Subaru VIN decoder

What is Subaru VIN?

Subaru VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every Subaru vehicle during manufacturing. Each character in the VIN encodes specific information about that particular car, including its type, model year, engine and body type, and assembly plant. This can help you learn more about your current car or one you plan to buy.

Moreover, as the VIN is used to document various events throughout the vehicle’s lifespan, you can use it to assess its condition and learn about its past. By entering Subaru VIN into a VIN decoder, you can get a full vehicle history report that can help unveil damage history, mileage records, ownership changes, and more, which is especially important when buying a used car.

Subaru is a Japanese automobile brand that produces vehicles with a focus on durability, safety, and all-wheel-drive capabilities. Because of this, the company has earned a loyal following among consumers looking for cars suitable for various terrains and weather conditions.

Subaru has also shown commitment to environmental issues, offering partial zero-emission vehicle options, incorporating eco-friendly materials into cars, and developing alternative fuel technologies.

Where to search for the VIN?

A vehicle’s VIN number is located in multiple places and can depend on the brand. However, there are specific common locations where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.

Here’s where you can find the VIN on Subaru cars:

• Dashboard. Look through the windshield on the driver’s side – you should see a small metal plate or a transparent sticker on the dashboard that contains the VIN.
• Driver’s side door pillar. If you can’t find the VIN on the dashboard, check the driver’s side door pillar, as it’s another common place to find the Subaru VIN.
• Under the hood. You can also find the VIN on the build plate located in the engine bay.
• The front end of a frame. Some Subarus might have their VINs placed on the inner front wheel arch.
• Vehicle documentation. The VIN is usually mentioned in the car's registration documents, insurance papers, and the vehicle's title. Check any of those if you cannot locate the VIN on the car itself.

Some additional Subaru VIN locations can also include the vehicle firewall or base of the passenger side “B” pillar.

What is Subaru VIN decoder?

Subaru VIN lookup can benefit both car owners and buyers, as it can help you learn more about a particular vehicle. Besides providing technical information about the car, the VIN is also used to document various events throughout its lifespan, allowing you to track a vehicle’s history and better assess its condition.

For instance, a full vehicle history report can help you learn about damages, ownership history, mileage discrepancies, and more, which is especially important when buying a used car. If you’re selling, you can use this information for transparency, improving your chances of sealing the deal.

How accurate is the information provided by the Subaru VIN decoder?

carVertical gathers and processes information from over 900 reputable global data sources, including law enforcement databases, state registries, insurance companies, auto repair shops, and more. Therefore, using the Subaru VIN decoder and getting a full vehicle history report is a great way to identify a car’s potential weak spots before buying it or earn a buyer’s trust when selling.

How to decode a VIN number - Subaru VIN breakdown

A Subaru VIN consists of four sections – World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), Security Check Digit, and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). Each section encodes specific information about the vehicle.

Although it’s much faster and easier with a VIN decoder, you can manually decode a car’s VIN number if you know what each character means. This can help you make a few quick insights about the vehicle.

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The World Manufacturer Identifier section consists of the first three characters of the Subaru VIN. Knowing what each of them means lets you learn about the country of origin, manufacturer, and vehicle type.

1st character – country of origin

2nd character – manufacturer

In the Subaru VIN, the second character encodes the manufacturer and is often either “S” or “F.”

While “S” means Subaru, some older Japanese-built models also use the old parent company name Fuji Heavy Industries – this is what the letter “F” in some VINs stands for.

3rd character – vehicle type

Some examples of WMI sections and their meanings:

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The fourth to eighth character of the Subaru VIN is the Vehicle Descriptor Section. It can provide vehicle-specific information, such as:

• Model line type (4th character) – XT/XT6 (A) Legacy/Baja (B), Alcyone SVX (C), Impreza (G), Forester (S), B9 Tribeca (W), etc.
• Body type (5th character) – 3rd gen. Sedan (Impreza/Legacy) (E), 2nd gen. non-raised-roof Legacy Wagon (K), 4th gen. Legacy Sedan (L), Impreza Hatch Widebody (R), 6th Gen. Outback Wagon (S), etc.
• The engine type (6th character):

• The model (7th character). Each body type has its representing character in the Subaru VIN number that can help you understand the car’s trim. For example, in the Legacy sedan/wagon VIN, “1” encodes 2.5i, “7”=GT Limited, and “8” stands for GT. For Outback, “7” represents XT Limited, while “8” means XT.
• Safety equipment (8th character):

Security Check Digit

The Security Check Digit (9th character in the Subaru VIN) is created to detect errors and safeguard against tampering within the VIN system rather than convey vehicle-specific information.

The Security Check Digit is calculated using a dedicated algorithm known as the VIN formula. This formula uses the 16 remaining characters of the VIN, assigning distinct weights to each character. The Check Digit is derived based on the sum of these weighted values.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The Vehicle Identifier Section is the remaining characters (10th-17th) of the Subaru VIN.

The 10th character is the model year. The common practice is that the model year encoding uses letters from the Latin alphabet, excluding “I,” “O,” “Q,” “U,” and “Z” to avoid confusion with numbers or other letters.

The 11th character in the Subaru VIN represents the assembly plant and transmission type. These can vary by year. Here are some examples:

12th to 17th is a serial or production number that is unique to every vehicle.

Is a Subaru VIN decoder available for a free VIN check?

You can use the Subaru VIN decoder for free to check the legitimacy of the VIN and get some general information about a vehicle, such as manufacturer, engine type, model year, and more.

However, buying a vehicle history report is highly recommended to better understand the vehicle’s past and condition (especially before buying). Vehicle history reports contain information from governmental registries, manufacturers’ databases, law enforcement databases, and similar databases. Therefore, you’re paying for data collection and processing. As a result, you get a detailed and easy-to-read report.

List of Subaru models

Current Subaru models:

• Subaru BRZ
• Subaru Impreza
• Subaru Legacy
• Subaru Levorg/WRX
• Subaru Levorg Layback
• Subaru Outback
• Subaru Ascent/Evoltis
• Subaru Crosstrek
• Subaru Forester
• Subaru Rex
• Subaru Solterra
• Subaru Justy
• Subaru Chiffon
• Subaru Pleo
• Subaru Stella
• Subaru Sambar Truck
• Subaru Sambar Van
• Subaru Sambar Dias

Former models:

• 360/460 (1958–1971)
• 1000 (1966–1969)
• 1500 (1954)
• Alcyone/SVX (1991–1996)
• Baja (2003–2006)
• BRAT/Brumby/MV (1978–1994)
• Dex (2006–2012, rebadged Daihatsu Materia)
• FF-1 G (1971–1972)
• FF-1 Star (1969–1973)
• Exiga (2008–2018)
• Leone (1971–1994) Third generation van version was sold by Isuzu as the Isuzu Geminett II (1989-1993)
• Lucra (2010–2015, rebadged Daihatsu Tanto Exe)
• Outback Sport/Gravel Express/RV (1994–2012)
• R-2 (1969–1972)
• R1 (2005–2010)
• R2 (2003–2010)
• Rex (kei car) (1972–1992)
• Sumo/Libera/Domingo/Columbuss/E series/Estratto (1983–1998)
• Traviq (1999–2005, rebadged Opel Zafira)
• Trezia (2010–2016, rebadged Toyota Ractis)
• Tribeca (2005–2014)
• Vivio (1992–1998)
• XT/Alcyone XT/Vortex (1985–1991)

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