Every Tesla Model 3 (2018–2025) carries a 17-character VIN that begins with the 5YJ WMI. The Model 3 is an electric sedan; this page shows what each character of a Tesla Model 3 VIN means and gives 4 checksum-valid sample VINs you can drop straight into test fixtures. Synthetic — not real: no scraping, no real-owner data. The generator below is pre-filtered to the Model 3.
Each sample below is built from the real 5YJ WMI and the Model 3's descriptor, so it decodes to a Tesla Model 3 of the right model year:
Have a real Tesla Model 3 VIN? Decode it →
Worked on the sample 5YJ3E1EA4JF923476 — a 2018 Tesla Model 3:
| Position | Section | Value | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | 5YJ | Marks the VIN as Tesla, built in United States |
| 4–8 | VDS | 3E1EA | Descriptor for the Model 3 — sedan body, electric powertrain |
| 9 | Check digit | 4 | Mod-11 checksum over the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | J | Code J = 2018 |
| 11 | Plant | F | Assembly-plant code |
| 12–17 | Serial | 923476 | Sequential production number |
Positions 1–3 of every Tesla Model 3 VIN read 5YJ — the World Manufacturer Identifier that marks the vehicle as Tesla, assembled in United States (North America). After the WMI, positions 4–8 (3E1EA in our seed) describe the Model 3 itself; see the full 17-digit format.
Position 10 encodes the model year. For the Model 3, 2018 is code J and 2025 is code S. See the 2025 year code or the check-digit math.
Tesla Model Y · Tesla Model S · all Tesla test VINs
A Tesla Model 3 VIN is 17 characters starting with the 5YJ WMI, for example 5YJ3E1EA4JF923476. Positions 4–8 describe the Model 3, position 9 is the check digit, position 10 is the model year, and 12–17 are the serial number.
Read it left to right: 5YJ is the Tesla WMI, positions 4–8 are the Model 3 descriptor, position 9 verifies the VIN via a mod-11 checksum, position 10 gives the year, position 11 the plant, and 12–17 the serial. Paste any VIN into the decoder to do it automatically.
The Model 3 in our seed uses the 5YJ WMI (United States). Any VIN beginning with 5YJ decodes to Tesla.
No. They are synthetically generated but checksum-valid, use the real Tesla 5YJ WMI, and carry the Model 3's descriptor and a valid year code — so a decoder returns a Tesla Model 3. No real vehicle's VIN is used.