Australian VIN decoder: manufacturer, year and model data by VIN
Free. Paste a VIN to see what the 17 characters encode and whether the Register of Approved Vehicles holds a record for it.
How to read the 17 characters
| Positions | Name | What it encodes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | Manufacturer and country. 6 = Australia, J = Japan, K = Korea, W = Germany, M = Thailand/India, L = China, 1/4/5 = USA. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle attributes: model, body, engine, restraint system. Manufacturer-specific. |
| 9 | Check digit | Computed from the other 16 characters. Compulsory in North America, optional elsewhere. |
| 10 | Model year | A = 2010 … Y = 2030; 1–9 = 2001–2009 and 2031–2039. Not all manufacturers use it. |
| 11 | Plant | Assembly plant code. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number. |
Make-by-make notes
Toyota VIN decoder
Common WMI: JT… (Japan), 6T1 (Australia)
Australian-built Camrys and Aurions used 6T1. Position 10 is the model year on Australian-delivered cars; Japanese-built models use it too.
Ford VIN decoder
Common WMI: 6FP (Australia), WF0 (Europe), MNA (Thailand)
Falcons and Territories carry 6FP. Rangers built in Thailand carry MNA or MNB and are common on the Australian market.
Holden VIN decoder
Common WMI: 6G1 (Australia), KL1 (Korea), W0L (Germany)
Commodores built at Elizabeth used 6G1; Cruze and Captiva were KL1; Astras were W0L (Opel).
Mazda VIN decoder
Common WMI: JM0 (Japan, Australian market), JM7
JM0 is used for Australian-delivered Mazdas. BT-50 utes built in Thailand carry MM7 or MP2.
Hyundai / Kia VIN decoder
Common WMI: KMH, KNA, KNE
Korean-built. Position 10 is the model year; position 11 the plant.
BMW VIN decoder
Common WMI: WBA (cars), WBS (M cars), WBY (i models)
BMW does not use a check digit outside North America, so a failed check digit is normal.
Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder
Common WMI: WDB, WDC, WDD, W1K
European VINs; model year is not encoded in position 10 on most Mercedes, so rely on the build plate.
Volkswagen / Audi VIN decoder
Common WMI: WVW, WVG, WAU
Position 10 carries the model year on most European VW Group vehicles delivered to Australia.
Mitsubishi VIN decoder
Common WMI: JMF, JMY (Japan), MMT, MMC (Thailand)
Tritons and Pajero Sports are Thai-built with MMT or MMC prefixes.
Nissan VIN decoder
Common WMI: JN1, JN8 (Japan), MNT (Thailand), VSK (Spain)
Navaras from Thailand carry MNT; X-Trails and Qashqais may carry JN1 or SJN (UK).
Subaru VIN decoder
Common WMI: JF1, JF2
Japanese-built; model year in position 10 on Australian-delivered cars.
Tesla VIN decoder
Common WMI: 5YJ (USA), LRW (China)
Model 3 and Model Y sold in Australia are mostly Shanghai-built with LRW prefixes.
Need finance, stolen and write-off records too? That is the PPSR, $2 at ppsr.gov.au by VIN, or decoded and guaranteed in our VIN check.
Questions people ask
What does an Australian VIN decoder show?
The manufacturer and country from the first three characters, the model-year code in position ten, the plant code, and for vehicles first supplied from about 2021, build date and approval details from the Register of Approved Vehicles.
Do Australian VINs have a check digit?
Not always. The ISO check digit is compulsory in North America and optional elsewhere. Australian-built Toyotas and Holdens generally used one; many European and Japanese VINs do not.
Can a VIN decoder show finance owing or write-offs?
No. Those records are on the PPSR, which charges $2 a search by VIN. Our paid check runs that search and decodes the result.
Can I decode a VIN from a rego number?
Only Victoria prints the full VIN on its free rego check. Elsewhere you need the rego papers, the compliance plate, or a plate-to-VIN lookup like the one in our paid check.
Why is the decoded model blank?
Public decoders know manufacturers at WMI level but not every model code, especially for Australian-market variants. The PPSR certificate and the RAV carry the make and model the registers hold.