kensteele

Dealer has been looking for my car since Day 1, today my salesperson emailed me a VIN saying he has found my car and it should arrive on or about Nov 21.

How do I use this VIN to find out if it is exactly the car I asked for? I don't want any surprised but I'm so excited.

I will post details of the car later but this car is fully-loaded and I will be paying MSRP (unless I can help it) which is about $45k.

flipside909

You wont. VIN# tells you the country of origin, manufacturer, vehicle model (drivetrain), engine, serial number and year made. Nothing else.

S2000toIS350

Congratulations on connecting.

I have two ideas for you based on personal experience (I have the VIN but no car yet).

1) Google the VIN and you will get a link to carfax. The car will come with basic info.

2) Go to Lexus.com and register as an owner using the VIN you will get a few details such as color, tranny and trim level. I am getting a premium with nav and it is referred to as an SE.

kensteele

Thanks for the info.

I only have the last 12 digits, what are the first 5?

JTHBF?

flipside909

No. It's JTHBE for the IS350 (GSE21)



JTHCK for the IS250 AWD (GSE25)

kensteele

Thanks, I'm getting no record found. Shouldn't this VIN already be available in Carfax or someplace else? JTHBE951062xxxxxx

flipside909

No because most all the New IS' being registered as we speak have yet to make it into your state's DMV database. It will be a while before you can check it on Carfax or any other place. It's a newly registered car, there's no reason for your car be listed on carfax in the first place.

kensteele

Cool, thanks!

Dr C

I, too, have my VIN (my car is due at the dealership on November 10th). I tried to register in the Lexus website but could not. My dealer told me that the VIN won't be activated until the car is registered the first time.

lexuslover

it definitely takes a little while to get the VIN registered. when we got the GS around launch time, i stopped by AAA the following day to get it insured, and the agent was unable to get any data by entering the VIN! he had to enter everything manually (MY, model, color, etc.).

paeko73

Those VIN's are not even in the insurance companies' systems yet. I checked with 3... with no luck.

Anyway, the manufacture date off the pictured labels was 05/05. Does that mean your IS is a 2005 model? In my state, cars manufactured before June of any year cannot be registered as next year's model.

flipside909

Hmmm you must have not read my article. See my signature below my post? click on the last link.

kensteele

So this isn't my VIN. The number 9510 in JTHBE951062xxxxxx is actually the car's model number. Dealership confirmed my VIN but still say they don't own it yet. Maybe tomorrow or Friday. So my VIN is actually JTHBExxxx62xxxxxx.