Serial decoder
Caterpillar serial number lookup
Caterpillar does not publish a way to read the build year from the serial number. Here is where the data plate is and what it shows.
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Where is the Caterpillar serial number?
The nameplate (data tag) is often near the dashboard. FridayParts lists forklift plate spots as the dashboard, the frame near the front wheel, or beneath the operator's seat. If the plate is gone, the serial is sometimes stamped on the frame; Intella has per-model diagrams.
Help build the database
Know your truck's year from the data plate or paperwork? Send the serial and year. Confirmed pairs build per-brand serial ranges, shown as "confirmed by N owners".
Sources
- What Year Is My Caterpillar? The Complete Serial Number Lookup Guide (FridayParts blog, Nov 6, 2025) (retrieved November 3, 2026)
These rules come from the sources listed, which are aftermarket parts sellers, not the manufacturer. When the data plate shows a manufacture date, the plate wins.