Online VIN decodersmart VIN decoder: free lookup
Have the VIN of a smart? Enter all 17 characters and see the model, engine, model year and plant for free, then check the history: accidents, title brands and odometer.
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Where to find the VIN on a smart
On a smart the VIN plate sits at the lower left of the windshield and on the driver-side door jamb; the same 17 characters are printed on the title, the registration card and the insurance card. If any of them differ, stop and check the vehicle history.
- Dashboard, driver side
Look through the windshield in the lower left corner, where the dash meets the glass.
- Driver-side door jamb
The sticker or plate on the B-pillar or door edge (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard label).
- Engine bay or frame
Stamped on the firewall or, on trucks, on the frame rail near the front wheel.
- Title certificate
Every state title shows the VIN near the year, make and model.
- Registration card
The registration card in the glove box repeats the VIN.
- Compare with the car
If the VIN on the title differs from the one on the dashboard, do not buy until it is explained.
- Insurance ID card
Your insurance card or app lists the VIN of each covered vehicle.
- Policy documents
The declarations page of the policy shows the full VIN too.
- Service records
Repair orders and dealer invoices usually carry the VIN as well.
How to recognize a smart VIN
smart is a brand from Germany / France. The first three characters of the VIN (the WMI code) identify the maker and, often, the plant or the market the vehicle was built for.
Example: a VIN that starts with WME stands for smart, Hambach (France). On smart vehicles sold in Europe the 10th character does not always encode the year; for US-market vehicles it always does; the last six characters are the production number. A VIN that starts with another code is not necessarily a problem (makers change codes over time), but it is worth checking the history before you buy.
smart VIN decoder by model
| Model | Production years | Generations | Engine versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| smart Forfour | 2004–present | 2 | 13 |
| smart Fortwo | 1998–2019 | 6 | 38 |
| smart Roadster | 2002–2005 | 2 | 6 |
What each part of a smart VIN means
For smart: WME, LGX. The first character is the region (Germany / France or the country of the plant).
smart codes the model line, body style and engine here, which is why the VIN shows which version of the smart Forfour you are looking at.
Mandatory for vehicles sold in North America; many European-market smart VINs use a filler character here.
Plant code and the unique production number of the smart, which history reports use to link accidents, title brands and odometer readings.
The full guide: year codes, WMI countries and the check digit · smart VIN check: history, recalls, title
What does a smart VIN start with?
Usually one of these codes: WME – smart, Hambach (France); LGX – smart (Geely), China, 2022+. The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI); a maker can have several, one per plant, vehicle type or market.
Are smart vehicles built in North America?
smart has no assembly plant in North America: its vehicles come from plants abroad, and the first character of the VIN tells the region of the plant (S–Z Europe, J–R Asia).
Does the VIN show the model year of a smart?
On smart vehicles built for North America, yes. On European-market smart vehicles the 10th character is not always the year, so the decoder estimates it from the production years of the model; the date of first registration on the documents settles it.
Can I see the history of a smart from its VIN?
The free decode shows what the car is. Accidents, title brands and odometer readings are in the smart history report; recalls are checked on the smart VIN check page.