Abstract The use of linear parameter estimation techniques to determine the rotor resistance, self-inductance of the rotor winding, as well as the stator leakage inductance of a three-phase induction machine is investigated in this paper. In order to obtain results with maximum accuracy, some specific procedures to reduce the effect of the operating conditions on the quality of the estimates are investigated. For analytical identification, a model is developed from the steady-state equations of induction motor dynamics. The identification procedure, based on a simple algorithm derived from least squares techniques, uses only the information of stator currents and voltages and rotor angular speed as input–output data. The computer simulation as well as the experimental results are used to anchor the main conclusions issued from this study and to demonstrate the practical use of the identification method.