Decode Your VIN
Enter your vehicle's VIN code to discover all technical specifications. The VIN consists of 17 alphanumeric characters.
Tesla Model 3 VIN Decoder
Decode any Tesla Model 3 VIN free in seconds. Type the 17-character vehicle identification number into the decoder above and pull the build era, model year, factory of origin, motor and drivetrain configuration, and open NHTSA recalls, including any that were resolved with an over-the-air software update instead of a service visit.
This page is the dedicated Model 3 hub. Below you’ll find the two build eras the Model 3 has gone through, the WMI codes specific to Model 3 production, a position-by-position breakdown including the drive-unit codes at position 8, the plants that actually build a Model 3 (not every Tesla plant does), trim levels by configuration, and where to find the VIN on the car itself.
About the Tesla Model 3
The Model 3 launched in July 2017 as Tesla’s first genuinely mass-market car, the model that pushed the company into best-seller territory worldwide. Unlike a legacy automaker, Tesla doesn’t organize the Model 3 into numbered “generations” tied to a new chassis every few years. Instead there have been two build eras, separated by one major mid-cycle overhaul:
| Era | Years | What changed | Built at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 2017-2023 | Launch design: bumper with the “underbite” front fascia, halogen-adjacent LED headlights, physical stalks, smaller center touchscreen | Fremont, CA (2017+); Gigafactory Shanghai (Dec 2019+) |
| Highland refresh | 2023-present | Near-total redesign: new front and rear fascias, slimmer headlights and taillights, reworked interior with ambient lighting and a rear touchscreen, revised suspension and sound insulation. Tesla says more than half the parts changed | Gigafactory Shanghai (Sept 2023+, export markets); Fremont, CA (Jan 2024+, North America) |
The Highland name is Tesla’s internal codename, not an official trim; you won’t see it on a window sticker. As of this writing there’s no officially confirmed successor refresh, so Highland remains the current Model 3.
Tesla Model 3 WMI codes (positions 1-3)
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), assigned by SAE on behalf of ISO. Combined with the “3” that always sits at position 4 for this model, these are the prefixes you’ll see on a genuine Model 3:
| WMI | Position 4 | Combined prefix | Plant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5YJ | 3 | 5YJ3 | Fremont, California |
| LRW | 3 | LRW3 | Gigafactory Shanghai, China |
5YJ is registered directly in NHTSA’s vPIC WMI database under “TESLA, INC.” for passenger cars. LRW is Tesla’s registered Shanghai WMI, confirmed by real Shanghai-built VINs and export records, though as an export-market code it won’t return a hit through NHTSA’s own WMI lookup, which only indexes manufacturers registered to sell in the US. Neither 7SA (Austin) nor XP7 (Berlin) shows up on a Model 3, because neither plant builds one: Austin builds Model Y, Cybertruck, and Cybercab, and Berlin builds Model Y exclusively. A VIN claiming to be a Model 3 that starts with 7SA or XP7 is worth a second look.
How to decode a Tesla Model 3 VIN, position by position
Positions 1-3: World Manufacturer Identifier
See the table above. Position 1 identifies the country where the specific car was assembled, not Tesla’s headquarters in Austin. A Model 3 with an “L” at position 1 was built in Shanghai; that doesn’t mean it was sold in China, since Shanghai is Tesla’s largest export hub.
Positions 4-7: model, body, restraint, fuel
Position 4 is always 3 on a Model 3. Position 5 reads E, for a four-door sedan; the Model 3 has never come in another body style. Position 6 reads 1, Tesla’s restraint-system code for the Model S/Model 3 seatbelt and airbag configuration. Position 7 reads E for electric, the same as every other Tesla.
Position 8: motor and drive unit
This is where a Model 3 VIN gets specific, and it’s the one VDS character that has actually changed value over the car’s life. Tesla’s own NHTSA-filed VIN decoder documents for model years 2023 and 2025 show the drive-unit code for the top Performance trim was reassigned during the Highland transition:
| Position 8 | Configuration | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| A | Single Motor RWD, Standard or Performance | 2017-present |
| B | Dual Motor AWD, Standard (Long Range) | 2017-present |
| C | Dual Motor AWD, Performance | 2017-2023 |
| T | Dual Motor AWD, Performance | 2024-present |
Real-world VINs confirm the switch: a 2023 Performance car (5YJ3E1EC5PF632768) carries a C, while a 2024 Performance car (5YJ3E1ET0RF845565) carries a T, both checksum-valid and both decoding cleanly through NHTSA’s vPIC lookup as Model 3, Dual Motor.
Position 9: check digit
The check digit is calculated from the other 16 characters using a fixed weighting table and modulo-11 math defined in 49 CFR 565.15. Mistype any character in a Model 3 VIN and the math stops working; NHTSA’s decoder, every state DMV, and any compliant lookup tool will flag it.
Position 10: model year
Tesla uses the same 30-year model-year cycle as every other manufacturer on the road:
| Char | Year | Char | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | 2024 | F | 2015 |
| S | 2025 | E | 2014 |
| T | 2026 | D | 2013 |
| V | 2027 | C | 2012 |
| W | 2028 | B | 2011 |
| X | 2029 | A | 2010 |
| Y | 2030 | 9 | 2009 |
| 1 | 2031 | 8 | 2008 |
| 2 | 2032 | 7 | 2007 |
| 3 | 2033 | 6 | 2006 |
The letters I, O, and Q are never used, since they’re too easily confused with 1 and 0. The first Model 3s use H (2017); no Model 3 VIN predates that character.
