Free Tesla VIN Decoder
Tesla VIN Decoder & Lookup Tool
A Tesla 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 Tesla decoder is free with no account, and pairs every decode with verified buyer transaction prices for the same Tesla, so you see both what the vehicle is and what people actually paid for it.
Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Last updated 2026-09-20
Try a sample: 5YJ3E1EA3JF012345Sample 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range built at Fremont, California.
Enter a VIN to Decode
Want more than a decode?
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
Tesla window sticker: Tesla does not publish original window stickers publicly. See your Tesla sticker options →
About Tesla
Tesla was founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, with Elon Musk joining the board in 2004. Tesla is one of the few automakers that has never built a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. Tesla VINs starting with 5YJ are Fremont-built; 7SA prefixes mean Gigafactory Texas (Cybertruck and Model Y); LRW means Shanghai. Position 4 of a Tesla VIN identifies model: S = Model S, 3 = Model 3, X = Model X, Y = Model Y, C = Cybertruck.
CarWhere has 1 verified Tesla buyer transactions with an average selling price of $32,316 and average discount of 18.9% off MSRP. Use the VIN decoder above to identify the exact Tesla configuration, then compare it against real transaction prices.
What a Tesla VIN Tells You
Every Tesla VIN encodes 13 distinct vehicle attributes. Our decoder surfaces the ones that matter most for identifying, valuing, and researching a specific Tesla:
Year
Model year — encoded in character 10 of the VIN
Model & Trim
Specific Tesla 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 Tesla was assembled
Country
Country of origin — derived from the WMI prefix
How a Tesla VIN Is Structured
All modern Tesla 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 Tesla, the WMI is typically 5YJ, 7SA, LRW. 5YJ identifies Tesla vehicles built at Fremont, California (Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y). 7SA identifies Gigafactory Texas (Model Y, Cybertruck). LRW identifies Tesla Shanghai (Model 3, Model Y for Asia-Pacific markets).
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Encodes the Tesla 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 Tesla models.
Check Digit
A mathematical checksum derived from the other 16 characters. If a Tesla 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 Tesla: L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026.
Plant Code
Identifies the specific Tesla assembly plant. Tesla operates plants in Fremont, California, Austin, Texas (Gigafactory Texas), Shanghai, China (Gigafactory 3).
Sequential Production Number
The unique six-character serial number for that specific Tesla unit. Two Tesla vehicles with the same year, model, trim, and plant will differ only in this final segment.
Tesla WMI Codes (VIN Prefixes)
The first three characters of a Tesla VIN — the World Manufacturer Identifier — tell you which Tesla operation built the vehicle and where. These are the WMI codes you'll encounter on U.S.-market Tesla vehicles:
| VIN Prefix | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 5YJ | Tesla — passenger-car code (Model S and Model 3; earlier Model X and Model Y builds also used it) |
| 7SA | Tesla — MPV code for the Model X and Model Y, per Tesla's NHTSA filing; used on both Fremont and Austin builds |
| 7G2 | Tesla — truck code (Cybertruck) |
| LRW / XP7 | Tesla — Gigafactory Shanghai and Berlin codes seen on export-market cars; not filed in the U.S. NHTSA registry |
Tesla VIN Decoding Notes
The prefix encodes vehicle type — position 11 encodes the factory
Tesla's WMI codes split by vehicle type, not plant: 5YJ for passenger cars, 7SA for the Model X and Model Y, 7G2 for the Cybertruck. The factory is a separate character — per Tesla's VIN decoder card filed with NHTSA, position 11 reads F for Fremont, California and A for Austin, Texas. A Model Y from either factory carries the same 7SA prefix.
The VIN does not spell out battery size or range
A Tesla VIN identifies the model line, body and restraint attributes, and plant — battery capacity and EPA range are not among the attributes Tesla encodes. Two VINs can look nearly identical while one is a Long Range and the other a software-limited variant. Confirm battery and range from the vehicle's software screen or original delivery documents, not the VIN alone.
The Model Y has been a two-factory car since 2022
The Model Y has been produced at both Fremont, California and Gigafactory Texas since Austin deliveries began in April 2022. Both are U.S.-built vehicles with the same specifications for the same trim — position 11 of the VIN (F or A) is what tells them apart.
