In this article 8 sections
A Toyota VIN follows the federal 17-character format. The first three characters show which Toyota company built it and where (for example 4T1 Kentucky, 5TD Indiana, JTD Japan, per NHTSA vPIC), position 10 is the model year (T = 2026, V = 2027) and position 11 is the plant.
Plant codes in Toyota’s 2026-2027 NHTSA filings include U Georgetown, Kentucky; S Indiana; X Texas; P Mississippi; W Woodstock and C Cambridge, Ontario; and Japanese plants such as Tsutsumi (3), Tahara (5) and Takaoka (J).
Paste any 17-character VIN into the NextCarReview VIN decoder to see the year, make, model, engine and plant data that NHTSA’s vPIC database holds for it.
WMIs come from NHTSA vPIC endpoints GetWMIsForManufacturer/toyota and DecodeWMI; plant codes and position meanings come from Toyota’s Part 565 VIN filings retrieved through the vPIC GetParts (type 565) endpoint. Only what those sources return is listed. NextCarReview does not sell vehicle history reports and does not rank paid report services; see our sourcing policy.
This is general information. Decoded details come from manufacturer submissions to NHTSA; always confirm a specific vehicle with its title, the manufacturer or a dealer.
Toyota builds vehicles for the US in Kentucky, Indiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Canada, Mexico and Japan, and the VIN tells you which. This guide decodes a Toyota (and Lexus) VIN position by position using the data Toyota itself files with NHTSA. To decode a specific vehicle in seconds, use our free VIN decoder; for the general rules behind every VIN, see the how-to-read guide in the series box.
What Do the Positions in a Toyota VIN Mean?
| Positions | Toyota’s label in its NHTSA filings | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier) | Geographic area, country, manufacturer and vehicle type |
| 4-8 | VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section) | Body type, engine information, restraint system, drive, series and line |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated per 49 CFR 565.15 |
| 10 | Model year | T = 2026, V = 2027 |
| 11 | Plant of manufacture | Assembly plant code |
| 12-17 | Sequential production number | Unit’s serial number |
Toyota’s filing for the 2026 Camry shows how the VDS works. Two VDS codes are listed: DAACK for the two-wheel-drive Camry (80 series) and DBADK for the four-wheel-drive Camry (85 series), both a four-door sedan with the A25A-FXS 2.5-liter gasoline hybrid engine; the WMI is 4T1 and the plant code is U, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (Toyota 26MY Camry filing).
Which WMI Codes Does Toyota Use?
NHTSA’s vPIC GetWMIsForManufacturer endpoint returned 34 WMIs for "toyota" in October 2026; the make for each comes from vPIC’s DecodeWMI endpoint. Those used on cars, SUVs and trucks:
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country (vPIC) | Type | Make(s) (vPIC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4T1 | TMM Kentucky | USA | Passenger car | Toyota |
| 4T3 | TMM Kentucky | USA | MPV | Toyota |
| 4T4 | TMM Northern Kentucky | USA | Passenger car | Toyota |
| 58A | TMM Kentucky | USA | Passenger car | Lexus |
| 5TB | TMM Indiana | USA | Truck | Toyota |
| 5TD | TMM Indiana | USA | MPV | Toyota, Lexus |
| 5TE | TMM California | USA | Truck | Toyota |
| 5TF | TMM Texas | USA | Truck | Toyota |
| 5YF | TMM Mississippi | USA | Passenger car | Toyota |
| 7MM / 7MU | Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, USA | USA | MPV | Toyota (7MM also Mazda) |
| 7SV | TMM Texas | USA | MPV | Toyota |
| 2T1 / 2T3 | TMM Canada | Canada | Car / MPV | Toyota |
| 2T2 | TMM Canada | Canada | MPV | Lexus |
| 3TM | TMM de Baja California | Mexico | Truck | Toyota |
| 3TY | TMM de Guanajuato | Mexico | Truck | Toyota |
| JTD, JTK, JTN, JT2, JT5 | Toyota Motor Corp. (JTK: TMNA) | Japan | Passenger car | Toyota |
| JTE, JTL, JTM, JT3 | Toyota Motor Corp. | Japan | MPV | Toyota (JTE/JTM also others) |
| JT4 | Toyota Motor Corp. | Japan | Truck | Toyota |
| JTH, JT8 | Toyota Motor Corp. | Japan | Passenger car | Lexus |
| JTJ, JT6 | Toyota Motor Corp. | Japan | MPV | Lexus |
What Are Toyota’s Plant Codes (Position 11)?
These plant codes appear in Toyota’s 2026 and 2027 model-year VIN filings retrieved through vPIC. They are listed with the models whose filings show them; a code applies within Toyota’s coding for that model, so always confirm with a decoder.
| Code | Plant (as written in Toyota’s filing) | Example models in the filings |
|---|---|---|
| U | Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (Georgetown, Kentucky) | 2026 Camry, 2026 RAV4 |
| W | TMM Canada, Woodstock Plant (Woodstock, Ontario) | 2026 RAV4 |
| C | TMM Canada, Cambridge Plant (Cambridge, Ontario) | 2026 RAV4 |
| J | Toyota Motor Corporation, Takaoka Plant (Toyota, Aichi, Japan) | 2026 C-HR, 2026 RAV4 |
| S | Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana | 2026 Sienna, 2026 Highlander |
| X | Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas | 2026 Tundra |
| P | Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi (Blue Springs, Mississippi) | 2027 Corolla |
| V | Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, USA (Madison, Alabama) | 2026 Corolla Cross |
| T / M | TMM de Guanajuato (T); TMM de Baja California (M) | 2026 Tacoma |
| 3 | Toyota Motor Corporation, Tsutsumi Plant (Japan) | 2027 Corolla (Japan-built) |
| A | Toyota Motor Corporation, Motomachi Plant (Japan) | 2026 GR Corolla, 2026 Mirai |
| 5 | Toyota Motor Corporation, Tahara Plant (Japan) | 2026 Lexus GX, 2026 4Runner, 2027 Land Cruiser (whose filing also lists K, Toyota Motor Hamura) |
How Do You Read the Model Year on a Toyota?
