ATV VIN Number

by Nick Harris on September 30th, 2007

4/17/2009 Update: You can now get help with your ATV Vin Number questions in the ATV Forum.

ATV VIN number charts and information to help you search for and decode your ATVs VIN number. Every sport ATV has a 17 digit VIN (vehicle identification number) even if you need to search for it a little. You’ll find the VIN plate mounted to the frame of the ATV, usually on the bottom portion of it.

Kawasaki for example has it mounted on the left side of the engine. If you have nerf bars installed it’s possible that part of the VIN will be hard to see. Don’t mistake the engine number, which is mounted on the engine, as a VIN number.

A VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is standardized. Whether your ride a Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, Yamaha or other ATV all will contain 17 characters that can include capital letters from A through Z and numbers 1 through 0. The letters I, O and Q are never used within a VIN in order to avoid mistakes made by misreading them. No signs or spaces are allowed in the Vehicle Identification Number.

The position of each letter and/or number in the VIN code reveals important information about where and when your ATV was made, the type of engine it has, the model or series of ATV, various equipment/attributes and its production sequence.

Contact the vehicles manufacturer with specific VIN related questions. Contact your local DMV, department of motor vehicles, if you need to replace your VIN plate (if it broke off or you installed a new frame etc). Here is a general breakdown of what your VIN numbers mean.

- 1st digit : represents the country in which it was made. 1 or 4 is for the U.S., 2 is for Canada, J is for Japan, K is for Korea etc.

- 2nd digit : represents the manufacturer. H is for Honda, K is for Kawasaki etc.

- 3rd digit : this position represents the vehicle type or manufacturing division which can vary by make of vehicle.

- 4th to 8th digits : these positions represent vehicle attributes such as body style and engine type (not to be confused with an engine code, every vehicle has one of those mounted on the engine).
Honda ATV owners visit the Honda ATV Model Codes list for model information.

- 9th digit : this is called a “check digit” and it exists for security reasons. This letter or number is derived mathematically depending on the previous 8 digits. It’s used to confirm that a VIN isn’t being fabricated.

- 10th digit : The vehicle year.

VIN model year codes

- 11th digit : Assembly plant

- 12th to 17th digits : These numbers increase by one for each unit that rolls off the assembly line, the last four are always digits.

It’s very helpful to know your ATV VIN when purchasing aftermarket parts. Here is a chart of what your Honda ATV VIN may look like.

ATV VIN chart



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  • March 20, 2008 at 7:59 pm
    Ben said:

    I’ve looked for hours trying to find a legend for a Yamaha Four wheeler VIN. I need to know if the 5th digit which seems to represent engine displacement, is always the same on each vehicle regardless of manufacturer, or do they change from model to model.

    • December 10, 2008 at 12:12 am
      Nick Harris said:

      It sounds like you’ve got the engine serial number and VIN number mixed up but regardless, it can change from model to model and from factory to factory. Thankfully the most popular models stick to a standard VIN sequence.

  • April 17, 2008 at 4:59 am
    John Roth said:

    I’m looking to buy an old beat up Honda with no plastic and besides the VIN I have no way of knowing what it is exactly. The number appears to be JH3TE0300E0016623. How can I find out what I’m dealing with?

    • December 10, 2008 at 12:18 am
      Nick Harris said:

      Sure thing John, lets break it down. ‘JH3′ means it’s a Honda produced in Japan. ‘TE030′ Tells you that it’s the TRX 200 e model. Ignore the next 0, it’s a check digit. The following ‘1′ indicates it was produced in 2001. The rest indicates the plant and assembly line number.

      You have a 2001 Honda TRX 200 E on your hands.

  • April 18, 2008 at 10:36 pm
    Mike said:

    I’m looking at purchasing a 2000 Honda 400ex.. there is no title but these are the vin numbers 4787E2303Y4001081. The second diget is not an “H” is there some kind of mistake?

    • December 10, 2008 at 12:18 am
      Nick Harris said:

      Nope, no mistake, ATVs manufactured in the US often have a number instead of a letter in the second position.

  • April 23, 2008 at 8:32 pm
    chris guilmette said:

    I just bought a pair of 3 wheelers but have no real information about them. The VIN’s are JH3TB0518DC234181 and JH3TB0519DC209155. Help?

  • April 28, 2008 at 5:08 pm
    Roxanna said:

    We had a four wheeler given to us, and it looks a little bit like it may be stolen, I am trying to find a way to check the VIN to see who the actual owner is. What do I do? Thanks

    • December 10, 2008 at 12:11 am
      Nick Harris said:

      Something has set off some red flags in your mind, run it by the sheriffs office. Take a picture of the VIN plate and another of the overall ATV and give them enough time to get back to you before you spend money on parts.