Popular Tesla Models
The most common Tesla models by U.S. sales volume. Click any model to see verified buyer transactions and current pricing on CarWhere.
Where Tesla Vehicles Are Built
The 11th character of a Tesla VIN identifies the assembly plant. Tesla operates the following facilities that supply U.S.-market vehicles:
- •Fremont, California
- •Austin, Texas (Gigafactory Texas)
- •Shanghai, China (Gigafactory 3)
- •Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany (Gigafactory 4)
How to Decode a Tesla VIN
Find the VIN on your Tesla
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 Tesla
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 Tesla model page.
Tesla VIN year chart (10th character)
The 10th character of every Tesla 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 Tesla 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 Tesla source
Tesla is direct-to-consumer; the original order configuration lives in the owner's Tesla account. Tesla account →
Tesla VIN Decoder FAQ
What does a Tesla VIN decoder tell you?
A Tesla VIN decoder reveals the model year, model name, trim level, engine type and displacement, transmission, drive type, body style, and assembly plant of any Tesla 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 Tesla VIN start with?
Tesla VINs typically start with 5YJ, 7SA, LRW. 5YJ identifies Tesla vehicles built at Fremont, California (Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y). 7SA identifies Gigafactory Texas (Model Y, Cybertruck). LRW identifies Tesla Shanghai (Model 3, Model Y for Asia-Pacific markets).
Where is the VIN on a Tesla?
The easiest place to find the VIN on a Tesla 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 Tesla VIN?
Every Tesla VIN from model year 1981 onward is exactly 17 characters — the ISO 3779 standard — and never contains the letters I, O, or Q to avoid confusion with the digits 1, 0, and 9. Vehicles built before 1981 used shorter, manufacturer-specific serial formats, so a shorter number on a pre-1981 Tesla can be legitimate. On a 1981-or-newer Tesla, anything other than 17 characters is a partial reference or a transcription error.
Is the Tesla VIN decoder really free?
Yes. CarWhere's Tesla 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 Tesla is filed against. We additionally cross-reference the decoded year, make, and model against verified buyer transactions in our deal database.
Where are Tesla vehicles built?
Tesla operates manufacturing facilities in Fremont, California, Austin, Texas (Gigafactory Texas), Shanghai, China (Gigafactory 3), Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany (Gigafactory 4). Note that not every facility does final vehicle assembly — some build engines or components that ship to an assembly plant. The 11th character of a Tesla VIN identifies the final-assembly plant, while the first three characters (the World Manufacturer Identifier) identify the manufacturer and country.
Can I check Tesla recalls by VIN?
Yes, in two steps. Decoding a Tesla VIN here surfaces the recall campaigns filed against that year, make, and model — which tells you what campaigns affect the model, not whether this specific vehicle's repair is still outstanding. To confirm whether a specific VIN has an unrepaired open recall, enter the full VIN at the official NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls; Tesla also operates an owner portal where owners can view recall status and schedule free repairs at any authorized Tesla dealer.
Does a Tesla 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 Tesla, 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.
Why does my Tesla VIN start with 7SA instead of 5YJ?
7SA is the World Manufacturer Identifier Tesla registered for its MPV-class vehicles — the Model X and Model Y — while 5YJ is its passenger-car code used on the Model S and Model 3 (and earlier X/Y builds). The prefix reflects vehicle type, not factory: both Fremont-built and Austin-built Model Ys carry 7SA, and position 11 of the VIN (F or A) identifies the plant.
Does a Tesla VIN show battery size or range?
No. The 17-character VIN encodes the model, body attributes, and plant, but battery capacity and range are not part of what Tesla encodes. To verify whether a used Tesla is a Long Range, Performance, or software-limited variant, check the vehicle's software screen (Controls → Software) or the original order/delivery paperwork.
How do I tell which factory built my Tesla?
Check the 11th character: per Tesla's NHTSA VIN filing, F means Fremont, California and A means Gigafactory Texas in Austin. Export-market Teslas from Shanghai or Berlin carry LRW or XP7 prefixes — codes that don't appear in U.S. NHTSA filings, so U.S.-market cars are essentially always 5YJ, 7SA, or 7G2.
VIN Decoders for Other Makes
Decoded a Tesla VIN? See what buyers paid.
CarWhere has verified buyer transactions for Tesla vehicles nationwide — real prices from real deal sheets, not dealer ads or algorithm estimates.