Tesla VIN decoder

What the decoder shows for a Tesla

The decoder sends the VIN to NHTSA’s free vPIC service and shows what Tesla reported for it: model year, model, body, the electrification level (a battery electric vehicle), fuel type, transmission style, the plant city and state, airbag locations and weight class. It then lists the recalls NHTSA has on file for that year and model. What it can’t tell you is the car’s past: title brands, crash and insurance total-loss records, or odometer readings. Those come from a history report; see pricing, or the general VIN decoder for any make.

Tesla manufacturer codes (WMI)

The first character names the region where the maker is registered, and vPIC lists 5YJ, 7SA and 7G2 under the United States. In Tesla’s 2026 filing, 5YJ covers the Model S, Model 3 and Cybercab, 7SA the Model X and Model Y, and 7G2 the Cybertruck and Semi.

How Tesla fills positions 4 to 8 and 11

Tesla files a decoding sheet with NHTSA for each model year, and it assigns one meaning to each position, which makes its VINs easier to read by eye than most:

• Position 4, model: S, X, 3 and Y for those models, A for Cybercab; under 7G2, C is Cybertruck and T is Semi.
• Position 5, body and weight class: for example E for a four-door sedan and G for a class D MPV with five doors.
• Position 6, restraints: a code for the belt and airbag set, which differs between five- and seven-seat Model Y layouts.
• Position 7, fuel: E, electric.
• Position 8, motor: for the Model 3, A is single motor, B dual motor and T dual motor performance; for the Model Y, D is single motor and E dual motor. The Model S and Model X use 5 (dual) and 6 (tri motor). Cybertruck codes C, D and E stand for one, two and three motors.
• Position 11, plant: F is Fremont, California and A is Austin, Texas; the Semi’s sheet adds N for Reno, Nevada.

So on a used Tesla, position 8 is the quick way to check that a car sold as dual motor really left the factory that way.

Tesla checks worth making

Position 10 is the model year: Tesla’s sheets use T for 2026 and V for 2027, the same letters every maker uses (see VIN year codes). Model year and delivery date can differ, so read the year from the VIN rather than from the registration alone.

The recall list on the decoder is for the model, not your exact car. To see whether a specific car has an open recall, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall search.

Before you buy a used Tesla

• Check that the VIN you can read through the windshield, the one on the door label and the one on the title are identical.
• Compare position 8 with the motor configuration in the listing, and position 4 with the model.
• Run a history report for title brands such as salvage or rebuilt. See salvage title check.
• Compare the odometer with the history report’s readings (odometer rollback check).
• Look the VIN up at NHTSA for recalls that haven’t been repaired.

Our own Smart VIN Check report, with NMVTIS title records for the VIN, is $15.99.