Chevrolet VIN Number Decoder
Every Chevrolet vehicle carries its own unique identity, and that identity is locked within its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The Chevrolet VIN isn’t just a series of numbers—it’s your key to unlocking a wealth of vital information, from detailed specs and features to production history and more.
Curious about where to find your VIN and how to decode it? Keep reading to discover all the answers!
Chevrolet VINs Explained
It’s a unique alphanumeric code assigned to every Chevy during its manufacture, serving as the vehicle's fingerprint. In modern trucks, the VIN typically spans 17 characters, while classic vehicles may have a shorter code ranging from 5 to 14 characters.
This powerful number grants you access to detailed information about your Chevrolet—its specs, features, color, warranty coverage, and much more. With the VIN, you can even trace its full history, uncovering every little detail along the way.
How to Decode a Chevrolet VIN Number
Let’s start with the basics: the letters Q (q), I (i), and O (o) are intentionally left out of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Why? To keep things clear and avoid any mix-ups with the numbers 1, 0, and 9.
Now, for the rest of the characters in the VIN, each one has a specific meaning, and where it falls in the sequence tells you exactly what that meaning is. To make the process of decoding a little more straightforward, these characters are split into three distinct segments:
- World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI): This includes the first three characters and signifies the vehicle's country of origin and manufacturer.
- Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS): This section includes the 4th to 9th characters and contains information about the vehicle’s make, engine specs, model, and more.
- Vehicle Identifier Section: Here, you will find the 10th to 17th characters, which encode details like the model year, manufacturing plant code, and a serial number unique to each vehicle.
What Does Each Character in the Chevrolet VIN Mean?
1st Character: Chevrolet Country of Origin
The first digit of the VIN indicates where your Chevrolet was manufactured. This helps identify the country of production.
For vehicles made in Korea, like the Chevy Trax, the 1st and 2nd characters show the Country.
2nd Character: Manufacturer
In Chevrolets, the second character represents the parent company, General Motors (GM.) You would usually find the letter “G” as the second character of Chevrolet trucks.
3rd Character: Brand
Since GM is home to Buick, Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet, the third character highlights the actual make of the vehicle. In Chevrolets, the third character would be either “1”, “A,” or “Y.”
4th Character: Internal Model Designation
The fourth character identifies the model of your Chevy assigned at the factory. In most Chevrolets, you will find these characters
5th Character: Drivetrain Type
Here, you can find the vehicle’s drivetrain configuration (e.g., whether it’s FWD or AWD).
For example, if the fifth character is an “A”, you know it has an FWD drive system and automatic transmission.
6th and 7th Character: Body Type
This character indicates the body style or type of vehicle your Chevrolet is. Here’s a list to help you check yours
If you can’t spot your vehicle’s characters here, you can try our VIN decoder for specific results.
8th Character: Engine
The eighth character on a VIN tells the engine’s specifications. This helps to know the engine’s size, configuration, and sometimes fuel type. For example,
It’s a long list, and some of these characters are recycled depending on the model.
9th Character: Check Digit
This digit simply verifies that the VIN is authentic and not a fake string of random characters. It is calculated using a specific algorithm developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
10th Character: Model Year
The tenth character indicates the model year and alternates between numbers and letters. Each letter represents a specific year; ‘W,’ for example, signifies a Chevrolet from the 1998 model year.
Here’s a table that can help you easily identify any Chevrolet's model year:
| Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year |
| A 1980 B 1981 C 1982 D 1983 E 1984 F 1985 G 1986 H 1987 J 1988 K 1989 | L 1990 M 1991 N 1992 P 1993 R 1994 S 1995 T 1996 V 1997 W 1998 X 1999 | Y 2000 1 2001 2 2002 3 2003 4 2004 5 2005 6 2006 7 2007 8 2008 9 2009 | A 2010 B 2011 C 2012 D 2013 E 2014 F 2015 G 2016 H 2017 J 2018 K 2019 | L 2020 M 2021 N 2022 P 2023 R 2024 S 2025 T 2026 V 2027 W 2028 X 2029 |
11th Character: Assembly Plant
The eleventh character shows the vehicle’s assembly or manufacturing plant, and you would mostly find Chevrolets assembled in these locations represented with these characters
12th to 17th Characters: Serial Number
These characters make up the unique sequential number of the Chevrolet. This distinguishes it uniquely from other Chevrolets with the same model, trim, etc., manufactured in the same plant.
Where is the VIN Number on a Chevrolet?
The VIN is a must-have if you’re buying or selling a vehicle or maybe even just doing research on a Chevy. But where is the VIN found? It’s easy to spot – it's located in a few different places, both on the vehicle and in official documents.
