Where do I find the VIN on a Tesla?

Tesla consistently calls the vehicle identification number the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). You'll find your Tesla's VIN in several physical locations as well as directly in the vehicle's onboard computer. Physically, the VIN sits at the bottom-left corner of the windscreen, readable from outside through the front glass. In the engine compartment — on a Tesla, the frunk (front trunk) — the VIN is applied on a sticker or plate. On the driver's-side door pillar there's a sticker with the full VIN and vehicle data. On the B-pillar, the Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X have a stamped or stuck-on VIN. In addition, you can call up the VIN in the onboard computer: on the touchscreen, tap Software, then Vehicle Info. The full VIN is shown there. In the vehicle documents, the VIN appears in field E of Part I of the registration (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I) and in full in Part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II).

Tesla deviates from classic combustion-engine manufacturers in one important respect when it comes to VIN placement: the vehicle has no conventional engine compartment, but a frunk instead. The VIN plate or sticker in the front area is therefore located differently depending on the model: on the Model 3 and Model Y it is often found to the side within the frunk cavity or on a plastic carrier. On the Model S and Model X the placement is similar, but sometimes deeper in the frunk area. The most reliable physical spot for all Tesla models is the bottom-left corner of the windscreen: the stamped or stuck-on VIN is visible from outside. On the driver's-side door pillar there's a sticker; on a Tesla this sticker is often a little plainer than on German manufacturers, but it contains the same mandatory details including the VIN. The B-pillar is the most robust physical spot: here the VIN is stamped in on most Tesla models. In the onboard computer the VIN can be called up at any time under Software then Vehicle Info — which is especially handy when physical stickers are illegible or damaged.

Tesla consistently uses the term VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) instead of FIN. In German-speaking countries, FIN and VIN are the same number under ISO 3779, but Tesla communicates exclusively with VIN internally, in the app and in the onboard computer. This needs to be borne in mind when comparing vehicle documents with the onboard-computer display. A particular feature of Tesla is how easily the VIN can be retrieved in the onboard computer under Software then Vehicle Info — this doesn't replace cross-checking against the physical spots, but it makes the first check very convenient. For the model year from position 10 of the VIN, the following applies to Tesla vehicles from US and Chinese production (5YJ, 7SA, LRW): these vehicles follow the North American FMVSS 115 standard more consistently than European manufacturers, so the model-year coding at position 10 is usually more reliable than with many EU VINs. For vehicles from Grünheide production (XP7) the situation is similarly good, since Tesla also adopts the North American coding standard there. Even so, the rule of thumb is: the first-registration date in Part I of the registration (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I) is always the safer reference. There's another difference from combustion engines in the frunk: it lacks the classic engine compartment with the longitudinal member as a VIN carrier. Tesla places the VIN in the frunk area in a different way, which can be confusing at first during a quick inspection. When buying a used Tesla, it's also advisable to check the battery status and charge cycles via OBD diagnostics, as this data isn't contained in the VIN.