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Land-Rover VIN Decoder

Since 1948, the Land Rover has been a popular choice for drivers wanting a reliable off-road experience, and more recently, superior luxury paired with advanced safety features.

Each Land Rover comes with a unique 17-character code that is the key to unlocking the true identity of the vehicle. This code is known as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) standard, which is a global format that became common in the U.S. by the early 1980s.

By using a decoder like GoodCar’s Land Rover VIN Decoder, you can unlock information like model, trim, engine, year, assembly plant, and more. Additional reports on recalls, accident records, and title status history are also available for a deeper search.

How to Look Up a Land Rover VIN (Step-by-Step)

Looking up the VIN on your Land Rover is very easy. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Locate the Land Rover VIN (the driver’s side of the dashboard is the quickest spot)
  2. Type your VIN into GoodCar’s Land Rover VIN Decoder
  3. Review the decoded information
  4. Use the optional in-depth report to uncover the accident history, title brands, and ownership changes, and recalls

That’s it! Decoding your VIN using the GoodCar Decoder is easy and accurate.

What Is a Land Rover VIN?

Think of the Land Rover VIN as a complete snapshot of the car’s history from the moment it rolled off the production line to the moment you get behind the wheel. The VIN, a 17-character alphanumeric code, is used by carmakers across the globe.

At first glance, the code looks like a mixture of letters and numbers, but each digit has a very specific purpose: to reveal information about the car, like model, trim, engine, body style, plant, and build sequence. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Decoding the VIN can also reveal information such as:

  • Country or region of manufacture
  • Manufacturer
  • Vehicle type (passenger car, SUV, commercial, etc.)
  • Model series/platform
  • Engine and powertrain
  • Body style and variant
  • The restraint/safety systems
  • Model year
  • Assembly factory
  • Production (serial) sequence

Having this information becomes very useful when you need to identify specific vehicles and you’re dealing with a carmaker that has made millions of cars. While some vehicles might look the same from the outside, under the hood, they’re very different. Decoding the VIN can help owners and buyers find out specific information about their car.

What Information Does a Land Rover VIN Reveal?

The VIN can reveal a lot about a vehicle. In fact, the entire history of a car can be stored in just 17 characters, and GoodCar’s Land Rover VIN Decoder is the key to accessing that information instantly and accurately:

  • Model series and exact trim (Range Rover, Range Rover Sport)
  • Engine type (petrol, diesel, hybrid) and displacement
  • Transmission type (automatic, manual)
  • Drivetrain configuration (4WD, AWD, etc.)
  • Body style (SUV, station wagon, 2-door/4-door, etc.)
  • Model year
  • Assembly plant/factory
  • Production sequence / serial number
  • Country or region of manufacture
  • Safety/restraint system codes
  • Option/variation codes (if encoded)

Having access to this level of information can be useful for buyers to verify advertised information and for mechanics to check what OEM parts they need to use.

Land Rover VIN Decoder Breakdown by Digit

All vehicles, Land Rover or not, will have a VIN that follows a global format that is broken down into three categories: the manufacturer identifier, the vehicle descriptor section, and the vehicle identifier section.

This looks like:

  • WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier, positions 1–3): Contains the manufacturer and country/region.
  • VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section, positions 4–9): Contains the model, body, engine, and safety features.
  • VIS (Vehicle Identifier Section, positions 10–17): Contains the model year, assembly plant, and serial number.

The exact encoding may vary by model, year, and region.

Manufacture Identifier
  • 1
origin
  • F
country
  • T
type of vehicle
Vehicle descriptor section
  • 8
  • B
Restraint systems
  • T
  • A
Engine size
  • B
body style
 
  • B
checksum
 
  • 8
model year
 
  • U
manufacturing plant
Vehicle identifier section
  • c
  • 3
  • 8
  • 8
  • 9
1st - 2nd
The first digit of the VIN will reveal where the Land Rover was built. For example, “W” represents Germany and “S” represents the United Kingdom.
2nd - 3rd
Often digits two and three are combined to provide specific information like manufacturer code and vehicle type.
4th - 5th
Digits four and five are used to decode the model, seating, and trim level. The automaker tends to add a letter or number to indicate model redesigns.
6th
This digit represents the body style, like a 5-door Defender or 3-door wagon.
7th
This digit is reserved for the engine type. Land Rover has 19 distinct engine types, like 3.5l V8, 4.2l supercharged V8, and 2.7l turbo diesel.
8th
The 8th digit describes the transmission configuration.
9th
The 9th digit is a checksum digit that is used to verify the VIN's authenticity. A mathematical formula created by the US Department of Transportation is used to verify the VIN.
10th
This gives the model year of a specific Land Rover and cycles through the alphabet and the numbers 1 through 9 every thirty years.
11th
The 11th digit is reserved for the assembly plant where the vehicle was manufactured. Land Rover has plants in various places, like China, India, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.
12th - 17th
The last digits of the VIN are the vehicle’s serial number or production code.

