Tesla VINs start with 5YJ (Fremont, California), 7SA (newer Model Y, for example from Austin) or 7G2 (Cybertruck).
Specs are free. The Tesla's history is the part that costs money — $5.99 of it.
Accident records, title brands, odometer readings, service history and open recalls for this VIN.
Get the full report — $5.99Tesla VIN decoder: reading the code yourself
Tesla VINs are short work: the fourth character names the model, the seventh confirms an electric drive, the eighth the motor setup and the eleventh the factory. What a VIN can't tell you on a Tesla matters more than on most cars — the battery's health and which software features came with it.
| Position | What Tesla encodes there |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (table below). |
| 4 | Model: 3 Model 3, S Model S, X Model X, Y Model Y, C Cybertruck. |
| 5–6 | Body type and restraint system. |
| 7 | Fuel type: E for electric on every example checked. |
| 8 | Motor configuration (single motor, dual motor, performance). |
| 9 | Check digit. |
| 10 | Model year (table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant (table below). |
| 12–17 | Production serial. |
Tesla WMI codes (positions 1–3)
| Code | Meaning | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 5YJ | Tesla, Inc., Fremont, California | Model S, Model 3, Model X, early Model Y |
| 7SA | Tesla, Inc., SUVs (newer code) | Model Y, for example from Austin, Texas |
| 7G2 | Tesla, Inc., trucks | Cybertruck |
Tesla assembly plant codes (position 11)
| Code | Plant | Builds |
|---|---|---|
| F | Fremont, California | Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y |
| A | Austin, Texas | Model Y, Cybertruck |
Each example above was checked against NHTSA's database with a sample VIN.
Model-year letters (position 10)
Every maker uses the same tenth-character code. 2001–2009 are the digits 1–9; from 2010 the alphabet starts again at A, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z so nothing is mistaken for a digit. The same letters were used for 1980–2000, which is why a VIN's seventh character matters: a letter there means the vehicle is 2010 or newer, a digit means 2009 or older.
| 1 2001 | 2 2002 | 3 2003 | 4 2004 | 5 2005 |
| 6 2006 | 7 2007 | 8 2008 | 9 2009 | A 2010 |
| B 2011 | C 2012 | D 2013 | E 2014 | F 2015 |
| G 2016 | H 2017 | J 2018 | K 2019 | L 2020 |
| M 2021 | N 2022 | P 2023 | R 2024 | S 2025 |
| T 2026 | V 2027 | W 2028 | X 2029 | Y 2030 |
Tesla trouble spots to check before you buy
Years are approximate.
- Battery health: ask for the range at a 100% charge or a battery health test; on an electric car it says more than the odometer.
- Model S and Model X, about 2012–2018: the media control unit's memory chip wears out and the screen fails; recalled in 2021. Confirm the repair or upgrade was done.
- Software features: Full Self-Driving and other paid upgrades are not part of the VIN and may not transfer as you expect; check what the car actually has.
- Salvage titles: Tesla has limited Supercharger access and warranty coverage on salvage-titled cars, so the title history matters even more than usual.
- Cybertruck: recalled in 2024 for an accelerator pedal pad that could come loose and in 2025 for an exterior trim panel.
- Over-the-air recalls: many Tesla recalls are software updates. The free recall check above lists the campaigns for the model and year; nhtsa.gov/recalls confirms this VIN's status.
A VIN-first checklist for buying a used Tesla
- Decode the VIN and confirm the model, year and plant match the listing.
- Run the history report for accidents, title brands (salvage matters a lot here) and the service trail.
- Ask for a battery health reading and look at the Software screen for Autopilot and Full Self-Driving.
- Match the VIN on the windshield, the door-pillar label and the title.
What a Tesla VIN decode can't tell you
Everything above was fixed on the day the vehicle was built, which is exactly why it is reliable and exactly why it is incomplete. A collision, a flood title issued in another state, a rolled-back odometer or a skipped timing-chain service all happen later, so none of them touch the VIN. They live in the vehicle history report: accident and damage records, title brands, the odometer timeline, open recalls, service entries and ownership changes. Decode here for free as often as you like; buy history only for the Tesla you are serious about. Dealers and flippers who check every car can bring that to $1.30 a report.
Guides that go with this decoder
- Is a salvage-title car worth buying? — and why it matters more on an electric car.
- What the 17 digits in a VIN mean — the full position-by-position breakdown.
- Signs of a rolled-back odometer — what a decode can't catch and a report can.
- Is a salvage-title car worth buying? — every brand, and what it does to value.
- Dealer auction VIN checks — the pre-bid routine volume buyers use.
- Other makes: any VIN · Ford · Chevrolet · GMC · Toyota · Honda · Nissan · Hyundai · Kia · Subaru · Mazda · Jeep · Dodge and Ram · Tesla · BMW · Mercedes-Benz · Audi · Volkswagen · Lexus · Land Rover · Porsche · window sticker lookup
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode a Tesla VIN?
Enter the 17-character VIN above. The decoder returns model, model year, body and assembly plant from the official NHTSA vPIC database. The first three characters show the maker: 5YJ for cars built in Fremont, California, 7SA for newer Model Y SUVs and 7G2 for the Cybertruck.
Which character in a Tesla VIN is the model?
The fourth: 3 is the Model 3, S the Model S, X the Model X, Y the Model Y and C the Cybertruck. The eighth character describes the motor configuration, such as single or dual motor.
Which plant built my Tesla?
The eleventh character. F is Fremont, California and A is Austin, Texas (Model Y and Cybertruck). Teslas built in Shanghai or Berlin for other markets use manufacturer codes that NHTSA's database does not decode.
Does the VIN show whether a Tesla has Full Self-Driving?
No. Autopilot features, Full Self-Driving and other paid upgrades are software tied to the car's account, not to the VIN. Tesla has removed paid features from some used cars sold by third parties, so check the car's Software screen, or have the seller show it in the Tesla app, before you pay for them.
What should I check on a used Tesla's battery?
Mileage says less than you'd think. Ask for the estimated range at a 100% charge or a battery health test, and compare it with the original rated range. The history report shows accidents, title brands and service visits.
Does a VIN decode show if a Tesla has been in an accident?
No. A decode returns factory build data only. Accidents, branded titles, odometer readings, service records and open recalls appear in the full vehicle history report, $5.99 for a single VIN.