Position 10 follows the federal table in 49 CFR 565.15. Toyota’s filings list T for the 2026 model year and V for 2027 (49 CFR 565). Recent codes:
| Position 10 code | Model year |
|---|---|
| K | 2019 |
| L | 2020 |
| M | 2021 |
| N | 2022 |
| P | 2023 |
| R | 2024 |
| S | 2025 |
| T | 2026 |
| V | 2027 |
| W | 2028 |
| X | 2029 |
| Y | 2030 |
Why Can the Same Toyota Model Have Different VIN Prefixes?
Because the WMI identifies the company and country that built the vehicle, not the model name. Toyota’s 2026 RAV4 filing, for example, covers a 4T3 WMI for vehicles from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky and a 2T3 WMI for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, with plant codes U, W and C to separate Georgetown, Woodstock and Cambridge (Toyota 26MY RAV4 filing). Likewise, the 2026 Tacoma filing lists 3TY for Guanajuato and 3TM for Baja California. So two identical-looking RAV4s can carry different first characters; neither is more correct, and the decoder will show the plant for each. What should never differ is the VIN on the dashboard, the door label and the title of the same vehicle.
How Can You Use a Toyota VIN Before Buying?
- Decode it with our VIN decoder and confirm the year, model, engine and plant match the listing.
- Check recalls at NHTSA using the full VIN.
- Confirm the drivetrain and hybrid system: Toyota’s VDS encodes engine and drive, so a listing that claims AWD should match the VDS.
- Review history using the steps in our accident history guide.
Need the title history?
EpicVIN is one of the approved NMVTIS data providers listed on the Justice Department’s vehiclehistory.gov site, so its paid report includes the NMVTIS title brand and odometer check. Check what the report covers and the price on EpicVIN before you buy.
Check a VIN history on EpicVIN
Affiliate link: NextCarReview earns a commission if you buy a report, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I decode a Toyota VIN?
Read it in four parts: positions 1-3 (WMI) identify the Toyota company and vehicle type, positions 4-8 describe the model, body, engine, drive and restraints, position 9 is the check digit, position 10 is the model year (T = 2026, V = 2027), position 11 is the plant, and positions 12-17 are the production number. A VIN decoder applies Toyota’s NHTSA filings to fill in the details.
What does a Toyota VIN starting with 4T1, 5TD or JTD mean?
In NHTSA’s vPIC data, 4T1 is Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (passenger car), 5TD is Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (multipurpose passenger vehicle; vPIC lists Toyota and Lexus as makes) and JTD is Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan (passenger car).
What is the plant code in a Toyota VIN?
Position 11. In Toyota’s 2026 and 2027 model-year VIN filings with NHTSA, for example, U is Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (Camry, RAV4), S is Indiana (Sienna, Highlander), X is Texas (Tundra), P is Mississippi (Corolla) and W is Woodstock, Ontario (RAV4). Codes are tied to Toyota’s filings, so check the decoder for a specific VIN.
Is a Lexus VIN decoded the same way?
Yes. Lexus vehicles are built by Toyota companies and use the same Part 565 structure; vPIC lists Lexus as the make for WMIs such as JTH, JTJ, 2T2 and 58A, and some WMIs, like 5TD, cover both Toyota and Lexus.
Where is the VIN on a Toyota?
On the dashboard, readable through the windshield on the driver’s side, as federal rules require for cars and light trucks; it also appears on the driver’s door jamb label, title, registration and insurance card.
⚠️ Professional Notice:
WMI data reflect NHTSA vPIC responses in October 2026; plant codes reflect Toyota’s 2026-2027 model-year Part 565 filings and may differ for other years. Lexus models use the same structure.
NextCarReview.com is not affiliated with NHTSA, NMVTIS, NICB or any vehicle history company and receives no compensation from them.
VIN & Vehicle History Guides
Decode any VIN free: NextCarReview VIN decoder. More in this series:
Data Sources and Verification
- NHTSA vPIC: GetWMIsForManufacturer/toyota
- NHTSA vPIC: DecodeWMI (example 4T1)
- NHTSA vPIC: GetParts, Part 565 VIN filings (Toyota, 2025-2026)
- Toyota 26MY Camry VIN coding system (NHTSA filing)
- Toyota 26MY RAV4 VIN coding system (NHTSA filing)
- Toyota 26MY Tacoma VIN coding system (NHTSA filing)
- Toyota 27MY Corolla, TMM Mississippi (NHTSA filing)
- 49 CFR Part 565 (eCFR)
Morgan Reyes is the founder and editor-in-chief of NextCarReview, which Morgan launched in August 2024. A 2022 graduate of Columbia University, Morgan is based in New York and writes and edits the site’s reviews, comparisons and buying guides. Morgan does not road-test vehicles. Every article is built from published primary data: EPA FuelEconomy.gov ratings, NHTSA crash ratings, recalls and owner complaints, IIHS results, and manufacturer specifications and pricing, with each figure cited and checked before publication. Contact: admin@nextcarreview.com
