Get a Lexus VIN Check for Specs & History

Plan to buy a used Lexus? Enter the VIN into our Lexus VIN decoder to check the full car’s specifications and history within seconds.

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What is a Lexus VIN Decoder?

A Lexus VIN Decoder is a tool that decodes the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Once you have successfully decoded the VIN, you can get the information on the vehicle’s model, year, trim, engine, transmission, gear, colour, and more.

If you’re considering a used Lexus, the Lexus VIN number decoder can help verify the vehicle’s authenticity and reveal any hidden records including outstanding finance, mileage anomalies, theft, write-off, tax status and details, and more.

Lexus VIN Number Meaning

A Lexus VIN number is a unique 17-character code that identifies every Lexus vehicle individually. It contains important information about the car like its model, manufacturing year, engine type, and where it was assembled at the factory.

This unique identification helps verify the car’s authenticity and access its complete history before buying. You can use it to check for write-offs, outstanding finance, recalls, ownership changes, and other critical details that affect the vehicle’s value and safety.

How to Decode a Lexus VIN Number

To decode a Lexus VIN manually, you must know what each character stands for. A Lexus VIN has 17 characters and gives important details about the car, such as the maker, model, where it was built, and other special features.

Each car’s VIN is unique and can only be used to find details about that vehicle. Also, remember that the letters I, O, and Q are not used in VINs to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0.

Breaking Down the Lexus VIN

Every vehicle is assigned a 17-digit VIN and is carefully divided into three main sections. Each section has a different purpose and provides specific information about the car.

World Manufacturer Identifier (Characters 1–3): Manufacturer's name and country of origin.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (Characters 4–9): Details like engine type, model, and vehicle trim.
Vehicle Identifier Section (Characters 10–17):This section shows the year the vehicle was made, the plant where it was built, and its unique ID.

Now, let’s break down the 17 characters of the VIN.

1st Character: Country of Origin

The first character represents the vehicle’s country of manufacture. Lexus vehicles are manufactured in Japan, the United States, and Canada. Specific models are produced at different plants across these locations.

1 or 4

USA

Canada

Mexico

Japan

Korea

England

Germany

Italy

2nd Character: Maker

This identifies the specific manufacturer. Here are some examples from Lexus’s vehicle line. Some possible characters include:

WMI Code

Manufacturer

Country

JTH

Lexus

Japan

JTJ

Lexus SUV

Japan

2T2

Lexus SUV made by TMMC

Canada

3rd Character: Vehicle Type

This shows the vehicle type or division. Letters like A, S, X, or number 1 can represent passenger cars, SUVs, or motorcycles.

4th to 8th Characters: Vehicle’s Features

It represents the car’s features, such as the engine type, transmission model, body style, model, and series.

Model/Series (Position 4): Typically represents the model line, such as RX, LS, or ES.
Body Style/Trim (Position 5): Often indicates the number of doors or a specific trim variant, like Luxury or F Sport.
Trim/Equipment (Position 6): Highlights the trim level and any included equipment options. Lexus models may come with various equipment packages, and this position captures some of those variations.
Restraint System/GVWR (Position 7): Describes the vehicle’s safety restraint system and its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
Engine Type (Position 8): Specifies the engine configuration, including options like a V6, hybrid, or turbocharged engine (e.g., 3.5L V6, 2.0L Turbo).

9th Character: Check Digit

This check digit is used to confirm whether the VIN is valid and has never been changed.

10th Character: Model Year

This shows the model year. Each year is marked by a certain letter or number that can be decoded using the table below.