Here’s where to find the Chevrolet VIN:
- On the dashboard of the vehicle, near the windshield
- On the driver’s side door jamb
- On the engine block
- On the vehicle’s firewall
- In the left-hand inner wheel arch
- On the steering wheel/steering column
- On the radiator support bracket
- On the car’s title, registration, maintenance book, or the auto insurance policy
Simply check these spots, and you should be able to spot the VIN without any trouble.
What Information Can I Get from a Chevrolet VIN?
You can get every single detail about a new or used Chevrolet with a VIN lookup. This includes vehicle specifications, features, build sheets, and past history records.
Here’s a glimpse of Chevrolet specifications you can access when you decode the VIN with a VIN decoder:
- Year
- Make
- Exterior dimensions
- Number of doors
- Ground clearance
- Standard seating
- Transmission style
- Fuel type
- Braking
- Range extender
- Engine Description
- Front airbag information
- Emissions
- Cargo dimensions
- Model
- Valve train design
- Interior dimensions
- Suspension
- Traction battery
- Engine Size and specs
- Drive Type
- Tank capacity
- Trailering
- Displacement
- Mileage
- Tire pressure and size
- Wheels
- Electrical powertrain
- Trim
- Country
- Delivery charges
- Steering
- Weight
- MSRP
- Body type
- Seating
- EPA Class
- Engine model
- Engine configuration
- Seat belt type
- Off-road attributes
- Electrical specifications
Not just that, a Chevrolet VIN number lookup also tracks vehicle history records from when the vehicle first left the factory. Some records you can view include:
- Mileage
- Odometer Readings
- Sales History
- Auction History
- Accident History
- Title Brand
- Salvage Title
- Hail Damage
- Flood Damage
- Structural Damage
- Ownership History
- Usage History
- Ownership Duration
- Lien & Loans
- Maintenance Schedule
- Warranty Status
- Repair Cost
- Recalls History
The details you get will depend on the provider you use, but with the right tools, you can get a complete picture of the vehicle’s life from the day it rolled off the assembly line.
How to Decode a Chevrolet VIN Number
If you have the Chevrolet VIN handy, you can decode it with our VIN decoder instantly with just a few steps:
Enter the Chevrolet VIN in the form above. Our tool can decode standard VINs (17 characters) and classic VINs (5 – 14 characters). You can also use the license plate number or the year, make, and model of the vehicle if you don’t have the VIN.
Click on ‘Search’ to preview your vehicle’s specifications for free.
Complete the payment process to get a detailed vehicle history report showing vehicle specifications and history records.
Using our Chevrolet VIN decoder, you can also break down all the characters of a VIN to access the specifications and build data, whether for classic or modern vehicles.
Common Uses of the Chevrolet VIN Number
The VIN is often used for several different purposes depending on who’s using it. Some common uses of the Chevrolet VIN number are:
Vehicle Registration
You have to register your Chevy vehicle after purchase; otherwise, it becomes illegal to drive it on the road. During the registration process at State bureaus or departments of motor vehicles, you need the VIN. It goes on all ownership documents, bills of sale, titles, and every other paperwork.
Insurance Purposes
Another popular reason you would need the VIN is car insurance. When car owners provide their VINs, insurance companies run checks on their vehicles to have an accurate quoting based on the vehicle’s specifications, features, options, MSRP, and history.
Window Stickers
The VIN is very useful in generating window stickers to check any vehicle’s specifications, such as make, model, engine type, and trim. This ensures that potential buyers can verify the exact features and details of the vehicle before making a purchase.
Vehicle History Checks
For most car buyers, the VIN is very important for verifying the history records of any vehicle. You can check theft records, sales records, damages, accidents, salvage brands, rebuilt titles, build data, warranty coverage, and more. With a simple VIN check, car buyers, sellers, and dealers can avoid damaged cars and negotiate accurately.
Police Checks
If a vehicle gets reported as stolen, the police can keep track of that vehicle using the VIN. They can even place police markers on those VINs and get alerts at checkpoints.
Safety Recalls
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are recalled every year. With the VINs, Chevrolet can identify specific vehicle models that get recalled and notify the owners to get them fixed as soon as possible. Car buyers can also check for pending recalls on any used car before purchasing using the VIN.
Top Chevrolet Models You Can Lookup With a VIN Decoder
If you’ve got a Chevy VIN, you can decode it to learn all about the vehicle’s specifications and features. Here are a few top Chevrolet models you can decode with our VIN check tool:
| Corvette | Impala | Sonic | Volt |
| Camaro | Malibu | Traverse | Corvair |
| Silverado | Blazer | Express Van | Chevelle |
| Tahoe | Trailblazer | Cobalt | Nova |
| Equinox | Colorado | HHR | El Camino |
← Scroll horizontally to see more →
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can look up vehicle specs using the VIN number. All you need to do is fill out the form on this page and submit it. You will immediately get a full list of your vehicle’s specifications, features, options, paint color, and more.