BMW VIN decoder
Enter a BMW VIN to see the model year, model, engine and the plant it was built in, from NHTSA’s database.
Find yours on the driver’s side of the dashboard, through the windshield, or on the door jamb sticker.
BMW manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and, usually, the kind of vehicle. These are the codes NHTSA lists for BMW.
| VIN starts with | Built in | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|
| 3MF | Germany | Passenger Car |
| 3MW | Germany | Passenger Car |
| 4US | United States | Passenger Car |
| 5UM | Germany | Passenger Car |
| 5UX | United States | SUV / MPV |
| 5YM | United States | SUV / MPV |
| WAP | Germany | Passenger Car |
| WB5 | Germany | SUV / MPV |
| WBA | Germany | Passenger Car |
| WBS | Germany | Passenger Car |
| WBX | Germany | SUV / MPV |
| WBY | Germany | Passenger Car |
How to read a BMW VIN
- 1–3: the manufacturer code from the table above.
- 4–8: BMW’s own codes for the model line, body, engine and safety restraints. The decoder reads these from NHTSA’s data.
- 9: the check digit, which catches typos.
- 10: the model year, for example R for 2024, S for 2025 and T for 2026.
- 11: the assembly plant.
- 12–17: the serial number.
See the full VIN year chart and what every position means on the main VIN decoder page.
Other VIN decoders
- Ford VIN decoder
- Chevy VIN decoder
- Honda VIN decoder
- Mercedes VIN decoder
- GMC VIN decoder
- Dodge VIN decoder
- Jeep VIN decoder
- Tesla VIN decoder
- Ram VIN decoder
- Nissan VIN decoder
- Toyota VIN decoder
- Hyundai VIN decoder
- Kia VIN decoder
- Subaru VIN decoder
- Volkswagen VIN decoder
Questions
What does a BMW VIN start with?
BMW VINs begin with a three-character manufacturer code (WMI). Codes on file with NHTSA include 3MF, 3MW, 4US, 5UM, 5UX, 5YM, WAP and WB5, among others. The first character shows the country: 3 for Germany and 4 for United States.
How do I find the year of my BMW from the VIN?
Read the 10th character. For a modern BMW, a letter in the 7th position means 2010 or later: N is 2022, P 2023, R 2024, S 2025, T 2026. The decoder above works it out for you.
Is this BMW VIN decoder free?
Yes. It uses NHTSA’s public vPIC database, which BMW reports its VIN codes to, so there’s nothing to pay or sign up for.
Where is the VIN on a BMW?
At the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side, and on the sticker in the driver’s door jamb. It’s also on the title, registration and insurance card.
