Toyota VIN structure
Toyota VINs start with JT (Japan: JT2 passenger, JT3/JT5 multipurpose), 4T (USA: 4T1 Kentucky/Camry, 4T3/4T4 truck/SUV lines), 2T (Canada), NMT (Turkey), and AHT (South Africa). The 4th–8th digits carry model, engine and body codes.
WMI — the first three characters
| WMI | Manufacturer / region |
|---|---|
| JT2 | Toyota Japan (passenger) |
| JT3/JT5 | Toyota Japan (MPV/truck) |
| 4T1 | Toyota USA (Georgetown, KY) |
| 4T3/4T4 | Toyota USA (Truck/SUV lines) |
| 2T | Toyota Canada |
| NMT | Toyota Motor Mfg. Turkey |
| AHT | Toyota South Africa |
Major assembly plants
| Plant | Models built |
|---|---|
| Georgetown, KY (USA) | Camry, Avalon |
| San Antonio, TX (USA) | Tundra, Sequoia |
| Tijuana, MX (Mexico) | Tacoma, RAV4 |
| Mississauga, ON (Canada) | Corolla, RAV4 |
| Burnaston (UK) | Corolla |
| Tahara (Japan) | Land Cruiser, Crown |
Model year — the 10th character
10th digit = model year. Toyota VINs from August production often carry the next model year code — a car built in July 2023 can legitimately be a 2024 model. See the full VIN year chart.
Options and packages
Toyota encodes grade (trim family) in the VDS but NOT option packages. The factory option list for US cars is on the original window sticker; Toyota's own owner site is the most authoritative free source for build data on newer cars.
Build sheet channels for Toyota
| Channel | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Owners (official) | Free | Owner portal shows factory specs and warranty data by VIN (US market) |
| Window sticker reproduction | ~$10 per label | Original Monroney label by VIN via label services |
| Toyota dealer | Free–varies | Dealers can pull the factory build sheet on request |
Full comparison across all brands: build sheet channels & prices.
Known decode traps
- Emissions recalls are an EPA matter: they never appear in NHTSA VIN recall lookups, so "no recalls found" is NOT "no recalls exist".
- JDM (Japanese domestic market) VINs decode poorly in US databases even though they are valid.
- Hybrid model years split mid-cycle; the VIN year code always wins over badge year.
Recalls and this brand
This is the most misunderstood recall brand: Toyota runs large emissions campaigns under EPA authority that no VIN recall lookup will surface. Always check both NHTSA (safety) and EPA/state resources (emissions).