Land Rover VIN (Vehicle Identification Numbers)
This article was produced to help to identify your vehicle
The most reliable way to identify the vehicle you own is to look at the Chassis/VIN number. This is stamped on a plate in the vehicle’s engine compartment and is unique to your vehicle. It is possible for you to ‘decode’ this number to determine a large number of things about the vehicle, including the model and model year.
Where to find Land Rover VIN
The VIN plate is located on the brake pedal box in the engine compartment. The VIN is also stamped on the RH side of the chassis to the rear of the front lashing eye.
Explaining the Land Rover VIN format
A typical Land Rover Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) will have the following 17 alpha numeric character ISO 3779 compliant format eg: SALLDHMD7FA416172.
The first 3 characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). For Land Rovers this is SAL and relates to the Region (S), Country (A) and Manufacturer(L). In this case it is Europe, United Kingdom, Land Rover.
Characters 4 through to 9 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) and identify the vehicle type and includes information on the platform, the model, and the body style. In this case, a 4 door One Ten 2.5L petrol.
Characters 10 to 17 are the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) and are used by the manufacturer to identify the individual vehicle in question. Land Rover use the 10th Character as the Model Year and the 11th as the Plant Code, the final 6 characters in the VIN are a simple sequential number. Think of this as a unique serial number.
This is how the Land Rover VIN is decoded:
Geographical Region (1st Character)
S Europe
Country (2nd Character)
A United Kingdom
Manufacturer (3rd Character)
L Land Rover
Model Type (4th & 5th Characters)
LB Series III
LD Ninety, One Ten, 127, Defender
LH Range Rover
LJ Discovery
LM Range Rover L322
LN Freelander
LP Range Rover (38A)
LT Discovery Series II
Wheelbase (6th Character)
A Series III 88″
Defender 90″ extra heavy duty
Range Rover Classic 100″
Range Rover (38A) 108″
Freelander
B Series III 88″ Lightweight
Defender 110″ extra heavy duty
Range Rover Classic LSE 108″
Freelander Commercial
C Series III 109″
Defender 130″ extra heavy duty
D Series III 109″
G 100″ (Discovery)
H 110″ (L/R)
K 130″ (L/R)
M Special Build
R 110″ (24 volt)
S 90″ (24 volt)
V 90″ (L/R)
Body Style (7th Character)
A Basic
Soft Top
Pickup
Hardtop Van Commercial
Freelander 3 Door Commercial
Discovery 3 or 5 Door
B Series III 88″ Station Wagon
Defender 3door Station Wagon
Range Rover Classic 2 door
Discovery 3 door
Freelander 5 Door
F Defender 4 door Crew cab non Hi-capacity
H High Capacity Pick Up with/without crew cab
M Defender 5door Station Wagon
Range Rover Classic 5 door
Range Rover (38A) 5 door
Discovery 5 door
R Range Rover Moneverdi
Engine Type (8th Character)
A = 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, ‘K’ Series, High Compression Unleaded
B = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, turbo-diesel, 19J 2.0L, inline 4 cylinder, ‘L’ Series, turbo-diesel
C = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, diesel, 12J 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, ‘K’ Series, Low Compression Unleaded
D = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, petrol, 17H 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, ‘K’ Series, Low Compression Leaded
E = 3.5L, V8 carb, petrol, High Compression, 2.4L, inline 4 cylinder, VM Diesel, 2.0L, inline 4 cylinder, BMW M47 (Td4), diesel
F = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, turbo-diesel (200Tdi/300Tdi) non EGR/cat, 11L or 16L, 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, ‘K’ Series, High Compression Leaded
G = 2.25L, inline 4 cylinder, diesel, 2.5L, V6, ‘KV6’ Series, Unleaded
H = 2.25L, inline 4 cylinder, petrol, 2.5L, V6, ‘KV6’ Series, Leaded
J = 4.6L, V8 Efi, petro, 2.5L, V6, ‘KV6’ Series, Ethanol
L = 3.5L, V8 Efi, petrol
M = 3.9 & 4.0L, V8 Efi, petrol
N = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, VM Diesel
P = 2.6L, inline 6 cylinder, IOE petrol
V = 3.5L, V8 carb, petrol, Low Compression
W = 2.5L, inline 6 cylinder, BMW Diesel
Y = 2.0L, inline 4 cylinder Mpi, petrol
1 = 4.0L, V8Efi, Low Compression with Cat
2 = 4.0L, V8Efi, High Compression with Cat
3 = 4.0L, V8Efi, Low Compression without Cat
6 = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, turbo-diesel (200Tdi/300Tdi) EGR/cat
8 = 2.5L, inline 5 cylinder, turbo-diesel (Td5) EGR
9 = 2.5L, inline 5 cylinder, turbo-diesel (Td5) EGR without Cat (Disco II), 2.8L, inline 6 cylinder, M52 BMW petrol
Gearbox Type (9th Character)
1 Series III 4 speed / Right Hand Drive, LT95 4 speed / Right Hand Drive, JATCO 5 speed Auto / Right Hand Drive
2 Series III 4 speed / Left Hand Drive, LT95 4 speed / Left Hand Drive, JATCO 5 speed Auto / Left Hand Drive
3 Chrysler 747 3 speed Auto / Right Hand Drive, ZF 4 speed Auto / Right Hand Drive
4 Chrysler 747 3 speed Auto / Left Hand Drive, ZF 4 speed Auto / Left Hand Drive
5 RHD 4 speed gearbox + overdrive
6 LHD 4 speed gearbox + overdrive
7 LT77 5 Speed Manual / Right Hand Drive, LT77S 5 Speed Manual / Right Hand Drive, LT85 5 Speed Manual / Right Hand Drive, R380 5 Speed Manual / Right Hand Drive, PG1 5 speed5 Speed Manual / Right Hand Drive
8 LT77 5 Speed Manual / Left Hand Drive, LT77S 5 Speed Manual / Left Hand Drive, LT85 5 Speed Manual / Left Hand Drive, R380 5 Speed Manual / Left Hand Drive, PG1 5 speed5 Speed Manual / Left Hand Drive
Year of Build (10th Character)
A 2010
B Ser. III CSW or R/R Phase II, or 90/110 face lift to 1987 M/Y
2011
C R/R 1986 M/Y or 2012
D R/R 1987 M/Y or 2013
E 1988 or 2014
F 1989 or 2015
G 1990 or 2016
H 1991 or 2017
J 1992 or 2018
K 1993
L 1994
M 1995
T 1996
V 1997
W 1998
X 1999
Y 2000
1 2001
2 2002
3 2003
4 2004
5 2005
6 2006
7 2007
8 2008
9 2009
Build Type (11th Character)
A Solihull, UK
F Worldwide – CKD knock down kit
V South Africa