Free Lexus VIN Decoder
Lexus VIN Decoder & Lookup Tool
A Lexus VIN decoder translates the 17-character VIN into the vehicle's factory identity — year, model, trim, engine, transmission, drivetrain, body style, and assembly plant — using the official NHTSA vPIC database. CarWhere's Lexus decoder is free with no account, and pairs every decode with verified buyer transaction prices for the same Lexus, so you see both what the vehicle is and what people actually paid for it.
Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Last updated 2026-06-11
Try a sample: JTHCK262765012345Sample 2006 Lexus IS 250 built in Tahara, Japan.
Enter a VIN to Decode
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The $9.99 Full VIN Report adds the original window sticker (where available), itemized factory options, open NHTSA recalls, a market price check from verified buyers, and a negotiation target. See a sample · Get the report
Lexus window sticker: Lexus does not publish original window stickers publicly. See your Lexus sticker options →
About Lexus
Lexus is the luxury division of Toyota, launched in 1989 with the LS 400. Lexus is consistently ranked among the top brands for reliability and customer satisfaction in J.D. Power studies. Lexus VINs begin with JTH or JTJ for Japan-built vehicles — the vast majority — and 2T2 for Canada-built RX models. The eleventh character of a Lexus VIN identifies plant: D = Tahara, S = Susono, F = Cambridge.
CarWhere has 68 verified Lexus buyer transactions with an average selling price of $63,684 and average discount of 3% off MSRP. Use the VIN decoder above to identify the exact Lexus configuration, then compare it against real transaction prices.
What a Lexus VIN Tells You
Every Lexus VIN encodes 13 distinct vehicle attributes. Our decoder surfaces the ones that matter most for identifying, valuing, and researching a specific Lexus:
Year
Model year — encoded in character 10 of the VIN
Model & Trim
Specific Lexus model line and trim level
Engine
Displacement, cylinder count, and fuel type
Transmission
Automatic, manual, CVT, or DCT — and gear count
Drive Type
AWD, FWD, RWD, or 4WD configuration
Body Style
Sedan, SUV, truck, hatchback, coupe, convertible
Plant
Where this specific Lexus was assembled
Country
Country of origin — derived from the WMI prefix
How a Lexus VIN Is Structured
All modern Lexus VINs follow ISO 3779 — the international 17-character VIN standard adopted in 1981. The 17 characters break into four fixed sections:
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
For Lexus, the WMI is typically JTH, JTJ, 2T2. Lexus shares Toyota WMI conventions. JTH and JTJ identify Lexus vehicles built in Japan (primarily Tahara and Kyushu plants). 2T2 identifies Cambridge, Ontario builds — the RX-series Lexus.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Encodes the Lexus model line, body style, restraint system, and engine. Position 8 specifically identifies the engine — the most ambiguous character because the same digit can mean different engines on different Lexus models.
Check Digit
A mathematical checksum derived from the other 16 characters. If a Lexus VIN doesn't pass the check-digit test, it's either a typo or a forgery.
Model Year
A single character encoding the model year. Examples on a Lexus: L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026.
Plant Code
Identifies the specific Lexus assembly plant. Lexus operates plants in Tahara, Japan, Kyushu, Japan (Miyata, Miyawaka), Cambridge, Ontario (RX, NX hybrid).
Sequential Production Number
The unique six-character serial number for that specific Lexus unit. Two Lexus vehicles with the same year, model, trim, and plant will differ only in this final segment.
Popular Lexus Models
The most common Lexus models by U.S. sales volume. Click any model to see verified buyer transactions and current pricing on CarWhere.
Where Lexus Vehicles Are Built
The 11th character of a Lexus VIN identifies the assembly plant. Lexus operates the following facilities that supply U.S.-market vehicles:
- •Tahara, Japan
- •Kyushu, Japan (Miyata, Miyawaka)
- •Cambridge, Ontario (RX, NX hybrid)
How to Decode a Lexus VIN
Find the VIN on your Lexus
Locate the 17-character VIN on the lower driver's-side corner of the windshield, the driver's door jamb, your registration, or your insurance card.
