How do I know if my Toyota is made in Japan or USA?

In most cases, Toyotas sold in the United States are assembled in North American plants, but you can confirm the exact origin of your particular vehicle by checking the door jamb label, the VIN, and the factory/window sticker. Here’s how to verify where your car was built.

Where to start: the on-car indicators of origin

Certain official labels on the car itself explicitly state the country of assembly. These are the most straightforward clues you can check without any special tools.

1. Door jamb sticker: Open the driver’s door and look at the sticker on the door frame. It usually includes a line that says “Made in” followed by the country (for example, “Made in USA” or “Made in Japan”).


2. Monroney (window) sticker: The dealership window sticker that comes with the car often lists manufacturing information, including country of origin, as part of its build details.


3. Engine bay or interior labels: Some models feature a small label inside the engine compartment or elsewhere in the cabin indicating the plant or country of manufacture.

These sources are the most reliable for quickly identifying where your specific vehicle was assembled. If any label is faded or unreadable, your dealer or Toyota’s official resources can help interpretar the information.

Using the VIN to determine origin

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) holds the definitive record for origin, but you’ll need to decode it to read the country and plant information. Here’s how to approach it.

1. VIN prefix indicates country: The first character generally signals the country of manufacture. A prefix of J typically indicates Japan, while prefixes like 1 indicate the United States (Canada uses 2, Mexico uses 3, etc.).


2. Full WMI and plant code: The first three characters (the WMI) identify the manufacturer and country, and the following digits/letters specify the specific plant and model. A VIN decoder or Toyota’s official resources can translate these codes for you.


3. Cross-check with official sources: If you’re unsure, use a reputable VIN lookup tool or contact your dealer to confirm the exact assembly plant for your VIN.

Note: VIN interpretation confirms where the car was assembled, not every component’s country of origin. Modern Toyotas often source parts globally, so “Made in USA” refers to assembly location, while many parts may come from overseas.

VIN decoding basics

The VIN is a 17-character code. The first character usually denotes the country, the first three (WMI) identify the manufacturer and country, and the 4th–8th characters indicate the vehicle’s specifics, including the plant. Using a trusted VIN decoder will give you a precise country and plant for your exact vehicle.

What to do if the labels are unclear

If the door sticker or window sticker is faded, damaged, or missing, rely on the VIN and official records. Your Toyota dealer can pull your vehicle’s production details from the VIN, and you can sometimes find the info in the owner’s manual, service history, or the original purchase paperwork.

Additional considerations

Even when a Toyota is assembled in the USA, it may contain components sourced globally, including parts from Japan. Conversely, a vehicle stamped “Made in Japan” is an assembly statement and may still include regional parts. For buyers, this distinction can matter for warranty coverage, service networks, and parts compatibility, but the practical checks above will usually tell you where your specific car was assembled.

Summary

To determine whether your Toyota was made in Japan or the USA, start with the door jamb and window stickers for a direct “Made in” line, then verify with the VIN by using a decoder or consulting your dealer. The first character of the VIN and the WMI usually indicate the country of assembly, with J signaling Japan and US-designations (often 1 or other country-specific prefixes) signaling the United States. Remember that assembly location doesn’t necessarily reflect the origin of every part, as global sourcing is common in modern manufacturing.

How do I know if my Toyota is made in the USA or Japan?

Understanding the Toyota VIN Number
Here's a breakdown of the Toyota VIN number and what the first digit signifies in terms of manufacturing origins for Toyota vehicles: -If the VIN starts with a 1, 4 or 5, it indicates that the Toyota vehicle was assembled in the United States.

How do you tell where your Toyota was built by VIN?

Digit 11 (Assembly Plant): This tells you which factory put your vehicle together. Digits 12 - 17 (Serial or Production Number): These are Toyota's internal numbers for identifying your specific vehicle.

Which Toyota models are built in Japan?

Several Toyota models, including the Mirai, 86, Land Cruiser, and 4Runner, are exclusively made in Japan. Other models like the Prius, Camry, Corolla, and RAV4 are also produced in Japan, though some versions of these vehicles may also be made in other countries like the USA. 
Exclusively or primarily made in Japan 

• 4Runner: Built in Japan at the Tahara or Hino plants.
• 86: Exclusively made in Japan.
• Land Cruiser: Exclusively made in Japan.
• Mirai: Exclusively made in Japan.
• Century: Made in Japan.
• GR Corolla and GR Yaris: Built in Japan.
• Crown: Various versions are manufactured in Japan.
• Noah and Voxy: Made in Japan.
• Prius: Exclusively or primarily made in Japan for certain markets, with the hybrid models being a key example. 

Made in Japan and other countries 

• Camry: Produced in Japan and the USA; some trim levels (like AWD and V6) are made in the US, while some hybrid versions are built in Japan. 
• Corolla: Manufactured in both Japan and the USA, depending on the model and market. Japan-made Corolla Hybrids are a prominent example. 
• RAV4: Produced in Japan and the USA. The RAV4 Prime (plug-in hybrid) is exclusively built in Japan. 
• Harrier: Produced in Japan. 
• Corolla Cross: Produced in Japan. 

How to check if a Toyota was built in Japan

• VIN number: The 11th digit of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) indicates the assembly plant. If it is the letter "J," the vehicle was assembled in Japan. 

How do I find out if my car was built in Japan?

11th character: A number or letter here indicates the manufacturing plant where the vehicle was assembled. Each automaker has its own set of plant codes. Our Toyota example's VIN carries the letter J in the 11th position, and the NHTSA VIN decoder says that means it was built at the Takaoka Plant in Toyota City, Japan.