  • May 7, 2008 at 2:54 pm
    Daniel said:

    I’ve got an old Honda ATV. I’m wondering what model it is. I can tell it’s a 1994 Honda, but not sure on the model. VIN is JH3TE1806RT100692 THANKS!!

  • May 11, 2008 at 1:13 pm
    richard said:

    I won a ATV in a draw at work and I’m trying to figure the exact value of this machine, could someone help me please? FY50LW20250401982

  • May 26, 2008 at 3:29 am
    Johnny said:

    Where is the vin located on a 2005 trx650

  • May 31, 2008 at 1:03 pm
    tony mascorro said:

    IM LOOKING TO DECODE A VIN # ON TWO YAMAHA JET SKI BUT DONT KNOW WHERE TO START

  • June 4, 2008 at 5:21 pm
    nick said:

    I have a Yamaha warrior but i’m not sure about the year and i’m trying to find out who the title is registered to and the DMV nor the state police station will give me any info on it the vin # is:jy43gd0301co15493

    • December 10, 2008 at 12:23 am
      Nick Harris said:

      It’s a 2001 and the DMV has that info but won’t share it with you unless you are involved in some kind of transaction with it. ATV VIN’s aren’t as readily available as car VIN’s.

  • June 6, 2008 at 3:27 am
    Terry said:

    I have a question. I’m trying to find a manufacturer for an ATV called maxfine 220, and the vin starts with xy—–. I guess it’s a japan model, i’m wondering if you know where I can search to find parts??

  • June 8, 2008 at 12:35 am
    joel rummage said:

    i recently bought a atv from a friend,but we can’t figure out exactly what it is.i call it a frankenstein bike.i know it is a 1987 honda but i don’t know what model it is the vin is jh3te1305hko16651 can u help?

    • December 10, 2008 at 12:24 am
      Nick Harris said:

      Sure can, you have an ‘87 Honda TRX 250 XH-N Fourtrax ATV manufactured at the Kumamoto plant in Japan on your hands.

  • June 11, 2008 at 2:08 am
    Ben said:

    I have a 2002 Honda Recon TRX250 and i cant find the VIN # on it and I need the VIN # for insurance.

  • June 11, 2008 at 4:21 pm
    LT said:

    I’ve got, from what I can tell, a ‘94 suzuki, but can’t figure out model. Can you help?
    vin is JSAAJ47A3R2102900

  • June 11, 2008 at 5:44 pm
    Dwayne said:

    I have a 1987 honda 350 fourtrax where can I find the VIN # I have looked everwhere and cannot find it. Can you help?? Thanks.

  • June 12, 2008 at 8:30 pm
    Michael Murr said:

    I bought a small ATV for my son. It has been used, to say the least. The starter went out and I am trying to find out what make, model, etc. I have on my hands. The ATV has no markings on it at all, but a VIN plate stuck on the front:
    L4ZA4L1W45F012624
    Any way of finding out what I have?
    Thanks

  • June 19, 2008 at 7:10 pm
    josh sublette said:

    i have a 2004 suzuki z400 and there is no vin number on it and all i can find is a engine code just wondering if you can run them numbers and figure out what the vin should be for the bike the numbers are k428175141 thanks

  • June 20, 2008 at 6:32 am
    Michelle said:

    I purchased a beat up four wheeler with no plastic. I was told it was a 2001 Honda of some sort. I was looking for a way to check the VIN number. I was wondering if you could help me out. The number is 478TE24451A107119.

  • June 20, 2008 at 7:08 pm
    Brandon Reinert said:

    i have a 2002 honda 400EX. i found the displacement, etc plate and the plug/gap plate but im having trouble finding the VIN plate. where is it located on this thing?? also, im considering buying a “monster coil” and a “stage 3 rev box” made by AMR Racing, i know very little about compatibility with these things, is it a good idea to start changing out some of these parts? the wheeler itself has been through a little beating. runs, idles fine, but fenders are cracked and clutch lever is bent. seems to be a good runner tho. i would like to give it a make over, but whats the most logical thing to start with?

  • June 25, 2008 at 4:51 am
    jeff said:

    I have a Yamaha Raptor 700R its gray and red frame!! dont know where the vin is located. Have searched all over and cant find it!! Can you help me please?

    Jeff Williams.

  • June 26, 2008 at 12:11 pm
    Jorge said:

    I just got a raptor and a z400.Im wondering if you can find the history.the vins are:JSAAK47A742106289 and JY4am07y17C034363.Thanks

  • October 21, 2008 at 11:09 pm
    Nick Harris said:

    Due to the huge volume of messages and emails requesting help with identifying ATV vin numbers I’m working on a database to allow you to decipher your vin with the help of a simple online tool. Thanks for your patience. I’m also trying to reply to every comment about VIN numbers via email for now so please make sure you comment with the correct email address.