Position 11: assembly plant
| Char | Plant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| F | Fremont, California | Original and current North American Model 3 plant |
| C | Shanghai, China | Producing Model 3 since December 2019 |
Tesla also uses A for Austin and B for Berlin on other models, but neither character appears on a genuine Model 3 VIN, since neither plant has built one.
Positions 12-17: serial number
The final six characters are the production sequence number for that specific car. Because Tesla regularly publishes cumulative production milestones, enthusiasts often use the serial to estimate roughly where in a model year’s build run a given VIN falls.
Model 3 trim levels and how they appear in the VIN
The VIN doesn’t spell out a trim name, but position 8 gets you most of the way there:
- 2017-2019: Long Range RWD (launch trim), Mid Range RWD (brief), Standard Range Plus, Long Range AWD, Performance
- 2019-2023: Standard Range Plus, Long Range AWD, Performance
- Highland, 2024-present: RWD, Long Range AWD, Performance AWD
- 2025-present: Standard (a lower-cost RWD trim) alongside RWD, Long Range AWD, and Performance
Position 8 narrows a decode to single-motor versus dual-motor, and since Highland it also distinguishes the two Performance eras by whether it reads C or T. Paint, wheels, and interior package come from Tesla’s build sheet, not the VIN.
Where to find the VIN on a Tesla Model 3
- Lower-left corner of the windshield, visible from outside the car
- Driver’s side door jamb sticker
- Tesla mobile app, under vehicle details
- Vehicle title, registration, and the Tesla account portal at tesla.com
The windshield and app are the fastest way to confirm a VIN before a test drive or a purchase; the door jamb sticker is the one to check physically if you suspect a mismatch.
Tesla Model 3 recalls and safety
Tesla resolves an unusually high share of Model 3 recalls with an over-the-air software push rather than a service center appointment, and NHTSA now flags OTA-remedied campaigns separately on its own listings. Notable Model 3-specific recalls include:
- Tire pressure monitoring light (2017-2025 Model 3, ~694,000 vehicles): the TPMS light could fail to stay illuminated between drive cycles. Fixed via OTA, early 2025.
- Autosteer misuse (2017-2023 Model 3): software tightened driver-attention monitoring during Autosteer use. Fixed via OTA, December 2023.
- Hood latch (2021-2024 Model 3, part of a 1.85-million-vehicle campaign): the hood could fail to register as unlatched and open while driving. Fixed via OTA driver alert, mid-2024.
- Power steering assist loss (certain 2023 Model 3): a circuit board could overstress after accelerating from a stop, briefly losing power steering assist. The fix, software 2023.38.4, had already gone out via OTA in October 2023 before NHTSA formally opened the recall in 2025.
- Muted pedestrian warning sound (2018-2022 Model 3): the required alert sound could play too quietly. Fixed via OTA.
To check your specific car:
- Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the exact model year and build era
- Enter the VIN into Tesla’s official VIN Recall Search (service.tesla.com) or NHTSA’s recall database
- Review whether the fix is software-only or requires a service center visit, and schedule an appointment if needed
Recall repairs, software or physical, are always free regardless of the car’s age or ownership history.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode my Tesla Model 3 VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN from the windshield, door jamb, or Tesla app into the decoder at the top of this page. Results include build era (original or Highland), model year, plant, motor and drivetrain configuration, and any open NHTSA recalls. No sign-up required.
Where is the VIN on a Model 3?
The lower-left corner of the windshield (readable from outside the car) and the driver-side door jamb sticker are the two physical locations. The Tesla app shows the same number under your vehicle’s details without needing to walk out to the car.
What’s the difference between a pre-Highland and a Highland Model 3 VIN?
The VIN structure itself is nearly identical; the giveaway is position 10, the model-year character. Any Model 3 with model year 2024 or later (VIN character R onward) built at Fremont, or 2023-2024 built at Shanghai, is a Highland car. Position 8 also shifted for the Performance trim, from C to T, starting with the 2024 model year.
What does a VIN starting with LRW3 mean?
LRW is Tesla’s registered WMI for Gigafactory Shanghai, and the 3 at position 4 confirms it’s a Model 3. The car was built in China, Tesla’s largest Model 3 export hub, but that doesn’t tell you where it was sold; Shanghai-built cars go to markets across Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Is the Tesla Model 3 VIN decoder free?
Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every Model 3 VIN free of charge with no sign-up or credit card required. A full vehicle history report, covering accident records, odometer history, and prior ownership, is available as an optional paid upgrade.
Can a Tesla Model 3 VIN be faked?
The 17 characters can be retyped onto a fraudulent plate, but the check digit at position 9 catches nearly every single-character alteration through math alone. If you suspect a cloned or altered VIN, the guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the next steps.
Decode any Tesla Model 3 VIN free
Type your 17-character Model 3 VIN into the decoder at the top of this page for an instant breakdown. To go deeper into VIN structure or check other Tesla models:
- Tesla VIN decoder hub for the brand-wide guide
- How to read a VIN number for the general standard
- What every character in a VIN means for a position-by-position reference
- Classic car VIN decoder (pre-1981) for pre-standardization vehicles
- VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report for what a decode covers vs. what it doesn’t
