Find the Serial Number, Year, and Model on your Bobcat

The serial number plate on a Bobcat skid steer is in one of three spots inside the cab — and most operators check the wrong one first. This guide shows the exact plate location for each Bobcat machine type, explains what every section of the PIN means, and includes a year decoder table so you can confirm your model year before ordering parts.

At a Glance

• Skid steers (S-series, R-series): Inside the cab on the rear left upright pillar, or on the frame near the seat
• Compact track loaders (T-series): Inside the cab on the rear frame upright
• Excavators: On the upper house frame, inside the operator platform near the seat
• PIN format: Modern Bobcat equipment uses a 17-character alphanumeric PIN — the 10th character is the model year code
• Year decoding: Use the character-to-year table in this guide to confirm your model year

Where Is the Serial Number Plate on a Bobcat Skid Steer?

On Bobcat skid steers including the S-series and R-series, the identification plate is inside the cab. The most common location is the rear left upright pillar — the vertical frame member on the driver's left side toward the back of the cab. On some models, the plate is mounted on the frame near the base of the seat.

• Enter the cab and look left toward the rear corner
• The plate is typically a metal tag riveted or bolted to the frame upright
• Clean the plate with a rag if it's dusty — the numbers can be difficult to read on older machines
• If the plate isn't on the pillar, check the frame rail behind the seat and the inner door frame

The plate will show the model designation (such as S650 or S770), the full PIN, and the manufacturing year. All three pieces of information are needed when ordering replacement parts.

Where Is the Serial Number Plate on a Bobcat Compact Track Loader?

On Bobcat compact track loaders — T-series models such as the T590, T650, T770, and T870 — the identification plate follows a similar location to skid steers. Look on the rear frame upright inside the cab.

• Enter the cab and check the rear left structural member
• Some T-series machines have the plate on the inner rear wall of the cab rather than the upright
• The plate is a metal tag, not a sticker — it will not peel or fade the way vinyl labels do

Because the T-series cab is enclosed on all sides, the plate is typically easier to find and read than on open-cab machines. If you're having trouble locating it, refer to the operator's manual section on machine identification — Bobcat specifies the exact plate location for each model year.

Where Is the Serial Number Plate on a Bobcat Excavator?

On Bobcat excavators — including the E-series models such as the E26, E50, E85, and E145 — the identification plate is mounted on the upper house frame, inside the operator platform. The most common location is adjacent to the operator seat on the inner frame structure.

• Look on the inside of the upper house near the base of the seat
• Some models have the plate near the boom base on the inner swing frame
• The plate may require moving the seat forward slightly to read clearly

Excavator serial numbers follow the same 17-digit PIN format as Bobcat's wheeled and tracked equipment. The year decode method described below applies equally to excavators.

What Does the Bobcat PIN Actually Mean?

Modern Bobcat equipment uses a standardized 17-character Product Identification Number (PIN). The PIN is not random — each segment carries specific information about the machine. According to Bobcat's identification system, the 17 characters break down as follows:

• Characters 1-3: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) — identifies Bobcat as the manufacturer
• Characters 4-8: Machine descriptor section — encodes model and equipment type
• Character 9: Check digit — a calculated value used to verify the PIN is valid
• Character 10: Model year code — use the decoder table below to find your year
• Character 11: Plant or assembly location code
• Characters 12-17: Unique production sequence number for that specific machine

Older Bobcat machines — particularly those produced before the mid-1990s — used shorter serial numbers that do not follow this format. For these machines, matching the serial number to a production year requires a model-specific serial range chart, which Bobcat dealers can provide.

How Do I Decode the Year From My Bobcat Serial Number?

If your Bobcat has a 17-character PIN, the 10th character tells you the model year. This is the same standardized year code system used by all major equipment manufacturers following the ISO/SAE 17-digit standard. Note that the letters I, O, and Q are never used to avoid confusion with the numbers 1, 0, and the number 0.

10th Character	Model Year	10th Character	Model Year
A	2010	L	2020
B	2011	M	2021
C	2012	N	2022
D	2013	P	2023
E	2014	R	2024
F	2015	S	2025
G	2016	T	2026
H	2017
J	2018
K	2019

For example: if the 10th character of your PIN is "H", your machine is a 2017 model year. This applies to skid steers, compact track loaders, excavators, and all other Bobcat equipment using the 17-digit PIN standard.

What Is the Difference Between the Model Number and Serial Number?

Operators often confuse the model designation with the serial number. They serve different purposes when ordering parts, and using the wrong one is the most common reason parts orders come back as incompatible.