Code/Year

A 1980
B 1981
C 1982
D 1983
E 1984
F 1985
G 1986
H 1987
J 1988
K 1989

Code/Year

L 1990
M 1991
N 1992
P 1993
R 1994
S 1995
T 1996
V 1997
W 1998
X 1999

Code/Year

Y 2000
1 2001
2 2002
3 2003
4 2004
5 2005
6 2006
7 2007
8 2008
9 2009

Code/Year

A 2010
B 2011
C 2012
D 2013
E 2014
F 2015
G 2016
H 2017
J 2018
K 2019

Code/Year

L 2020
M 2021
N 2022
P 2023
R 2024
S 2025
T 2026
V 2027
W 2028
X 2029

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

Code/Year

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: Assembly Plant

This tells where the car was built. Each letter matches a specific factory location around the world. The locations are usually represented with letters.

Plant	Location	11th Digit	WMI (1st–3rd)	Typical Models Produced
Tahara	Aichi, Japan	0 or 1	JTH	LS, NX (older models), RC F
Kyushu	Fukuoka, Japan	5	JTJ	RX, UX, NX, ES
Motomachi	Aichi, Japan	M	JTH	LC, LC Convertible
Cambridge (TMMC)	Ontario, Canada	C or W	2T2	RX, NX (from 2022)
Georgetown (TMMK)	Kentucky, USA	A	58A	ES (US-built)

12th to 17th Characters: Serial Number

These characters are the car’s serial number, which shows the exact production number of the vehicle when it rolled off from the factory.

How to Use our Lexus VIN Number Decoder

Using our Lexus VIN decoder is fast and easy. Follow these simple steps to view the vehicle specifications for free.

Step 1: Enter the VIN

Find and enter the 17-digit VIN into the form above

Step 2: Click “Check Vehicle”

After filling the form, click the “Check Vehicle” button to begin the process.

Step 3: Get Detailed Vehicle Specifications

Our tool will provide you with the vehicle specifications for free. It will show the year, make, model, colour, engine specs, and the car’s MOT and tax status.

If you want more information, you can perform a Lexus VIN check to see if the car has any writeoff history, theft records, outstanding finance, mileage discrepancies, and other important records.

Where is the Lexus VIN Number Located?

You can find the VIN on a Lexus vehicle or check the vehicle’s documentation. Here’s where you can find the VIN

Registration Documents: The VIN is often printed on the vehicle’s registration or insurance paperwork.
Dashboard: Look through the windshield on the lower-left corner of the dashboard on the driver’s side.
Driver’s Side Door Jamb: Check the sticker or plate on the inside edge of the door.
Engine’s Bay: The VIN may be stamped or engraved on the engine block, usually on the front side near the serpentine belt.

The Benefit of Performing a Lexus VIN Lookup

In recent years, the UK car market has seen rapid growth, with a 2.7% increase in vehicle sales during Q1 2025. However, buyers need to protect themselves from hidden risks, such as undisclosed outstanding finance, tampered odometers, or past theft records. Here are some benefits:

Verify Authentic Lexus Specifications

Checking a Lexus specs by VIN helps confirm the car's real specs match what the seller claims, preventing scams where people lie about engine size, trim levels, or luxury features to charge you more money than it's worth.

Check for Outstanding Finance Issues

Running a Lexus VIN check reveals if there's unpaid finance on the Lexus so you don't inherit someone else's debt. If finance isn't cleared, the lender can repossess the car even after you've paid for it.

Review Complete MOT History Records

The Lexus VIN number lookup shows all past MOT tests including passes, failures, and advisory warnings over the years. This helps you spot recurring problems and judge whether the Lexus was maintained properly by previous owners.

Detect Mileage Tampering and Fraud

A Lexus VIN decoder reveals the complete mileage history from official records so you can catch odometer rollbacks easily. Dishonest sellers often reduce mileage numbers to make old tired cars seem newer and more valuable.

Avoid Buying Stolen Lexus Vehicles

Checking a Lexus VIN number tells you if the Lexus was ever reported stolen to UK police databases preventing major legal troubles. Buying a stolen car means police will seize it immediately leaving you without the vehicle or your money.

Identify Previous Write-Off Categories

A Lexus VIN check shows if the Lexus was written off after accidents with categories like A, B, S, or N displayed clearly. Some categories mean the car has serious structural damage making it unsafe or even illegal to drive anywhere.

