Every Tesla Model S (2015–2023) carries a 17-character VIN that begins with the 5YJ WMI. The Model S is an electric sedan; this page shows what each character of a Tesla Model S 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 S.
Each sample below is built from the real 5YJ WMI and the Model S's descriptor, so it decodes to a Tesla Model S of the right model year:
Have a real Tesla Model S VIN? Decode it →
Worked on the sample 5YJSA1E2XFF483044 — a 2015 Tesla Model S:
| Position | Section | Value | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | 5YJ | Marks the VIN as Tesla, built in United States |
| 4–8 | VDS | SA1E2 | Descriptor for the Model S — sedan body, electric powertrain |
| 9 | Check digit | X | Mod-11 checksum over the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | F | Code F = 2015 |
| 11 | Plant | F | Assembly-plant code |
| 12–17 | Serial | 483044 | Sequential production number |
Positions 1–3 of every Tesla Model S 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 (SA1E2 in our seed) describe the Model S itself; see the full 17-digit format.
Position 10 encodes the model year. For the Model S, 2015 is code F and 2023 is code P. See the 2023 year code or the check-digit math.
Tesla Model 3 · Tesla Model Y · all Tesla test VINs
A Tesla Model S VIN is 17 characters starting with the 5YJ WMI, for example 5YJSA1E2XFF483044. Positions 4–8 describe the Model S, 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 S 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 S 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 S's descriptor and a valid year code — so a decoder returns a Tesla Model S. No real vehicle's VIN is used.