Decode a MINI VIN
How to read a MINI VIN (position by position)
Every MINI built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 2 WMIs used on MINI vehicles, such as WMW and WMZ.
| Position | Part | On a MINI VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | W (Germany) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | WMW, WMZ |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | MINI's own codes for model, body, engine and restraints |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | G (2016) to S (2025) for current MINI models |
| 11 | Plant | MINI plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | MINI's production sequence |
MINI WMI codes
MINI WMIs point to 1 country of manufacture: Germany (WMW, WMZ). vPIC registers MINI WMIs for passenger car and suv / mpv vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMW | BMW AG | GERMANY | Passenger Car |
| WMZ | BMW AG | GERMANY | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by MINI itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any MINI VIN.
MINI model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2025 MINI Countryman carries S, a 2025 MINI Hardtop carries S and a 2019 MINI Paceman carries K. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a MINI
- On the dashboard, at the base of the windshield on the driver side (read it from outside).
- On the label in the driver-side door jamb.
- On the title, registration and insurance card.
- Often stamped on the engine bay firewall or the frame.
MINI recalls
NHTSA lists 66 MINI vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2014 model year has the most, with 8; 2020–2024 models account for 17.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
MINI models in vPIC
vPIC lists 5 MINI models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- Clubman 2016–2024
- Cooper Convertible 2016–2025
- Countryman 2016–2025
- Hardtop 2016–2025
- Paceman 2016–2019
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a MINI by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on MINI models from 2016 to 2025 it runs from G to S (L = 2020, R = 2024). The same letters were used 30 years earlier.
What does a MINI VIN tell you?
The maker and country (characters 1–3), model, body and engine (4–8), a check digit (9), the model year (10), the plant (11) and the serial number (12–17). It does not record color, options or accident history.
Can I find a MINI paint code from the VIN?
Usually not: the paint code isn't part of the VIN. It's printed on the vehicle's information label, often in the driver's door jamb, and a MINI dealer can look it up from the VIN.