis shipped to a second-stage manufacturer to be finished before it’s road-legal. Canadian- and Mexican-built Peterbilts use the equivalent codes 2XP/2NP and 3WP/3BP.

Is Peterbilt the same company as Kenworth?

No, but they’re closely related. Both are owned by PACCAR and share engines, transmissions, and much of their underlying engineering, which is why people call them “sister” brands. Each keeps its own dealer network, badge, and styling, and each has its own VIN codes; Kenworth is decoded on a separate page on this site.

Can a Peterbilt VIN be faked?

The 17 characters can be retyped, but the check digit at position 9 makes silent tampering nearly impossible: one changed character breaks the math. The VIN is also independently stamped into the frame rail, so a cloned door label won’t match the frame. If you suspect a cloned VIN, our guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the next steps.

Decode any Peterbilt VIN free

Type your 17-character Peterbilt VIN 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:

• How to read a VIN number
• What every character in a VIN means
• Classic car VIN decoder (pre-1981)
• VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report