  • November 17, 2008 at 4:14 pm
    Jason said:

    Hello, I just bought a 1989 Polaris Trail Boss 4×4, I was told it either has a 250cc or 300cc engine. I just wanted to know if the VIN would tell me what specific engine it has, since it is older it only uses the 7 digit VIN#.
    1643024 is the VIN #, any help is greatly appreciated.
    Thanks
    Jason

  • November 18, 2008 at 11:22 pm
    Brentt said:

    Hello my friend wants me to buy this quad from him but Their is no indication to what it is, He had lost the title and he dosnt know what it is eather. the vin # is LAWSGN0013C576593 could you help me out and tell me what im dealing with here?

  • November 20, 2008 at 4:26 pm
    John Williams said:

    Need help decoding this vin on my quad #jsaak43ax12102805 thanks

  • December 4, 2008 at 4:55 pm
    Terrall Hanson said:

    I have A Chinese quad that doesn’t reveal manufacture or model. VIN L4ZA4Z1W15F000191, I have checked closely and this is the correct VIN. I says origin Asia, Country China year 2005 but no manufacturer or model. Is any one else frustrated over these little problems?

  • December 4, 2008 at 6:02 pm
    Nick Harris said:

    Brentt, Terrall - Those are both Japanese ATVs made in 2001 and 2003 respectively but with over 36 million different manufacturer/model combinations I haven’t found the model types yet. I can’t read Japanese so searching through manuals is slow.
    John - Thats a 2001 Suzuki LT-F300F made in Japan

  • December 6, 2008 at 1:38 pm
    Debbie T. said:

    I bought a 4 wheeler and it doesn’t have any plastic, all I was told its a 2006 150cc and that’s all.Can someone help me the vin# is L4ZA4L1W36F000451.I would like to fix it for my granddaughter.

    Any help would be appreciated!!!
    Thanks,
    Debbie

    • December 10, 2008 at 12:26 am
      Nick Harris said:

      It looks like you and Terrel bought the same model of ATV. All that is readily available in the US in terms of information for that VIN is that the ATV came from China, it’s a 2006 and there weren’t many produced (hence the low series number - 00451). I’ll do some digging,

  • December 6, 2008 at 6:17 pm
    Debbie T. said:

    Thank you !!!
    Debbie

  • December 6, 2008 at 7:29 pm
    Debbie T. said:

    I’ve been looking on the internet and it looks like a GoScoot Falcon.Let me know what you think.The frame looks the same.

    Debbie

    • December 7, 2008 at 2:02 am
      Nick Harris said:

      GoScoot is a dealer that re-sells Kazuma (and other) ATV’s and therein lies part of the problem in figuring out what an ATV is by VIN. Dealers have some leeway to “re-brand” some imported ATVs by changing some body parts and in some cases even manufacturer names.

  • December 7, 2008 at 9:18 am
    Debbie T. said:

    Nick,
    Thank you so much for your help and for your time hopefully this will turn out.Thanks again!!!
    Debbie

  • December 8, 2008 at 8:24 am
    John Sills said:

    I have an old Polaris Trail Boss 250 2×4. I have found a plate on the frame that contains: W968527 which is the model. On the other side of the plate it has the # 2963619. I am just trying to figure out what year this atv is. ANy help? Polaris has not been much help. Thanks, John.

  • December 9, 2008 at 4:36 pm
    john,k said:

    Iam trying to tack down an engine manufacture for part#183fmq engine serial #06a00264 seller claims this is a jianshe engine,I don”t by it if it was jianshe engine as advertised the engine part#should read JS183fmq I believe this 183fmq to be a cheap knock off.Bike is a starx(2007)brand new.I have already found out by the vin that it was produced by Bashan astronautical motor cycle company Vin#as follows LHJSPS00×8B000006. any more info would be greatly appreciated.
    John

  • December 10, 2008 at 9:51 am
    Paul Ventura said:

    Nick, your knowledge of ATV VINs is awesome. Could you help me? I think the 7th digit of newer (2007) Yamaha Grizzly VINs relates to power steering, and if that digit = 3 then they have power steering, and if it = 5 then they don’t. Is this correct, and what does it mean if the 7th digit = 9?

    Thanks a ton.

    Best,
    Paul Ventura

  • January 9, 2009 at 4:22 pm
    Nick Harris said:

    This thread is being closed because it is getting quite lengthy, support for helping you figure out your vin number is being moved to the forum - ATV Vin Number Information - please head over there to ask about specific vin numbers. The forums are more suitable to help you get answers because people can post pictures, links and images as reference material.