Free Subaru VIN Decoder
Enter any 17-character Subaru VIN to see the year, model, trim, engine and plant NHTSA has on file for it, free. Subaru has five WMIs in vPIC: 4S3 (US-built cars) and 4S4 (US-built SUVs) from Subaru of America's Indiana plant, and JF1, JF2 and JF3 from Japan. vPIC also lists JF1 for Toyota.
Facts and links on this page were checked on September 15, 2026.
Subaru WMI codes (the first three characters)
Every row below was returned by NHTSA vPIC on September 15, 2026. The method: query vPIC's GetWMIsForManufacturer endpoint for the manufacturer names that build Subaru vehicles, then confirm each candidate with vPIC's DecodeWMI endpoint and keep it only when DecodeWMI names Subaru as a make for that WMI. Nothing was added by hand. "Also decodes as" lists the other makes vPIC returns for the same three characters.
| WMI | Vehicle type | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Also decodes as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4S3 | Passenger car | Subaru of America, Inc | United States | Subaru only |
| 4S4 | SUV / MPV | Subaru of America, Inc | United States | Subaru only |
| JF1 | Passenger car | Subaru Corporation | Japan | Toyota |
| JF2 | SUV / MPV | Subaru Corporation | Japan | Subaru only |
| JF3 | Truck | Fuji Heavy Industries U.S.A., Inc. (C/O Subaru of America) | Japan | Subaru only |
Where the VIN is on a Subaru
On the dashboard at the base of the windshield on the driver side, readable from outside through the glass (49 CFR 565.13(f) requires this for passenger cars, SUVs and trucks up to 10,000 lb GVWR), and on the certification label at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge (49 CFR 567.4). The title, registration and insurance card repeat it.
Source: 49 CFR Part 565, Vehicle Identification Number Requirements (eCFR), checked September 15, 2026.
What vPIC returned for a real Subaru VIN
To show what to expect, we decoded a pattern-valid 2020 Outback test VIN (correct WMI, descriptor and check digit; no public Subaru listing VIN was available to us) on September 15, 2026 (VIN 4S4BTANC1L3******). vPIC returned the fields below and left Series, Transmission speeds blank; those are attributes Subaru did not file for this pattern.
| Field | Value returned |
|---|---|
| Make | SUBARU |
| Manufacturer | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC |
| Model | Outback |
| Model year | 2020 |
| Trim | Limited+M/R+NAVI(HK) |
| Body class | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Vehicle type | MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV) |
| Engine model | U5 |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.5 |
| Horsepower | 182 |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Transmission | Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) |
| Drive | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Plant city | LAFAYETTE |
| Plant state | INDIANA |
| Plant country | UNITED STATES (USA) |
| Plant name | SIA |
| GVWR class | Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg) |
Subaru model year by the 10th character
The 10th character of every SubaruVIN is the model-year code from 49 CFR 565.15. The letters repeat every 30 years, so a "D" is 1983 or 2013; for cars, SUVs and trucks up to 10,000 lb the 7th character settles it (a digit means the 1980 to 2009 cycle, a letter means 2010 to 2039). The decoder above applies the rule for you. Full chart on the VIN year chart.
| 10th character | Model year (7th character numeric) | Model year (7th character a letter) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 2010 | |
| B | 2011 | |
| C | 2012 | |
| D | 2013 | |
| E | 2014 | |
| F | 2015 | |
| G | 2016 | |
| H | 2017 | |
| J | 2018 | |
| K | 2019 | |
| L | 2020 | |
| M | 2021 | |
| N | 2022 | |
| P | 2023 | |
| R | 2024 | |
| S | 2025 | |
| T | 2026 | |
| V | 2027 | |
| W | 2028 | |
| X | 2029 | |
| Y | 2030 | |
| 1 | 2001 | |
| 2 | 2002 | |
| 3 | 2003 | |
| 4 | 2004 | |
| 5 | 2005 | |
| 6 | 2006 | |
| 7 | 2007 | |
| 8 | 2008 | |
| 9 | 2009 |
What a Subaru decode does not tell you
The decode is the manufacturer's build record. It says nothing about the vehicle's life since: no accidents, no title brands, no liens, no odometer history, no theft record. Those sit behind NMVTIS providers, NICB VINCheck and state agencies, and the title check, lien check, odometer check and stolen vehicle check pages explain how to use each. CarWorthIt does not sell vehicle history and is not an NMVTIS-approved provider.
What free sources can show
- Year, model, trim or series, body, engine, fuel, drive, plant and GVWR class, as Subaru filed them with NHTSA.