• Model number (e.g., S650, T770, E50): identifies the platform. Some parts are shared across an entire model line. Other parts changed during the production run of the same model.
• Serial number (PIN): identifies the specific machine, including the production year and sequence. When a part changed mid-run — for example, when Bobcat updated the hydraulic control valve on certain S650 units — the correct part depends on which serial number range your machine falls in.
• Year of manufacture: shown on the identification plate directly, or decoded from the 10th character of the PIN. Same model, different year = potentially different parts.

When contacting a parts supplier, always provide all three: model number, PIN, and model year. With those three pieces of information, fitment can be confirmed before your order ships.

How Do I Order the Right Parts Using My Bobcat Serial Number?

Once you have your model, PIN, and year recorded, ordering parts is straightforward. Most aftermarket parts listings include compatibility information that lets you cross-reference by model and year before purchasing.

• Record the full PIN exactly as it appears on the plate — one transposed character changes the year decode and can result in the wrong part
• Cross-reference the PIN year code with the year shown on the plate to confirm they match
• If you're ordering seal kits, gaskets, or hydraulic components, verify whether there is a mid-production serial number cutoff for your model — these parts often changed between early and late production units
• When in doubt, email the full PIN to a parts specialist before ordering

For aftermarket Bobcat parts, our Bobcat parts catalog covers skid steers, compact track loaders, excavators, and more — organized by machine type so you can find the right part using your model and year.

What If My Serial Number Plate Is Missing or Unreadable?

Worn, painted-over, or missing identification plates are a common issue on older Bobcat machines. There are several ways to recover the information.

• Try the chalk method: Rub a piece of chalk or a white pencil across the plate and wipe lightly — embossed numbers will show through even when the paint layer is thick
• Check the cab door: Some Bobcat models have a secondary label on the inside of the cab door with the model and serial number
• Review original paperwork: The serial number appears on the original purchase invoice, warranty registration, and equipment title
• Contact Bobcat directly: With a model number and approximate year, Bobcat dealers can sometimes recover the PIN from their production records
• Use the machine's hour meter and physical features: Known production features (cab style, control type, color scheme) can narrow the model year when the PIN is unrecoverable

How Do I Find Parts for My Specific Bobcat Model?

With the model, year, and PIN confirmed, you have everything needed to find the right parts. Bobcat equipment is well-supported by the aftermarket — filters, seals, glass, and hydraulic components are widely available.

• Maintenance kits (oil filters, fuel filters, air filters) are typically organized by model and year
• Door glass and cab glass is model-specific — the dimensions changed between the older S-series and the newer M-series
• Hydraulic seals and cylinder rebuild kits require the serial number to confirm which production variant you have
• Undercarriage parts for T-series CTLs are often keyed to specific serial number ranges

Our parts specialists can confirm fitment using your PIN. Email sales@partsonline.com with your full PIN, model, and the part you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the serial number on a Bobcat S650?

On the Bobcat S650, the identification plate is inside the cab on the rear left upright pillar. Enter the cab, look toward the rear left corner, and the metal plate will be riveted or bolted to the vertical frame member. The plate shows the model (S650), full 17-digit PIN, and manufacturing year.

Can I look up a Bobcat serial number by year?

Yes. On modern Bobcat equipment with a 17-digit PIN, the 10th character is the model year code. Use the decoder table in this guide to match the character to a year. For older machines with shorter serial numbers, the year is typically printed directly on the identification plate.

What does the Bobcat serial number tell me?

The 17-digit PIN encodes the manufacturer identity, model descriptor, a check digit, the model year (10th character), the production plant, and a unique sequence number for that specific machine. For parts ordering, the model year and sequence number are most important.

Is the Bobcat PIN the same as the serial number?

Yes. PIN (Product Identification Number) and serial number are used interchangeably for Bobcat equipment. The PIN is the full 17-character number; "serial number" often refers to either the full PIN or just the sequence portion at the end. When ordering parts, always provide the complete PIN.

How do I find the serial number on a Bobcat excavator?

On Bobcat E-series excavators, the identification plate is on the upper house frame inside the operator platform, near the base of the operator seat. The plate may require moving the seat forward to read clearly. The PIN follows the same 17-digit format used on all modern Bobcat equipment.

What if the serial number on my Bobcat doesn't match the year on the plate?

The year printed on the plate is the manufacturing date. The 10th character of the PIN is the model year designation, which sometimes differs by one year from the calendar build date (for machines built near the end of a calendar year and sold as the following model year). If they don't match, use the model year shown on the identification plate for parts ordering — it's what Bobcat references in their parts catalogs.

Do I need the serial number to order Bobcat parts?

For basic maintenance parts like oil filters and air filters, the model name and year are usually sufficient. For hydraulic components, seals, and cab glass, the full PIN is required — these parts changed at specific serial number ranges during production. Always have the PIN available before ordering fitment-sensitive parts.