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Where is the frame number on a Tern bike?
Find your Tern Frame Number and Service Tag before you buy, sell or register it.
Find your Tern Frame Number and Service Tag before you buy, sell or register it.
Tern bikes have two important identifiers: the Service Tag Number and the Frame Number. They are not the same thing. The Service Tag Number starts with a capital T and sits under a QR sticker. The Frame Number is engraved into the bike frame and is the number most commonly used for insurance, police reports and third-party ownership records.
That number matters. It helps you register the bike, check if it has been reported stolen, prove ownership, value it and sell it with more buyer confidence. Here is where to find it, how to read it, and how to check it before you buy.
Check a Tern frame number
Free, instant, no signup. Enter the number stamped on the frame to check it against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports.
On a Tern bike, the Frame Number is a 10 to 13-character alphanumeric code engraved into the frame. Tern says it is either at the bottom of the seat tube or on the bottom bracket, depending on model. The Service Tag Number is different. It is an 8-character code starting with T under a QR sticker.
Tern engraves the Frame Number directly into the frame: at the bottom of the seat tube on models like the GSD, HSD and Vektron, or on the bottom bracket on models like the BYB and Link.
Make sure you copy the full number. A single missing or misread character can give the wrong result.
The Tern Frame Number is 10 to 13 characters and engraved directly onto the bike frame. The Tern Service Tag Number is 8 characters, starts with a capital T, and sits under the QR code sticker. Useful, but it is not the same as the frame number.
Do not use the model name, tyre size, barcode on a shop label, or any number printed on a component. The frame number belongs to the bike frame itself. For example, these are not usually the frame number:
The number you want is the unique frame code that belongs to the frame itself.
Tern uses both, and they are not the same number. The Frame Number is engraved into the frame and is the reliable ID for third-party registration, insurance and theft recovery. The Service Tag Number helps with Tern Care, warranty and accessories.
The Service Tag is usually easier to spot than the engraved Frame Number.
An 8-character alphanumeric sequence starting with T, shown under the QR sticker. Record it alongside the Frame Number, but use the engraved Frame Number for ownership and stolen-bike checks.
The Service Tag and Frame Number confusion is real on Tern bikes. The Service Tag helps with Tern Care, warranty and accessories, while the engraved Frame Number is the reliable ID for third-party registration, insurance and theft recovery.
A frame number is one of the most useful details on a used bike. It connects a Tern to its owner, its registration record and any stolen-bike reports.
You may need it to:
If you own a Tern, take a photo of the frame number and keep it with your receipt. If the bike is ever stolen, that detail can make a real difference.
A clean-looking bike is not always a safe buy. Before you pay, ask the seller for a clear photo of the frame number and check it against stolen-bike records. You should also ask for:
Red flag. Be careful if the seller refuses to show the frame number, says they cannot find it, gives only a partial code, or pressures you to pay quickly. A genuine seller should understand why you are checking.
Found the number? Run a free stolen-bike check before you buy. Enter the Tern frame number into the checker and look for any matching reports. It only takes a moment, and it can help you avoid buying a bike with a bad history. If the bike looks clear, you can also value it and compare similar Tern bikes for sale.
Report it as soon as possible. You will usually need the frame number, photos, make, model, colour, size, location and any unique marks or upgrades.
Include anything distinctive, such as upgraded wheels, unusual tyres, scratches, stickers, lights, mudguards, racks or replacement parts. The more detail you provide, the easier it is to identify the bike if it appears for sale.
Tern says the Frame Number is at the bottom of the seat tube on GSD models.
Tern says the Frame Number is at the bottom of the seat tube on HSD models.
Tern lists the Vektron with the Frame Number at the bottom of the seat tube.
Tern says BYB models have the Frame Number on the bottom bracket.
Tern says Link models have the Frame Number on the bottom bracket.
No. Tern says the Service Tag is an 8-character code starting with T. The Frame Number is 10 to 13 characters and engraved into the frame.
Do not buy the bike. A removed or damaged Frame Number is a major warning sign and can make the bike hard to register, insure, resell or prove as yours.
Yes. Use the engraved Frame Number to run a stolen-bike check before buying. Ask for proof of ownership and check the details match the bike.
Looking for another brand? See the full bike frame number guide.
On a Tern, the Frame Number is engraved at the bottom of the seat tube (GSD, HSD, Vektron) or on the bottom bracket (BYB, Link), depending on model. Copy the full engraved code, record the Service Tag too, then check it before you buy, sell or register the bike. A used Tern can be a brilliant buy, but the Frame Number is the detail that protects you.
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Bike frame number guide · What bike is this? · What you can check on a used bike · Buying a used bike safely · Tern bikes
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Last reviewed by the Cyclesite editorial team. Published by Cyclesite, Companies House No. 13238473.