Decode Your Nissan’s Specs with Our Free VIN Tool
Think you know that Nissan vehicle well enough? Ask our Nissan VIN decoder. Get free access to key details like the original specs, trim, engine, and more. Run a full car check to see any hidden records, like insurance write-off and theft status.
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- Lowest price check
- Great Customers Review
- Fast and Accurate
Nissan VIN Number Meaning
A Nissan VIN is a 17-character code that makes each car unique. It shows details like the car’s brand, model, year, engine, and where it was made.
You’ll need the VIN for things like registering the car, getting insurance, or checking its history when buying or selling. It helps confirm the car is real and the details match what you’re told.
What is the VIN Made Up of?
The VIN structure is made up of three key sections:
- Characters 1 to 3 show who made the car and the country it was built. This section is referred to as the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI).
- Characters 4 to 9 provide specific information like the model, engine type, and body style, collectively referred to as the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS).
- The last section is the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) and represented by the last eight characters (10th to 17th). Here, you will find the year the car was made, the manufacturing plant, and its unique serial number.
What Each Nissan VIN Character Means
1st to 3rd Characters:
The first three characters represent the country and manufacturer. Some characters to expect include:
- JN1 or JN3 – Japan Produce Nissan Passenger Vehicle.
- JN6 – Japan Produce Nissan Truck & Van.
- JN8 – Japan Produce Nissan Multi-Purpose Vehicle.
- 1N4 – USA Produce Nissan Car.
- 1N6 – USA Produce Nissan Truck.
- 5BZ – USA Produce Nissan Truck & Van.
- 5N1 – USA Produce Nissan Multi-Purpose.
- 3N1 – Mexico Produce Nissan Car.
4th Character:
This contains the Nissan engine type. Here are a few characters you would come across:
- A – VG30D, VK45DE, VQ35DE, VK56DE, VQ40DE, QR25DE
- B – KA24DE, SR20DE, VQ35HR, MR18DE, QR25DE
- C – SR20DE, VG30DETT, QG18DE
- D – KA24DE, QG18DE, VQ35DE
- E – VE30DE, GA16DE, VG33E
- F – KA24E
- H – VG30E
5th Character:
This contains the model line. A few characters to expect include:
- A – Armada, Titan, Maxima
- B – Sentra
- C – Versa (07-11)
- D – Truck, Xterra (00-04), Frontier
- J – Maxima
- N – Xterra (05-11)
- R – Pathfinder
- S – 240SX, Rogue (08-11)
- U – Altima
- Z – 300Z, 350Z, Murano
6th Characters:
This reveals if there is a model change. If it’s zero (0), this means no change occurred. Two characters to expect include:
- 6 – Frontier King Cab
- 7 – Frontier Crew Cab
7th Characters:
The body type is indicated by the seventh character. Typical characters include:
- 1 – 4-Door Sedan, Standard Body Truck
- 4 – 2-Door Coupe
- 5 – 4-Door Wagon
- 6 – 2-Door Convertible, Fastback, King Cab Truck
- 7 – Crew Cab Truck
- 8 – 8- Door Wagon
8th character:
Here, a lot can be decoded as it can represent the safety system, restraint or drive type. Some of the characters include:
- A – Air Bag System.
- C – Air Bag System.
- D – Driver & Front Passenger Air Bag + 3 Point Seat Belt.
- E – Driver and front passenger SRS air bags, SRS side air bags, SRS curtain air bag & 3 point manual seat belt.
- P – Passive Restraint System.
- S – 2 Wheel Drive (2WD) – Rear ABS.
- T – 2 Wheel Drive (2WD) – 4-Wheel ABS.
- Y – 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) – 4-Wheel ABS.
- U – 2WD
- W – AWD (4WD)
9th Character:
This is the security digit and helps confirm the VIN’s accuracy. It’s calculated using a special formula that analyses the other 16 characters.
10th Character:
The tenth character indicates the model year and alternates between numbers and letters. Easily decode your vehicle model year using the VIN to year chart
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:
The eleventh character, plant code, indicates the assembly plant. Nissan has the following manufacturing plants:
- C – Smyrna, Tennessee, USA
- L – Aguas Calientes, Mexico
- M – Tochigi, Japan
- N – Canton, Mississippi, USA
- T – Tochigi, Japan
- T – Oppama, Japan
- W – Kyushyu, Japan
12th to 17th Characters:
These characters make up the unique sequential number (serial number) of the Nissan. This number doesn’t mean anything special other than the production number when the car was rolled out of the factory.
