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Subaru VIN Decoder

Paste a 17-character Subaru VIN to decode the year, model, trim, engine, and where it was built — instantly, from NHTSA data. Free, no sign-up.

How to read a Subaru VIN

Subaru builds in Japan (VINs starting with JF) and in Lafayette, Indiana (starting with 4S). The Indiana plant handles much of the U.S. Outback, Legacy and Ascent volume. The first three characters — the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) — are the fastest tell. These are the Subaruprefixes you'll see most often:

JF1
Subaru passenger cars built in Japan
JF2
Subaru SUVs built in Japan — Forester, Crosstrek
4S3
Subaru passenger cars built in the U.S. (Lafayette, Indiana) — Legacy
4S4
Subaru SUVs built in the U.S. — Outback, Ascent

These are the common prefixes, not an exhaustive list — manufacturers add and retire WMIs over time. The decoder above always reads the authoritative record from NHTSA. For the full breakdown of all 17 VIN positions and the model-year chart, see the main VIN decoder guide.

Common Subaru models this decoder covers

Subaru OutbackSubaru ForesterSubaru CrosstrekSubaru LegacySubaru Ascent

Subaru VIN decoder FAQ

How do I decode a Subaru VIN?▾
Paste the full 17-character Subaru VIN into the decoder above and it returns the year, model, trim, engine, transmission and body style from NHTSA's database. Every Subaru built since 1981 has a 17-character VIN you can decode this way.
What does a Subaru VIN start with?▾
Subaru VINs commonly begin with JF1, JF2, 4S3, 4S4. The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier: the first tells you the country of assembly and the next two identify Subaru and the vehicle class.
Where are Subaru vehicles built?▾
Subaru builds in Japan (VINs starting with JF) and in Lafayette, Indiana (starting with 4S). The Indiana plant handles much of the U.S. Outback, Legacy and Ascent volume. You can read the exact plant country from the first VIN character and confirm the specifics in the decoded result above.
Is this Subaru VIN decoder free?▾
Yes — decoding a Subaru VIN here is free, needs no sign-up, and pulls directly from the U.S. government's NHTSA vPIC database.

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Decode every Subaru you take in — automatically

DealerVLO is a dealer management system for independent used-car lots. Paste a VIN when you add a vehicle and the year, make, model, trim, engine and GVWR fill themselves — no re-typing onto the title application or the listing.

  • Inventory with photo management and a public dealer website
  • Deal jacket — Bill of Sale, FTC Buyers Guide, Federal Odometer Disclosure
  • Customer CRM with encrypted PII and a website lead inbox
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