Tesla VIN Decoder
Decode any Tesla VIN free in seconds. Enter the 17-character vehicle identification number from your Tesla into the decoder above and get the model, model year, factory of origin, motor and drivetrain configuration, trim, and recall status instantly, with no sign-up and no credit card.
This page is the Tesla VIN hub. Below you’ll find Tesla-specific WMI codes, the brand’s Gigafactory plant codes, a position-by-position guide to reading a Tesla VIN, where to find the VIN on your Tesla, and how to check recall and over-the-air software update status.
About Tesla
Tesla was founded in July 2003 in San Carlos, California, by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who named the company after physicist and inventor Nikola Tesla. Elon Musk joined in 2004 as chairman and lead investor, contributing $6.5 million in an early funding round; he became CEO in 2008 after Eberhard departed. Tesla’s first production car, the Roadster, launched in 2008, followed by the Model S sedan in 2012, the Model X SUV in 2015, the Model 3 sedan in 2017, the Model Y crossover in 2020, and the Cybertruck in 2023.
Tesla builds vehicles at four factories worldwide, each with its own VIN signature. The Fremont, California factory (Tesla’s original plant, acquired from the NUMMI joint venture in 2010) currently builds the Model 3 and Model Y; it stopped producing the Model S and Model X in mid-2026 as Tesla began converting part of the site to Optimus robot production. Gigafactory Texas in Austin (opened 2022) builds the Model Y, Cybertruck, and Cybercab. Gigafactory Shanghai (opened 2019) builds the Model 3 and Model Y and is Tesla’s largest export hub. Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, Germany (opened 2022) builds the Model Y exclusively for European markets.
Tesla WMI codes (positions 1–3)
The first three characters of your VIN, the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), tell you who built the vehicle and where. The WMI is assigned by SAE International on behalf of ISO. Here are the WMIs you’ll encounter on Tesla vehicles:
| WMI | Country of build | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|
| 5YJ | USA | Tesla passenger car: Fremont, CA (Model S, 3, X, Y, historically) |
| 7SA | USA | Tesla multipurpose passenger vehicle: Gigafactory Texas, Austin |
| LRW | China | Tesla (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.: Gigafactory Shanghai |
| XP7 | Germany | Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg |
5YJ and 7SA are both registered directly in NHTSA’s official vPIC WMI database under “TESLA, INC.” LRW and XP7 are the WMIs Tesla registered for its Shanghai and Berlin plants; they’re documented in SAE’s international WMI records and consistently confirmed across VIN databases and real-world Giga Berlin and Giga Shanghai build sheets, even though, as export-market codes, they don’t always surface in a direct NHTSA vPIC WMI lookup. If your Tesla VIN begins with any of the codes above, it’s a genuine Tesla. A Tesla VIN starting with an unlisted WMI may indicate a data-entry error or a fraudulent VIN. Decode the full VIN with the tool above to confirm.
How to read a Tesla VIN: position by position
Every Tesla VIN uses the ISO 3779 17-character standard, the same format required on every road-going car sold since 1981. The 17 characters split into three blocks:
| Block | Positions | What it encodes |
|---|---|---|
| World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 1 – 3 | Country and manufacturer |
| Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) | 4 – 8 | Model, body, drivetrain, restraints |
| Check digit | 9 | Math-validated control character |
| Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) | 10 – 17 | Model year, plant, serial |
Here is what each position means specifically on a Tesla:
Positions 1–3: World Manufacturer Identifier
See the WMI table above. The country code at position 1 tells you which Gigafactory assembled the vehicle, not where Tesla is headquartered (Austin, Texas). A Tesla with a Chinese or German WMI was built for a specific regional market, though Shanghai-built cars are also exported globally.
Positions 4–8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Tesla’s VDS is unusually legible once you know the pattern, since Tesla has almost no internal-combustion trim hierarchy to encode. Position 4 identifies the model line: S for Model S, 3 for Model 3, X for Model X, Y for Model Y, and C for Cybertruck. Position 5 encodes body style and trim family, and position 6 encodes the restraint system (seatbelt and airbag configuration, required on every VIN by federal safety standard). Position 7 typically reflects battery pack type, and position 8 is the motor/drive-unit code: on NHTSA’s official Model 3 and Model Y decode tables, single-motor Standard/Performance, dual-motor Standard, and dual-motor Performance builds each get their own distinct character.
