Land Rover VIN Decoder (Free)
Decode your Land Rover VIN or chassis number to identify model, year and basic vehicle details. The guide below shows where to find your VIN and how to read it.
When ordering Land Rover parts, the exact model, model year, engine and VIN range can matter. Many Defender, Discovery and Range Rover parts look similar but differ by year, engine, axle, body type or factory specification.
The VIN, often still called the chassis number, is the best starting point for identifying your vehicle. It can help confirm the model, model year, engine type and build information before you order parts.
Use the Twinwoods 4×4 Land Rover VIN decoder to identify the basic model, model year, engine and build information from a 17-character Land Rover, Defender, Discovery or Range Rover VIN/chassis number.
Results are provided for guidance only and are not a full parts fitment check. Some Land Rover VIN codes are reused across different years, models and markets, so contact us if the result looks unusual or if you need parts confirmed before ordering.
Free Land Rover VIN Decoder
Enter your 17-character VIN or chassis number with no spaces. We’ll identify the basic model, year and engine details, then show useful parts areas for that vehicle
VINs use A–Z and 0–9 (letters I, O, Q are never used).
Your decoded VIN result
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Where to find the 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.
The 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 and 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 (P38A)
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)
LB
Series III
LD
Ninety, One Ten, 127, Defender
LH
Range Rover
LJ
Discovery
LM
Range Rover L322
LN
Freelander
LP
Range Rover (P38A)
LT
Discovery Series II
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, United Kingdom
F
Worldwide
G
South Africa
