Chassis & VIN Decoder

A chassis number (also called frame number) is the unique identifier stamped on a vehicle's frame. For Japanese domestic market (JDM) vehicles, it follows manufacturer-specific formats like ZRE172 (Toyota Corolla) or BNR34 (Nissan Skyline GT-R). These are different from international VINs and are what appears on the auction sheet.

A JDM chassis code is a Japanese manufacturer-specific designation used in Japan. It typically identifies the model series rather than the individual vehicle. A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is the international 17-character standard used in most countries outside Japan since 1981, encoding specific information about country, manufacturer, year and individual vehicle.

Look at the 10th character of the 17-character VIN. This is the model year code, standardised globally by ISO 3779. The codes cycle every 30 years: A=1980/2010, B=1981/2011, C=1982/2012... Y=2000/2030, then 1=2001/2031 through 9=2009/2039. Our decoder automatically extracts this for any VIN you enter.

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first 3 characters of a 17-character VIN. It identifies both the country of manufacture (position 1) and the specific manufacturer (positions 1-3). Examples: JHM = Honda Japan, WBA = BMW Germany, 1FA = Ford USA, KMH = Hyundai South Korea.

The VIN year code system cycles every 30 years. For example, the code "C" represents both 1982 and 2012. For most vehicles this is unambiguous (a car with code C is obviously 2012 not 1982). For classic vehicles near the 30-year boundary, cross-reference with the vehicle's documentation or auction sheet.

Yes. Japanese motorcycle manufacturers (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki) use the same JDM chassis code system. International motorcycles made after 1981 use the standard 17-character VIN format.

VIN year decode (position 10) and country/manufacturer decode (positions 1-3) are based on the ISO 3779 and SAE international standards — these are 100% reliable for any vehicle made after 1981. JDM chassis data is compiled from manufacturer documentation and verified import records, accurate for all common production models.