Finding the VIN Number on a Nissan
Nissan VIN numbers are usually found:
- On the dashboard (seen through the windshield)
- Driver’s door pillar,
- Engine bay firewall, and
- Vehicle registration certificate (V5C logbook).
When buying a used Nissan, always check that the VIN matches in all locations. If numbers are missing or don’t match, it could mean the car is stolen, damaged, or has fake documents. Report it immediately.
How to Run a Nissan VIN Number Check?
Follow these simple steps for a free Nissan VIN decoding:
Enter the VIN
Input the 17-character VIN, your email address, and your phone number into the form above.
Click “Decode VIN”
Submit details to initiate the decoding process.
View Specifications
Instantly access the car’s make, model, body type, and other key details.
With a full car check, you get premium access to verify any hidden records, including insurance write-offs, odometer rollback, outstanding finance, and more.
Nissan VIN Decoding: Free Vs. Full Car Check
Choose between our free VIN decoding and a detailed, paid full car check. The latter is highly recommended if you buy a used car.
Free VIN Decoding
Our free Nissan VIN decoder provides basic car specifications, such as model, year, transmission, engine details, trim, and more.
See below for what our free VIN decoder provides.
Full Car Check Service
Get a complete picture of your Nissan’s history, including MOT records, write-offs, theft, finance status, and more. Our full car check report reveals the following:
Why Is a Nissan VIN Number Check Crucial?
Nobody wishes to become the victim of a car scam until they end up buying a lemon. To stay safe, get armed with the right information by running a VIN check. Here’s why:
Verify Original Vehicle Specs
Lists factory details like engine size, transmission, and trim. This lets you see if the car matches the seller’s description.
Stolen Vehicle Check
Tells you if the car has been reported as stolen. You could lose the car with no refund once it’s recovered by the police.
Check Write-Off Category
Tells you the damage level if it was written off (like Cat S or Cat N). Some categories mean the car had serious damage and was repaired.
Spot Mileage Fraud
Compare mileage records to detect tampering or clocking.
Outstanding Finance Check
Make sure there’s no outstanding finance that could result in repossession.
Confirm Previous Keepers
Tells you how many people have owned the car before. Too many owners may suggest the car has had problems.
Why Choose Smart Car Check for a Nissan VIN Decoder
Buying a used Nissan means checking the exact model, trim, engine, and factory details before trusting the seller’s description. Smart Car Check helps you decode Nissan VIN details, confirm key specifications, and review important UK records before buying used car.
Trusted & Updated Data
We use trusted, regularly updated UK records, including DVLA, police, insurance, finance, auction, and online sales sources for reliable checks.
Comprehensive Database
Our database covers over 42 million licensed UK vehicles and checks 80+ records to help identify hidden issues before you buy.
Unlimited Free VIN Decoder
Decode Nissan VIN details for free, including model, trim, engine size, body style, and key manufacturer specifications in seconds.
Downloadable PDF Reports
Get a clean digital PDF report that is easy to download, save, print, or share when comparing used Nissan options.
Free MOT and Tax Status Check
Check MOT validity and tax status instantly, so you can confirm whether the Nissan is road-ready in the UK.
Live Chat Support 24/7
Get help anytime from our support team when you need guidance understanding your Nissan VIN results or report details.
Nissan VIN Decoder Made Easier for UK Drivers
See how drivers use Smart Car Check to decode Nissan VIN details, compare specifications, access clear reports, and choose with more confidence.
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FAQ Nissan VIN Decoder
How to check a Nissan VIN number?
Input the VIN into our reliable VIN check tool to instantly reveal any hidden issues relating to write-off, MOT status, mileage discrepancies, theft, and other high-risk records.
How do you read a Nissan VIN plate?
A 17-digit Nissan VIN has three sections :
- WMI – World Manufacturer Identifier (Digits 1–3): Identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer and country of origin.
- VDS – Vehicle Descriptor Section (Digits 4–9): Provides details about the vehicle, such as model, body type, engine, and safety features.
- VIS – Vehicle Identifier Section (Digits 10–17): Includes the model year, manufacturing plant, and the vehicle’s unique serial number.
How do you check engine by VIN number?
Use our reliable Nissan VIN decoder to find details about the engine, such as type, size, and displacement. You will also find other specs like the trim, transmission, and more.
