VIN & chassis plate decoding

Last updated: 18 June 2012

The 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and the chassis plate are how you confirm exactly what a car is. Engine, build, paint and more. Essential for buying, parts and recall checks.

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Photo: VIN plate / chassis label location

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Key takeaway: The 17-character VIN (starts SAL) confirms exactly what a car is, engine, era, paint and build. Always cross-check it.

Where to find it

Windscreen: lower driver's side, visible from outside.
Driver's door jamb / B-post: certification label.
Engine bay: on the firewall / slam panel area.
Vehicle paperwork: registration (V5C), insurance, handbook.

Interactive VIN decoder

Type or paste a 17-character VIN below and the decoder will break it down position by position. It works best on Land Rover VINs (starting SAL) and is tuned for the L322 (2002-2012).

⚙ L322 VIN DECODER · FREE ONLINE TOOL

▸ Decodes any 17-character Land Rover VIN — works best on L322 (2002-2012)

Enter a 17-character VIN:

Try a 2006 sample Try a 2008 sample Clear

DISCLAIMER This decoder explains the standard VIN structure and the parts that are consistent on Land Rover cars (WMI, model year, plant, serial). The middle "descriptor" characters (model, body, engine) vary by market and aren't fully standardised, so those are shown as indicative. For a definitive build sheet, use an official Land Rover VIN lookup. It does not check history, theft or recalls.

VIN structure (17 characters)

Land Rover VINs begin with SAL, the World Manufacturer Identifier for Jaguar Land Rover Limited, UK. The 17 characters break down (broadly) as:

Section	Meaning
WMI (1-3)	SAL = JLR, United Kingdom
VDS (4-9)	Model, body, engine and other descriptor codes
Check (9)	Check digit (markets that use it)
Model year (10)	Letter/number for the model year
Plant (11)	Assembly plant code (Solihull)
Serial (12-17)	Production sequence number

NOTE Exact VDS coding varies; use a Land Rover VIN decoder or the build sheet to confirm engine, trim and factory options for a specific car. The build sheet shows original equipment, including the air suspension system.

Chassis / paint plate

The VIN plate also carries (or sits near) other key codes:

Paint code, e.g. "798" (Zermatt Silver), later "LRC" codes. See colours.
Engine code. Confirms which of the three engine eras the car belongs to.
Weights. Gross vehicle and axle weights for towing/payload limits.

Notes

TIP Always cross-check the VIN on the car against the V5C/registration and the windscreen and door-jamb plates — mismatches are a red flag. Confirm the engine/era via VIN before buying parts, as fitment differs sharply between BMW, Jaguar and late cars.

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