Common Land Rover WMIs (Quick Reference)

The first three digits of the VIN have one job: to reveal where the car was built and what type of vehicle it is.

WMI Country/Region Vehicle Type (typical) Notes
SAL United Kingdom Passenger car/SUV The VIN is used to identify the region, the country, and the manufacturer.
SAD United Kingdom/ Europe Passenger / SUV This VIN will be used on new model lines and their variants made in the UK. This is a very uncommon code.
XA7 United Kingdom / Europe Passenger car / SUV You’ll find this VIN code used on Range Rover models that are built in the UK, but for export markets.
99J Brazil Passenger car/SUV This VIN is used for Land Rovers built in Latin America.

VIN Location on Land Rover Vehicles

Finding the VIN on your Land Rover is quite easy since there are multiple places it could be:

  • On the driver’s side of the dashboard. Just look through the windshield and you’ll see it
  • On the driver’s side of the door jamb.
  • On a plate or stamped into the engine bay near the brake pedal box, the bulkhead, or the firewall
  • On the official paperwork, like the title, registration, and insurance documents

Often, the dashboard is the easiest place to find the VIN.

Window Sticker / Build Sheet via VIN (Optional)

Some Land Rover VINs can also be used to access information from the original window sticker or build sheet. This information reveals what the car looked like the moment it rolled off the assembly line and is very useful for car collectors. These details may include:

  • The original MSRP
  • The factory-installed options and packages
  • The exterior and interior colors
  • The trim codes
  • The equipment and other factory-fitted accessories

While not all VINs are guaranteed to yield this information, when they do, it can be extremely useful for validation.

Popular Land Rover Models

Land Rover has made several model lineups throughout its history, and so there’s a pretty large number of Land Rovers on the market. Buyers and owners can use the VIN to identify specific models without the hassle of paperwork. Here are some common VIN checks used on popular Land Rover models.

Model Class Notable Notes (for VIN context)
Range Rover Classic / Range Rover (L322) Full-size luxury SUV The VIN is used to verify the engine variant (V8 and diesel), the body length, and the plant build location.
Discovery / Discovery Sport SUV / Crossover The VIN is used to decode the different model years, the drivetrain, and the body style.
Defender 90 / 110 / 130 Off-road / Utility Buyers and owners can use the VIN to confirm the model type, the length of the wheelbase, and the engine variant.
Range Rover Sport / Velar Premium SUV The VIN can be used to confirm the engine, the trim levels, and the location of production.
Freelander / Evoque Compact SUV Owners can use the VIN search to verify the model variant, the factory options, and the region information.

Land Rover Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)

Decoding your Land Rover’s VIN isn’t just about learning about the specs inside and outside the hood. It’s also about driver safety and long-term maintenance of the vehicle. With GoodCar’s VIN Decoder, you’ll be able to access the recalls of a vehicle. For your ease, each recall notice includes the recall status, IDs, description, safety risk, and your next steps.

Why should you look up recalls? Looking up recalls can help buyers avoid potential harm from defects. For example, a recall search would reveal that earlier this year, in August 2025, Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) recalled 121,509 vehicles due to a concern about cracked front suspension knuckles. The recall affected the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models from 2014 to 2017.

In addition to recalls, GoodCar’s Decoder can also provide access to the Technical Service Bulletins, where owners can look through advisories about common issues or recommended service updates. GoodCar’s Decoder is your partner when it comes to maintaining safe driving with official data.

Why Use GoodCar’s Land Rover VIN Decoder?

GoodCar’s Land Rover VIN Decoder is fast, accurate, and reliable, making it a good choice for buyers, owners, and mechanics. Simply input your VIN into the decoder and have instant access to important specs like drivetrain, transmission type, body style, trim levels, safety systems, and so much more. Take a more in-depth look into your car with the optional reports on recalls, accidents, and title brands.

With GoodCar’s Decoder, you can avoid falling victim to odometer fraud, as the tool can uncover discrepancies with odometer readings. GoodCar searches multiple public databases to uncover the current condition of a vehicle’s title so you don’t end up buying a lemon.

Even your everyday tasks, like servicing your car and submitting an insurance claim, are made easier with GoodCar. Use the decoder to verify specs for insurance and check that the right parts for the vehicle are ordered.

Whether you’re buying a Land Rover, verifying a high-end model, or ordering parts, GoodCar provides clarity and confidence.

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