Engine Type by VIN Number | Free VIN Decoder and Lookup

How do you know the right engine type and size of a vehicle? You don’t, unless you decode the VIN. If you want to know the engine type of any vehicle, you only need a VIN and you can use our VIN decoder. Know engine type, engine size and more engine specs in a few. Decode any VIN for free now!

How do you know the right engine type and size of a vehicle? You don’t, unless you decode the VIN. If you want to know the engine type of any vehicle, you only need a VIN and you can use our VIN decoder. Know engine type, engine size and more engine specs in a few. Decode any VIN for free now!

What are Car Engines?

A car engine can be defined simply as the heart of a vehicle, responsible for converting energy into the force that makes the car move. There are several different types of engines but we can classify them into two main categories: internal combustion engines (ICE) and electric engines.

Internal Combustion Engines (ICE)

ICEs are engines that work by burning a mixture of fuel and air within the engine. This produces controlled explosions that in turn drive the pistons and move the vehicle forward.

Electric Engines

Electric engines are powered by electricity from a battery. They are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower emissions and quieter operation. There are two main types of electric vehicles (EVs):

How Does the VIN Decoder Work?

Our VIN decoder requires the VIN and breaks it down to access the specifications encoded within. The VIN is a 17-character string of letters and numbers (or 5 to 13 digits in classic vehicles) that is assigned to a vehicle during manufacture.

You can decode a vehicle’s VIN to identify specific information including the year, make, model, trim, engine specifications, transmission, and more.

The VIN can also be used to check a vehicle’s history and past records. It serves as an identifier and can be used to access theft records, accident records, title brand records, and more.

Where is the Vehicle Identification Number located?

The VIN can be found on the:

Breakdown of a VIN: What does each digit represent?

What can a 17 character string of letters and numbers tell you about a car? Here is a simple breakdown of a VIN:

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI - The first 3 characters)

Vehicle Attributes (Fourth to Ninth Positions)

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS - 10th to 17th Digits)

The table below shows how the tenth character of a VIN can show the model year of any vehicle type.

VIN to Year Table

A   1980

L   1990

Y   2000

A   2010

L   2020

Y   2030

B   1981

M   1991

1   2001

B   2011

M   2021

1   2031

 1982

N   1992

2   2002

 2012

 2022

2   2032

 1983

P   1993

3   2003

D   2013

P   2023

3   2033

 1984

R   1994

4   2004

E   2014

R   2024

4   2034

F   1985

S   1995

5   2005

F   2015

S   2025

5   2035

G   1986

T   1996

6   2006

G   2016

T   2026

6   2036

H   1987

V   1997

7   2007

H   2017

 2027

7   2037

 1988

 1998

8   2008

 2018

W   2028

8   2038

K   1989

X   1999

9   2009

K   2019

X   2029

9   2039

A   1980

L   1990

B   1981

M   1991

  1982

N   1992

  1983

P   1993

  1984

R   1994

F   1985

S   1995

G   1986

T   1996

H   1987

V   1997

  1988

  1998

K   1989

X   1999

Y   2000

A   2010

1   2001

B   2011

2     2002

  2012

3   2003

D   2013

4   2004

E   2014

5   2005

F   2015

6   2006

G   2016

7   2007

H   2017

8   2008

  2018

9   2009

K   2019

L   2020

Y   2030

M   2021

1   2031

  2022

2   2032

P   2023

3   2033

R   2024

4   2034

S   2025

5   2035

T   2026

6   2036

  2027

7   2037

W   2028

8   2038

X   2029

9   2039

Benefits of Knowing Engine Details for Buyers, Sellers, and Owners

There are several benefits of using our VIN decoder to access vehicle specifications. They are:

For Car Buyers

For Car Sellers and Dealers

For Car Owners

DID YOU KNOW?

Nicolaus Otto

“The internal combustion engine (ICE) used in most cars today was invented by Nicolaus Otto in 1876.”

“The internal combustion engine (ICE) used in most cars today was invented by Nicolaus Otto in 1876.”

Engine Type by VIN Decoder: Check out a Sample!

The 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid has the following engine specs:

Engine displacement: 1.3L
Number of cylinders: 4
Camshaft: SOHC
Number of valves: 8
Hybrid engine
Fuel type: Gasoline
Transmission: Automatic CVT Overdrive

Get Engine Type by VIN and Detailed Reports with the Mobile App!

Get Engine Type by VIN and Detailed Reports with the Mobile App!

On the road? At a dealership? Save time and enjoy offline free VIN decoding with the VIN decoder and Vehicle History application. Having both Android and iOS versions, the app comes with a scanning feature that allows you to scan VINs, license plates, and minimize errors with typing.

Verify engine specifications and get instant VIN lookups with the mobile app today!

Download now and get started!

How To Check Engine Type By VIN

Checking the engine type by VIN is a very easy task. All you have to do is follow these steps:

  1. Find the VIN on the vehicle of interest.
  2. Enter or scan the 17-digit VIN into the form above
  3. Fill out the rest of the form with the required information
  4. Submit the form
  5. Get the vehicle specifications
  6. You can make payment for more information about the vehicle of interest.

If you do not have the VIN of the vehicle you are interested in, you can also get the same details about the vehicle’s specs using our license plate lookup tool!

Do I Need a Vehicle History Report?

Yes! You most definitely do need a history report if you’re looking to buy or sell a used vehicle. With a regular free VIN decoder, you can access basic vehicle information and specifications such as:

A full vehicle history report goes further to provide access to past records including:

With a VIN number lookup, buyers can be sure about their decisions and sellers/dealers can improve transparency and trustworthiness in their dealings with buyers.

Popular Car Models and Their Engine Types and Sizes

Car Model
Engine Type
Engine Size (Displacement)

Toyota Corolla

Inline-four (L4)

1.8L

Honda Civic

Inline-four (L4)

2.0L

Ford Mustang

V6 or V8

3.7L (V6) or 5.0L (V8)

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Inline-four (L4)

2.0L

BMW 3 Series

Inline-four or Inline-six

2.0L (L4) or 3.0L (L6)

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Inline-four or V6

2.0L (L4) or 3.0L (V6)

Subaru Impreza WRX

Flat-four (Boxer)

2.0L

Chevrolet Camaro

V6 or V8

3.6L (V6) or 6.2L (V8)

Porsche 911

Flat-six (Boxer)

3.0L (911 Carrera)

Tesla Model 3

Electric

N/A (Battery-powered)

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can determine the engine type of a vehicle using the VIN. When you query a particular vehicle’s VIN to identify specs with our tools, the VIN is decoded to access specifications encoded within, including engine details such as type, size, and configuration.

To find the engine model of your car using the VIN, simply enter the VIN into our VIN decoder tool. The decoder will provide detailed VIN information, including engine specifications. Get information about your vehicle today!

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) contains various technical details about the vehicle, including the year, make, model, trim, engine specifications, transmission, and more. It serves as a unique identifier for each vehicle and can also provide access to the vehicle’s history and past records.

The 8th digit in a VIN typically represents the vehicle’s engine type or displacement. This digit provides important information about the engine configuration, helping to identify the specific characteristics of the vehicle’s powertrain.