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 Tesla VIN is mistyped, the check digit will not match, and any compliant decoder, DMV, or insurance system will flag the VIN as invalid.
Position 10: Model year
The 10th character maps to a model year on a 30-year cycle. Skim the chart below to translate yours:
| 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 in any VIN, including Tesla, because they look too similar to the digits 1 and 0.
Position 11: Assembly plant
The single character at position 11 identifies the specific Gigafactory. Tesla plant codes: F (Fremont, CA), A (Austin, TX, Gigafactory Texas), B (Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany), C (Shanghai, China).
Positions 12–17: Serial number
The final six characters are the production sequence number assigned to your specific Tesla as it rolled off the line. Combined with the previous 11 characters, this makes every Tesla VIN globally unique. Since Tesla publicizes cumulative production milestones, VIN serials are often used by enthusiasts to estimate roughly when in a model’s production run a given car was built.
Where to find the VIN on a Tesla
You can find your Tesla VIN in several places. The lower-left windshield and the mobile app are the fastest to check; the others are useful when confirming a VIN before a purchase or insurance quote.
- Lower-left corner of the windshield, visible from outside
- Driver’s side door jamb sticker
- Tesla mobile app, under vehicle details
- Vehicle title, registration, and the Tesla account portal at tesla.com
Check Tesla recalls and safety information
Tesla recalls work a little differently from most automakers. Many Tesla recalls, from Autosteer misuse alerts to TPMS calibration and battery-contactor software fixes, are remedied entirely through an over-the-air (OTA) software update pushed directly to the car, with no service center visit required. NHTSA now flags these on its own recall listings with a “Software Update Repairs Recall” indicator, distinguishing them from recalls that require a physical repair.
The fastest way to check a specific Tesla:
- Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the model and model year
- Enter the VIN into Tesla’s official VIN Recall Search (service.tesla.com) or NHTSA’s VIN recall lookup
- Review any open safety actions (note whether the fix is a software update or a service-center repair) and contact your nearest Tesla Service Center if a physical inspection is needed
Recalls are repaired free of charge by the manufacturer regardless of vehicle age or ownership history, whether the remedy is a software push or an in-person repair.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode my Tesla VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN from your Tesla’s windshield, driver-side door jamb, or the Tesla app into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include make, model, model year, body style, motor/drivetrain configuration, plant of origin, and open NHTSA recalls. No registration is required.
Where is the VIN on my Tesla?
The two easiest spots are the lower-left corner of the windshield (visible from outside the car) and the driver-side door jamb sticker. You can also find it in the Tesla mobile app under your vehicle’s details without walking out to the car.
Is the Tesla VIN decoder free?
Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every Tesla VIN free of charge with no sign-up or credit card. Full vehicle history reports, including ownership records, accident history, and odometer history, are available as an optional paid upgrade.
What does the VIN tell me about my Tesla?
A VIN decode confirms the original factory configuration of your Tesla: model, model year, body style, motor and drivetrain type, restraint system, country and Gigafactory of origin, and any recall actions issued against that VIN. It does not record paint color, current mileage, accident history, or ownership chain. For those, you need a paid vehicle history report.
Does a Tesla recall always mean a trip to the service center?
No. Unlike most automakers, Tesla frequently resolves recalls with an over-the-air software update sent directly to the car, no appointment needed. NHTSA now labels OTA-remedied recalls separately from ones that require an in-person repair, so it’s worth checking which type applies to your VIN before assuming you need a service visit.
Can a Tesla VIN be faked?
The 17 characters themselves can be retyped, but the check digit at position 9 makes silent tampering nearly impossible: any single-character change breaks the math. If you suspect a cloned or altered VIN, our guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the next steps.
Decode any Tesla VIN free
Type your 17-character Tesla 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:
