What is a chassis number and where to find it

Updated July 14, 2026 · 4 min read

To verify an auction sheet you need one thing: the chassis number. Here's what it is, how to read it, and exactly where to find it on a Japanese import.

What a chassis number looks like

A Japanese chassis (frame) number is a model code plus a serial, for example ZRE142-1234567. The first part (ZRE142) is the chassis code that identifies the model and generation; the numbers after the dash are that individual car's serial. It is different from a VIN — Japanese domestic-market cars use this frame-number format.

The five places to find it

• Export / deregistration certificate — printed near the top (the most reliable source).
• Under the bonnet — stamped on the firewall or strut tower.
• Door jamb plate — the manufacturer's plate on the driver's door frame.
• Auction sheet — if you already have one.
• Dashboard / windscreen base — visible from outside on some models.

Chassis codes vary by brand

Each manufacturer uses its own chassis-code convention. See the codes for your make on our verify-by-brand pages — for example Toyota, Honda and Nissan.