Lexus VIN Decoder
Use our Lexus VIN decoder tool to quickly find any Lexus’s features, history, and more. Enter the VIN to unlock important information — fast, easy, and accurate.
What is a Lexus VIN Number?
A Lexus VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique code assigned to every Lexus vehicle. It typically contains 17 characters, and since Lexus came on the scene in 1989, all Lexus VIN, including the first Lexus model – the 1989 LS 400 sedan – came with a standardized VIN of 17 digits.
The Lexus VIN number usually has 12 characters for vehicles exported to Arab or Asian countries. This short VIN format is composed of the model code and the 7-digit serial number.
The VIN code reveals important information, such as the car’s manufacturing year, model, engine type, and assembly location. Knowing your Lexus VIN is essential for verifying the car’s history, checking for recalls, confirming specifications, and ensuring accurate repairs.
It’s a valuable tool for buyers, sellers, and owners to make informed automotive decisions.
Lexus VIN Number Breakdown: How to Read a Lexus VIN Number
Note that the letters I, O, and Q are not included in a VIN to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 (One), 0 (Zero) and 9 (Nine).
Now, let’s break down what all those characters in a Lexus’s VIN mean. A VIN is made up of 17 characters, and each one gives you a clue about your Lexus's specific details. These characters are also grouped into three sections to make decoding easier, they are:
- World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) This includes the first three characters (characters 1 - 3) and signifies the vehicle’s country of origin and manufacturer. Usually, a Lexus VIN starts with JTH, JTJ, JT1, JT6, JT8, or 2T2.
- Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) This section includes the 4th to 8th characters (characters 4 - 8) and contains information about the vehicle’s make, engine specs, model, and more.
- Vehicle Identifier Section Here, you will find the 9th to 17th characters (characters 9 - 17), which encode details like the model year, manufacturing plant code, and a serial number unique to each vehicle.

What Does Each Character of the VIN Mean?
In this section, we will break down each character of the Lexus VIN using a 2010 Lexus Es Series VIN
JTHBK1EG4A2360729 as an example:
Position | Number | Position | Number |
1st | J | 10th | A |
2nd | T | 11th | 2 |
3rd | H | 12th | 3 |
4th | B | 13th | 6 |
5th | K | 14th | 0 |
6th | 1 | 15th | 7 |
7th | E | 16th | 2 |
8th | G | 17th | 9 |
9th | 4 |
1st Character (Country of Origin):
The first character(J) indicates where the Lexus was manufactured. This helps identify the country of production. Primarily, Lexus vehicles are manufactured in Japan, while the Lexus RX 330 became the first Lexus to be assembled in Ontario, Canada. The sample VIN starting with "J" means the Lexus was built in Japan. If the first character is “2”, this means the manufacturing country is Canada.
2nd Character (Manufacturer):
The second character (T) in the VIN identifies the vehicle's manufacturer. The “T” means the Lexus is manufactured by Toyota - all Lexus vehicles are Toyota products.
3rd Character (Vehicle type or Manufacturing division):
The third character(H) shows the vehicle type or the division. The sample VIN with "H" as the third character means we are dealing with a passenger vehicle. Here are some common characters
4th Character:
This represents information on the car drive type and body style. The sample VIN “B” means the Lexus is a 4-door sedan. A “F” means a 2-door convertible.
5th Character:
This represents the engine code.
6th and 7th Characters:
These represent the series, body, style, and model. The eighth digit represents the engine type.
9th Character:
The check digit(4) verifies that the VIN is authentic and not a fake string of random characters. It is calculated using a specific algorithm developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
10th Character:
The tenth character (A) indicates the model year and alternates between numbers and letters. Each letter represents a specific year; ‘C,’ from the VIN example, signifies the Lexus is a 2010 model.
Here’s a table that can help you quickly identify any car’s model year:
Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year |
A 1980 B 1981 C 1982 D 1983 E 1984 F 1985 G 1986 H 1987 J 1988 K 1989 | L 1990 M 1991 N 1992 P 1993 R 1994 S 1995 T 1996 V 1997 W 1998 X 1999 | Y 2000 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 |
11th Character:
The eleventh character (2) shows the vehicle’s assembly or manufacturing plant.
12th to 17th Characters:
These characters (360729) make up the unique sequential number (serial number) of the Lexus. This distinguishes it uniquely from other Lexuss with the same model, trim, etc., manufactured in the same plant.
Where is the VIN Number on a Lexus?
So, where is the VIN on Lexus cars? Your Lexus VIN number location can be traced to the following places:
Now that you’ve found the VIN, it’s time to retrieve all the information available from the VIN.
- On the dashboard of the vehicle, near the windshield.
- On the driver’s side door jamb (Check the manufacturer’s label).
- Stamped under the right-hand front seat (not applicable to all models).
- Stamped on a plate under the bonnet/trunk.
- The VIN plate is riveted to the engine side firewall.
- Check the inner fenders.
- On the car’s title, registration, maintenance book, or the auto insurance policy
Now that you’ve found the VIN, it’s time to retrieve all the information available from the VIN.