Free Lexus VIN Decoding vs. Full Car Check

Our Lexus VIN decoder offers two different options: free and paid services. While our free VIN decoder provides basic information about the car, the paid version offers full access to the complete car check report.

Free Lexus VIN Decoder

A free Lexus VIN number decoder is a good starting point before you get a paid one. Just enter your VIN on the form, and you can get basic information about the vehicle, like the specifications, to verify the vehicle’s authenticity.

Here’s what you’ll get with our free VIN number decoder.

Year

Body style

Colour

Gears

Make

Trim level

Engine size

Fuel type

Model

Transmission

Engine cylinders

Displacement

Vehicle type

Vehicle class

Engine specs

Emission standard

Number of doors

Number of seats

Displacement

Emissions

Paid Lexus VIN Check

Our full VIN check service gives detailed information about the car’s history and condition, which you need to know before buying the Lexus to avoid buying a troubled car.

Here’s what you’ll find in our full car report.

High-risk records

Written-off check

Stolen records

Outstanding finance

Mileage history

Scrapped records

Auction history

Plate change history

MOT history

Ownership records

Logbook checks

Colour change history

Tax Status

Imported checks

Exported checks

Vehicle Registration

Interesting Facts About Lexus Cars

Born From a Secret Project: Lexus started as Toyota’s top-secret project in 1983 to build a luxury car that could beat Mercedes-Benz and BMW worldwide.
Named After Luxury: The name “Lexus” combines “luxury” and “elegance.” Toyota wanted a name that sounded posh and sophisticated for the American luxury market.
Perfection Standards: Lexus factories are incredibly strict about quality. Workers will reject cars for tiny paint flecks you can’t even see without special magnifying tools.
First Luxury Hybrid: The 2005 Lexus RX 400h became the world’s first luxury hybrid SUV. It proved expensive cars could be environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient too.
Champagne Glass Test: Lexus proved how smooth their engines run by stacking champagne glasses on the bonnet. The engine idled without knocking them over at all.

Essential Tools for Smarter Car Buying Decisions

Before buying a used car, check everything so you don’t end up buying a junk car. Use our tools to get the information you need about the car to make a good decision.

Registration Number Check

Retrieve vehicle details using the registration number.

MOT History Check

Access past MOT records to evaluate the car’s condition.

Insurance Write-Off Check

Identify vehicles previously classified as total losses.

Tax Check

Confirm tax status and compliance.

Stolen Car Check

Verify if the car is flagged as stolen in databases.

MPG Check

Determine the fuel efficiency and performance of the car.

Motorcycle VIN Check

Get specific data and history for motorcycles.

Car Value Check

Estimate the current market value of the vehicle.

Car Outstanding Finance Check

Verify if a car has an outstanding finance or loans.

Check Car VIN Numbers by Make

Checking another brand? Select your vehicle Make below to decode the VIN and check detailed specifications and history.

Get our Smart Car Check Mobile App

Are you looking for the best car history check UK? Make a smart decision with Smart Car Check App. Perform a Reg. number check in the UK to uncover any past problems and hidden history that the seller will not tell you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lexus VIN Decoder

Is a Lexus VIN decoder free to use?

Yes, a typical Lexus VIN decoder like the one provided by Smart Car Check is free to use to check for basic information. It shows details such as the year, make, model, engine type, colour, and transmission. However, if you want a full history report with theft records, finance checks, write-off status, mileage history, and MOT records, you’ll need to pay money for that.

How do I check my Lexus specs?

To check your Lexus specs, use our Lexus VIN decoder UK for a free Lexus specs by VIN check. Just enter the VIN into the form on this page to get vehicle specifications such as model, year, engine size, colour, gears, transmission, and more.

Can I look up my car specs by VIN number?

Yes, you can lookup your car specs by VIN using our best VIN decoder in the UK. To do this, enter the 17-digit VIN number into the form on this page to confirm details like the engine type, model, year, gears and other factory options.