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How to find the chassis number on a Japanese car

Cars made for the Japanese market are identified by a chassis number, also called a frame number, rather than a 17-character VIN. It is the number every record for the car is filed under. This guide shows where to look and what it should look like.
Check a chassis number

What a chassis number is

A Japanese chassis number has two parts joined by a hyphen: a model code, then a serial number. For example, JZX110-0028737 is model code JZX110 with serial 0028737. The model code names the model and body type, and the serial number is the individual car's place in that run.

Auction records, the Japanese inspection (MLIT) data and recall notices are all matched to the car by this number, so a single wrong digit points at a different vehicle.

Where to find it on the car

Door pillar plate
Open the driver's door and look at the pillar and the door edge for a metal plate or sticker. On many cars it shows the model code and the serial number, with engine and paint codes.
Engine bay
The number is usually stamped into metal in the engine bay, often on the firewall (the panel between the engine and the cabin) and sometimes on a plate. Position differs by make and model.
Other places
Some cars carry it under the carpet or seat. Where practice varies, a photograph of the plate helps.

Where to find it on paper

Kenyan logbook
The chassis number appears on the registration record.
Import documents
Export certificate, bill of lading and customs entry normally list it.
Japanese records
The inspection certificate and the auction sheet show it, where the car has them.

Chassis number and VIN

A VIN is a 17-character code with a standard layout used by cars sold in many markets. Cars built for Japan's domestic market use the shorter manufacturer-assigned chassis number instead, so they have no 17-character VIN. Cars made in Japan for export, and cars that came into Japan from abroad, may carry a VIN.

If your car has a 17-character VIN, use that. If it has a chassis number such as JZX110-0028737, enter it as printed, with the model code, the hyphen and the full serial.

Checking the number carefully

  • Read the number from the car itself, and compare it with the plate, the stamping and the documents.
  • Copy it exactly, keeping leading zeros in the serial number.
  • Take care with similar characters: the letter O and the digit 0, the letter I and the digit 1.
  • Photograph the plate and the stamping so you can check them again later.
  • If two places on the car or the papers show different numbers, ask the seller to explain.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the chassis number on a Toyota or Nissan from Japan?

Look at the plate on the driver's door pillar and the number stamped in the engine bay, often on the firewall. The exact position differs by model.

Is a chassis number the same as a VIN?

Not quite. Both identify one car, but a VIN has 17 characters in a standard layout. Japanese-market cars use a model code and a serial number instead, such as JZX110-0028737.

Why does my Japanese import have no 17-character VIN?

Cars made for Japan's home market are identified by their chassis number, not a VIN. That is normal for these cars.

What if the chassis number on the car and on the logbook differ?

Check for a typing slip first, then ask the seller to explain the difference. The number you check against records should be the one on the car.

Can I check a car with only the chassis number?

Yes. Enter the chassis number on CarTrust and we show the records we hold for it, which can include auction history, grades, mileage, MLIT data and recalls.

Written by the CarTrust team. Practice varies between auction houses and manufacturers, and we say so where it does.

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