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VIN decoder

Chevrolet VIN decoder

Enter a Chevrolet VIN to decode it. Chevy VINs follow General Motors’ numbering standard, which has one habit worth knowing: the plant letter only makes sense next to the first character.

By Tayron Bram

Updated October 2026 · 4 min read

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Letters and numbers, no I, O or Q. It decodes as soon as all 17 are in.

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On this page
  1. What the decoder tells you about a Chevy
  2. Chevrolet manufacturer codes (WMI)
  3. How GM codes positions 4 to 8 on a Chevy
  4. Chevrolet-specific checks
  5. Before you buy a used Chevy

What the decoder tells you about a Chevy

Once 17 characters are entered, the decoder pulls what GM reported to NHTSA’s free vPIC database: model year, model and trim (Silverado 1500 LT, Equinox RS and so on), body style, engine, drive, GVWR class, plant and the airbags fitted. It then lists the recalls NHTSA has for that year and model. It doesn’t show what happened later, like salvage or rebuilt titles, accidents, or mileage readings over the years; that’s what a history report is for. The VIN decoder covers every make, and pricing shows the reports.

Chevrolet manufacturer codes (WMI)

Source: NHTSA vPIC, GM WMIs that vPIC decodes to the make Chevrolet, checked October 25, 2026. Not a complete list.
WMIManufacturer as registeredVehicle type
1G1GENERAL MOTORS LLCPassenger car
1GCGENERAL MOTORS LLCTruck
1GNGENERAL MOTORS LLCMultipurpose passenger vehicle
1GBGENERAL MOTORS LLCIncomplete vehicle
2G1GENERAL MOTORS LLCPassenger car
2GCGENERAL MOTORS LLCTruck
3G1GENERAL MOTORS LLCPassenger car
3GCGENERAL MOTORS LLCTruck
3GNGENERAL MOTORS LLCMultipurpose passenger vehicle
KL7GENERAL MOTORS LLCMultipurpose passenger vehicle

Chevrolet has no WMIs of its own: they’re registered to General Motors LLC, so a vPIC search for “Chevrolet” finds almost nothing. GM’s standard calls position 1 the region of build (1 United States, 2 Canada, 3 Mexico, K South Korea) and uses position 3 for brand and type. On 2027 Chevrolets, 1 is a passenger car, C a truck, N an SUV built in North America, 7 one built in Korea (Trax, Trailblazer) and B an incomplete vehicle.

How GM codes positions 4 to 8 on a Chevy

GM’s 2027 standard uses two layouts. On passenger cars (Corvette, Bolt), positions 4 and 5 are the line and series, 6 the body style, 7 the restraint system and 8 the engine. On trucks, SUVs and vans, position 4 combines GVWR, brakes and body style, 5 and 6 are chassis and series, 7 the restraints and 8 the engine. Position 9 is the check digit and 10 the model year (V for 2027).

Position 11 is the plant, and GM defines it model by model and together with position 1. In the 2027 standard, F means Fairfax on the Bolt but Flint on the Silverado HD, and 1 means Wentzville on a US-built Colorado but Oshawa on a Canadian-built Silverado HD. Some 2027 examples:

Source: General Motors LLC, 2027 Vehicle Identification Numbering Standards filed with NHTSA.
Position 11Plant2027 Chevrolet models
5Bowling GreenCorvette
Z / 4Fort Wayne / OrionSilverado 1500 (US-built)
GSilao, MexicoSilverado 1500 (Mexico-built)
RArlingtonTahoe, Suburban
JLansing Delta TownshipTraverse
LSan Luis Potosí, MexicoEquinox
SRamos Arizpe, MexicoBlazer EV, Equinox EV
UFactory ZeroSilverado EV
CChangwon, South KoreaTrax

Chevrolet-specific checks

  • GM’s recall center searches recalls and warranty status by VIN for Chevrolet and other GM brands. GM says the VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard at the bottom of the windshield, or on the driver’s door jamb, and that it never contains the letters I or O.
  • The decoder’s recall list is for the model. Ask GM or NHTSA by VIN whether this truck’s repairs were done.
  • Read position 10 with the VIN year codes table: it’s the model year, which can differ from the build date.
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Letters and numbers, no I, O or Q. It’s on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver’s door frame, and on the title.

Before you buy a used Chevy

  • Match the dash VIN, the door-jamb label and the title.
  • Check that positions 1 and 11 agree with where the model is built: a 2027 Tahoe from Arlington has R in position 11.
  • Get a history report for title brands, accidents and mileage. See salvage title check and odometer rollback check.
  • Search open recalls by VIN before you pay.

A CARFAX report on a Chevrolet is $8.99 with us.

Questions

Which character shows it’s a Chevrolet?

Position 3. In GM’s 2027 standard, 1 is a Chevrolet passenger car, C a Chevrolet truck, N (or 7 when built in Korea) a Chevrolet SUV, and B an incomplete Chevrolet vehicle. GMC uses different letters.

Why can the same plant letter mean two factories?

GM defines position 11 per model and reads it with position 1. In 2027, F is Fairfax on the Bolt and Flint on the Silverado HD, so the decoder takes the plant from NHTSA’s data for your exact VIN.

What does position 8 mean on a Silverado?

It’s the engine. GM’s 2027 Silverado 1500 page lists separate codes for each gasoline V8 and for the 3.0-liter diesel.

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About the author

Tayron Bram

Data Validation Officer

Tayron Bram is the Data Validation Officer at Smart VIN Check, with 41 years of experience in used-car sales, auto auctions and vehicle data. Tayron has checked thousands of vehicle history reports and worked with dealers importing cars from the US. At Smart VIN Check, Tayron checks that every fact in our guides matches its source, from state title rules to NMVTIS and NHTSA records, and goes back to those sources when they change. Before a guide is published, Tayron reads it the way a buyer would, looking for anything unclear, out of date or not backed by a source. Tayron also keeps the prices we quote from other sellers current, so the comparisons on our pages stay accurate.

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