What Information Can I Get from Decoding a Lexus VIN Number?
A Lexus VIN decoder can help you access everything about a new or used Lexus, including vehicle specifications, features, build sheets, and past history records.
Here are some Lexus specifications you can access when you use a Lexus VIN decoder:
- Year
- Make
- Exterior dimensions
- Number of doors
- Ground clearance
- Standard seating
- Transmission style
- Fuel type
- Braking
- Range extender
- Engine Description
- Front airbag information
- Emissions
- Cargo dimensions
- Model
- Valve train design
- Interior dimensions
- Suspension
- Traction battery
- Engine Size and specs
- Drive Type
- Tank capacity
- Trailering
- Displacement
- Mileage
- Tire pressure and size
- Wheels
- Electrical powertrain
- Trim
- Country
- Delivery charges
- Steering
- Weight
- MSRP
- Body type
- Seating
- EPA Class
- Engine model
- Engine configuration
- Seat belt type
- Off-road attributes
- Electrical specifications
Buying a Used Lexus? Look Beyond a Lexus VIN Decoder
While the VIN number is crucial in verifying a vehicle’s specifications and origin, it doesn’t end there. When buying a used Lexus car, you can subject the VIN to our reliable Lexus VIN decoder to uncover the past records and history of the car.
By conducting a Lexus VIN lookup, you can track the vehicle history records from when the vehicle first left the factory. Below are the records you can uncover:
- Mileage
- Odometer Readings
- Sales History
- Auction History
- Accident History
- Title Brand
- Salvage Title
- Hail Damage
- Flood Damage
- Structural Damage
- Ownership History
- Usage History
- Ownership Duration
- Lien & Loans
- Maintenance Schedule
- Warranty Status
- Repair Cost
- Recalls History
How to Decode a Lexus VIN Number For Detailed Vehicle Information
When searching for vehicle info, using a free VIN decoder is a good start but the information provided is usually limited. To have a complete overview of a vehicle specs, features, options, and even MSRP, fuel economy, safety ratings, warranty, color and more, we recommend you get the Lexus window sticker lookup by VIN. You can also search using the US license plate or or the year, make and mode of the car.
If you’re buying a used Lexus and want to check its history and condition, use our Honda VIN number check tool to uncover any hidden records and get a clearer picture before making a decision.
Follow these simple steps to get your Lexus vehicle history reports within seconds:
- In the form above, enter the Lexus VIN, email, and phone (optional) in the above form. Our tool can decode standard VINs (17 characters) and classic VINs (5 – 14 characters).
- Click on ‘Search VIN’ to preview the vehicle specs and some records.
- Complete the payment process to generate and view your vehicle history report. You can download or print the report as a PDF for future reference.
- To get the window sticker, click “Get window sticker” in the form above to get redirected to the Lexus window sticker lookup page. Follow the instructions that follow.
Common Uses of the Lexus VIN Number
The VIN can serve different purposes depending on what you’re searching - basic specs, detailed specs and features or the vehicle history. Some of the common uses of the Lexus VIN are:
Vehicle Verification
The VIN can be decoded to reveal the vehicle profile like year, make, model, engine etc. This help ensures the vehicle matches its factory description and as advertised by the seller.
Vehicle Registration
A vehicle registration is only possible by providing the unique identifier - the VIN. This is mandatory before you can legally drive the vehicle on the road. Documents like the ownership papers, bills of sale, and titles usually have the VIN for proper identification.
Insurance Purposes
The VIN helps insurance firms to obtain accurate vehicle information for insurance and registration purposes.
Vehicle History Checks
This is one of the main reasons why the VIN is important. A VIN check tool can decode the Lexus VIN to reveal any Lexus history and condition. You can uncover records, including ownership history, theft, sales records, lien accidents, salvage brands, rebuilt titles, warranty coverage, and more. This helps you avoid car scams like buying a stolen car or detecting a car with an odometer rollback. The rule of thumb is never to purchase a used car without checking its history.
Safety Recalls
Since manufacturers have VINs in their database, they can easily identify specific vehicle models that get recalled and notify the owners to get them fixed as soon as possible. Before purchasing, car buyers can also run a recall check by VIN for pending recalls on any used car.
Police Checks
If a vehicle is reported stolen, the police can track it using its VIN. They can even place police markers on those VINs and receive alerts at checkpoints.
Popular Lexus Models to Explore with our Lexus VIN Decoder
You can easily decode any Lexus VIN using our Lexus VIN number decoder. Here are some Lexus models you may be interested in:
RX | RC | ES Hybrid |
ES | IS | RZ |
NX | LC | RC F |
GX | RX Hybrid | LX Hybrid |
LS | NX Hybrid | GX Overtrail |
LX | UX Hybrid | LC Convertible |
UX | LS Hybrid |
← Scroll horizontally to see more →
Other Available Lexus VIN Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Easily utilize our window sticker lookup tool to get any Lexus window sticker. You can search for window stickers by VIN, license plate or by providing the year, make and model details. are the information to expect with different VIN tools. The window sticker provides details on the features, fuel economy, colors, MSRP, factory installed options and packages, warranty info and more.