VIN decoder / Subaru
Subaru VIN decoder: free VIN check and lookup
Decode any Subaru VIN: model year, maker, country, plant and specifications, with a check-digit test. Free, no sign-up.
Subaru maker codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the world manufacturer identifier. Subaru VINs in our data begin with 7 different maker codes, covering vehicles built in Japan and United States.
- Japan: JF1, JF2, JF3, JTE, JTM
- United States: 4S3, 4S4
| WMI | Manufacturer | Built in | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JF1 | Subaru Corporation Also used by Toyota | Japan | Passenger Car |
| JF2 | Subaru Corporation | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| JF3 | Fuji Heavy Industries U.s.a., Inc. (C/O Subaru Of America) | Japan | Truck |
| JTE | Toyota Motor Corporation Also used by Toyota and Lexus | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| JTM | Toyota Motor Corporation Also used by Toyota | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 4S3 | Subaru Of America, Inc. | United States | Passenger Car |
| 4S4 | Subaru Of America, Inc. | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
How to read a Subaru VIN
A Subaru VIN follows the same 17-character layout as every other make. What differs is the maker code in positions 1-3 (above) and the model, body and engine codes in positions 4-8, which Subaru defines itself.
| Position | Part | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | WMI | World manufacturer identifier: country and maker. |
| 4-8 | VDS | Vehicle descriptor: model, body, engine, restraints. Codes are the maker's own. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that catches typos. Mandatory in North America and China. |
| 10 | Model year | One letter or digit. The code repeats every 30 years. |
| 11 | Plant | Assembly plant, coded by the maker. |
| 12-17 | Serial | Production sequence number. |
Subaru model year codes
Position 10 of a Subaru VIN is the model year. The code repeats every 30 years, so a letter can mean two years. On Subaru cars and light trucks built for North America, the seventh character settles it: a letter means the newer cycle, a digit the older one. Elsewhere, use the registration date.
| Code (position 10) | 1980-2009 cycle | 2010-2039 cycle |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | 2010 |
| B | 1981 | 2011 |
| C | 1982 | 2012 |
| D | 1983 | 2013 |
| E | 1984 | 2014 |
| F | 1985 | 2015 |
| G | 1986 | 2016 |
| H | 1987 | 2017 |
| J | 1988 | 2018 |
| K | 1989 | 2019 |
| L | 1990 | 2020 |
| M | 1991 | 2021 |
| N | 1992 | 2022 |
| P | 1993 | 2023 |
| R | 1994 | 2024 |
| S | 1995 | 2025 |
| T | 1996 | 2026 |
| V | 1997 | 2027 |
| W | 1998 | 2028 |
| X | 1999 | 2029 |
| Y | 2000 | 2030 |
| 1 | 2001 | 2031 |
| 2 | 2002 | 2032 |
| 3 | 2003 | 2033 |
| 4 | 2004 | 2034 |
| 5 | 2005 | 2035 |
| 6 | 2006 | 2036 |
| 7 | 2007 | 2037 |
| 8 | 2008 | 2038 |
| 9 | 2009 | 2039 |
Where to find the VIN on a Subaru
- Windscreen. Look through the glass at the base of the windscreen on the driver's side. Cars sold in the US carry the VIN here, and many cars sold elsewhere do too.
- Driver's door pillar. A compliance label on the door frame or pillar usually lists the VIN, often with build date and tyre data.
- Body or chassis. Stamped into the body, commonly in the engine bay on the bulkhead or in the floor of the boot or luggage area. Cars built for Europe and the UK often have a type-approval plate in the engine bay too.
- Paperwork. The registration certificate (V5C in the UK, the title or registration in the US), insurance documents and service book show the VIN.
Exact positions differ by model and year, so treat these as the usual places on any Subaru rather than a fixed spot.
Older Subaru chassis numbers
Subaru vehicles built before 1981 do not carry a standard 17-character VIN, and each maker had its own chassis number format. Those cannot be decoded from the number alone.
Marque-specific chassis numbers are kept in the model registries on Moterno.
Subaru VIN questions
How do I decode a Subaru VIN?
Enter the 17-character VIN in the decoder above. It shows the model year, maker, country and plant from the VIN structure, plus the model, body, engine and drive type from NHTSA data when the vehicle is in that database, and it checks the check digit.
Where was my Subaru built?
The first three characters of the VIN are the maker code. NHTSA and the manufacturer registry list Subaru maker codes for Japan and United States. The first character alone gives the region: 1, 4 and 5 are the United States, 2 Canada, 3 Mexico, J Japan, K South Korea, S the United Kingdom, W Germany, V France or Spain, Z Italy and Y Sweden or Belgium.
What does the 10th character of a Subaru VIN mean?
It is the model year code. Letters and digits repeat every 30 years, so a letter such as K means 1989 or 2019. On North American Subaru cars and trucks the seventh character settles it: a letter means 2010 or later, a digit means 2009 or earlier.
Does a Subaru VIN have a check digit?
Position 9 is a check digit. It is mandatory on VINs of vehicles built for North America, so a mismatch there usually means a typo. Vehicles built for Europe and most of Asia do not have to follow the rule, so a mismatch is not a warning sign.
Is this Subaru VIN check free?
Yes, it is free with no sign-up and no ads. A VIN decode shows the vehicle's specifications, not its history, so it will not show accidents, mileage or owners.
My Subaru is older than 1981. Can I still look it up?
Vehicles built before 1981 do not use the standard 17-character VIN, so they cannot be decoded from the number. Marque-specific chassis numbers are kept in the model registries on Moterno.