Enter the VIN
Type or paste the 17-character VIN into the decoder above. We strip spaces and dashes automatically and convert lowercase letters to uppercase. The tool rejects VINs containing I, O, or Q.
Decode instantly
Click "Decode VIN." Our server queries the NHTSA vPIC database and returns the full vehicle specification in under a second.
See what buyers paid for the same Lexus
If we have verified buyer transactions for the decoded year/make/model, we surface the average selling price, average discount off MSRP, and total verified deal count — and link you to the full Lexus model page.
Lexus VIN year chart (10th character)
The 10th character of every Lexus VIN encodes the model year under the federal VIN standard. Letters I, O, Q, U, and Z are never used; the cycle repeats every 30 years (so "A" means 2010 on modern vehicles, 1980 on classics).
Sources and limitations
CarWhere's Lexus VIN decoder uses NHTSA vPIC, the U.S. government VIN-decoding platform built from manufacturer-submitted vehicle data (model years 1981 and newer). Recall status for a specific VIN can be confirmed at the official NHTSA recall lookup. Decode results may be limited for non-US-market vehicles, gray-market imports, or VIN patterns with incomplete manufacturer submissions. A VIN decode does not show accident, title, lien, mileage, or theft history.
Official Lexus source
Official per-VIN records; ask any Lexus dealer to print the original window sticker from the internal system. Lexus Drivers site →
Lexus VIN Decoder FAQ
What does a Lexus VIN decoder tell you?
A Lexus VIN decoder reveals the model year, model name, trim level, engine type and displacement, transmission, drive type, body style, and assembly plant of any Lexus vehicle. It uses NHTSA vPIC, the public VIN-decoding platform built from manufacturer-submitted data (model year 1981-forward); decode fields vary by model year and manufacturer submission. It does not show accident or ownership history.
What does a Lexus VIN start with?
Lexus VINs typically start with JTH, JTJ, 2T2. Lexus shares Toyota WMI conventions. JTH and JTJ identify Lexus vehicles built in Japan (primarily Tahara and Kyushu plants). 2T2 identifies Cambridge, Ontario builds — the RX-series Lexus.
Where is the VIN on a Lexus?
The easiest place to find the VIN on a Lexus is the lower corner of the windshield on the driver's side dashboard, visible from outside the vehicle. It's also printed on the driver's door jamb sticker, the vehicle title, the registration card, and the insurance card. On older models the VIN may be stamped on the engine block or firewall.
How many characters is a Lexus VIN?
Every Lexus VIN is exactly 17 characters — a mix of letters and numbers. Like all modern VINs, Lexus VINs never contain the letters I, O, or Q to avoid confusion with the digits 1, 0, and 9. A Lexus VIN with fewer or more than 17 characters is either a partial reference or an error.
Is the Lexus VIN decoder really free?
Yes. CarWhere's Lexus VIN decoder is completely free with no signup, account, or credit card required. We use the NHTSA vPIC API — the official U.S. government VIN database that every U.S.-market Lexus is filed against. We additionally cross-reference the decoded year, make, and model against verified buyer transactions in our deal database.
Where are Lexus vehicles built?
Lexus operates assembly plants in Tahara, Japan, Kyushu, Japan (Miyata, Miyawaka), Cambridge, Ontario (RX, NX hybrid). The 11th character of a Lexus VIN identifies the specific plant of manufacture, while the first three characters (the World Manufacturer Identifier) identify the country.
Can I check Lexus recalls by VIN?
Yes — once you decode a Lexus VIN here, you can cross-reference open recalls at the official NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Lexus also operates an owner portal where logged-in owners can view recall status and schedule free repairs at any authorized Lexus dealer.
Does a Lexus VIN reveal accident history?
No. A VIN decode reveals factory specifications only — make, model, trim, engine, plant. To check accident history, salvage titles, or odometer rollback on a Lexus, you need a vehicle history report from Carfax or AutoCheck, both of which use the VIN as the lookup key but pull from insurance and DMV records.
VIN Decoders for Other Makes
Decoded a Lexus VIN? See what buyers paid.
CarWhere has verified buyer transactions for Lexus vehicles nationwide — real prices from real deal sheets, not dealer ads or algorithm estimates.