- Whether the VIN is valid: length, allowed characters and the position-9 check digit.
- Which of Subaru's 5 WMIs it carries, and therefore which company and country registered it.
- The free CarWorthIt report: open recalls, crash-test ratings and running costs.
What they cannot
- Attributes Subaru did not file for the pattern (a blank field is a blank filing, not a missing part).
- Options, MSRP or the window sticker (the build record, in the paid report), or the paint code (a label on the car, never the VIN).
- Accidents, title brands, liens, odometer readings or theft (NMVTIS providers, NICB VINCheck, state agencies).
- Mileage, condition or what it is worth (the valuation is the paid product).
Common questions
Where is the VIN on a Subaru?
On the dashboard at the base of the windshield on the driver side, readable from outside through the glass (49 CFR 565.13(f) requires this for passenger cars, SUVs and trucks up to 10,000 lb GVWR), and on the certification label at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge (49 CFR 567.4). The title, registration and insurance card repeat it.
What do the first three characters of a Subaru VIN mean?
They are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA vPIC lists 5 WMIs that decode to Subaru, registered in these countries: United States, Japan. The US-registered ones are 4S3, 4S4. The full table is on this page and comes straight from vPIC.
Can a Subaru VIN start with a WMI that also belongs to another brand?
Yes. vPIC lists 1 of Subaru's 5 WMIs as shared with another make (for example JF1 with Toyota). That is why the decoder reads positions 4 to 8 and the model year rather than trusting the first three characters alone.
What does the free Subaru VIN decode show?
Whatever Subaru filed with NHTSA for that VIN pattern. For a pattern-valid 2020 Outback test VIN (correct WMI, descriptor and check digit; no public Subaru listing VIN was available to us), vPIC returned 20 fields including model, trim, engine, transmission, plant, and left these blank: series, transmission speeds. A blank means Subaru did not file that attribute for the pattern, not that the vehicle lacks it.
How do I read the model year in a Subaru VIN?
The 10th character. A is 2010, B 2011, and so on to Y for 2030; the digits 1 to 9 are 2001 to 2009 (and 2031 to 2039). The same letters were used for 1980 to 2000, and for cars, SUVs and light trucks a numeric 7th character means the earlier cycle while a letter means 2010 onward (49 CFR 565.15). The decoder above resolves it for you.
Does decoding a Subaru VIN show accidents, title brands or theft?
No. A decode reads the build record: what the vehicle is, not what has happened to it. Title brands, liens, odometer readings and theft records sit with state agencies, NMVTIS providers, insurers (NICB VINCheck) and law enforcement. CarWorthIt is not an NMVTIS provider and does not sell history; the title, lien, odometer and stolen-vehicle checks on this site route you to the right free source.
Is this Subaru VIN decoder really free?
Yes. It reads NHTSA's vPIC database, which is public US federal data, with no account and no card. NHTSA's own decoder at vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov gives the same answer. What CarWorthIt charges for is a local-market valuation of the exact VIN at its mileage (from $2.99) and the factory build record (from $6.99).
What the paid reports add, honestly
The decode above is free and always will be. CarWorthIt does not sell vehicle history, and says so on every page. What we do sell is price and factory data for the exact VIN:
- Valuation, $2.99: What it’s worth near you at its mileage, and a verdict on whether the asking price is fair.
- Full Report, $6.99: Everything in the Valuation, plus what it cost new, its factory options and full standard equipment.
- Negotiation Bundle, $9.99: Everything in both reports, plus your opening offer, your walk-away price and the evidence to argue for them.
Run any VIN free first: the free report already includes open recalls, crash-test ratings and running costs. Pricing and a sample report.
Related free tools
Sources checked for this page
- NHTSA vPIC API, DecodeVinValues, checked September 15, 2026
- NHTSA vPIC (Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing), checked September 15, 2026: "vPIC is intended for use on Model Years 1981 and forward. Vehicles prior to 1980's VIN standard are not included in decoding capability for the system." Decoder version 4.07, updated July 18, 2026.
- 49 CFR Part 565, Vehicle Identification Number Requirements (eCFR), checked September 15, 2026: 565.13: 17 characters, check digit in position 9, no I, O or Q, VIN readable through the windshield at the left pillar. 565.15 Table VII (2005 to 2039) and Table XIII (1980 to 2013) give the model-year codes.
CarWorthIt is not an NMVTIS-approved data provider, does not sell vehicle history reports, and is not affiliated with Carfax, AutoCheck, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds or NADA.
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