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GMC VIN decoder

Enter a GMC VIN to decode it. GMC trucks share General Motors’ numbering with Chevrolet, so the useful part is knowing which characters say GMC and which say where and for whom the truck was built.

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 a GMC decode shows, and what it doesn’t
  2. GMC manufacturer codes (WMI)
  3. Positions 4 to 8 and the plant code
  4. GMC-specific checks
  5. Before you buy a used GMC

What a GMC decode shows, and what it doesn’t

When all 17 characters are in, the decoder reads NHTSA’s free vPIC record for the VIN: model year, model and trim (Sierra 1500 AT4, Yukon Denali and so on), cab or body style, engine or electric drive, GVWR class, plant and airbags. It adds the recalls NHTSA lists for that year and model. It can’t tell you whether the truck was towed, flooded, written off or had its mileage changed. That comes from a history report. The VIN decoder handles other makes, and pricing lists what we sell.

GMC manufacturer codes (WMI)

Source: NHTSA vPIC, GM WMIs that vPIC decodes to the make GMC, checked October 25, 2026. Not a complete list.
WMIManufacturer as registeredVehicle type
1GTGENERAL MOTORS LLCTruck
2GTGENERAL MOTORS LLCTruck
3GTGENERAL MOTORS LLCTruck
1GKGENERAL MOTORS LLCMultipurpose passenger vehicle
2GKGENERAL MOTORS LLCMultipurpose passenger vehicle
3GKGENERAL MOTORS LLCMultipurpose passenger vehicle
1GDGENERAL MOTORS LLCIncomplete vehicle
1GJGENERAL MOTORS LLCBus

Like Chevrolet, GMC’s codes are registered to General Motors LLC, and a vPIC manufacturer search for “GMC” returns nothing. GM calls position 1 the region of build (1 United States, 2 Canada, 3 Mexico). Position 3 carries the brand: on 2027 GMCs, T is a truck, K an SUV, D an incomplete vehicle and J a bus. That third character is often the quickest way to tell a Sierra VIN from a Silverado one, which uses C.

Positions 4 to 8 and the plant code

GM’s 2027 standard for trucks and SUVs puts GVWR, brake system and body style in position 4, chassis and series in 5 and 6, the restraint system in 7 and the engine in 8. Sierra and Silverado share more than plants: the 2027 Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 pages list the same engine letters, so the series code in positions 5 and 6 is what separates trims like Elevation, AT4 and Denali.

Source: General Motors LLC, 2027 Vehicle Identification Numbering Standards filed with NHTSA. GM defines plant codes per model, read together with position 1.
Position 11Plant2027 GMC models
1WentzvilleCanyon, Savana
Z / 4Fort Wayne / OrionSierra 1500 (US-built)
GSilao, MexicoSierra 1500 (Mexico-built)
FFlintSierra HD
RArlingtonYukon, Yukon XL
JLansing Delta TownshipAcadia
LSan Luis Potosí, MexicoTerrain
UFactory ZeroHummer EV pickup and SUV, Sierra EV

GMC-specific checks

  • Export-only series codes. GM reserves some series codes for vehicles built for markets outside the US and Canada: the 2027 standard lists H9 for a 2WD Sierra and 19 for a 2WD Canyon in positions 5 and 6. If a truck for sale in the US carries one, ask where it was first sold.
  • The Hummer EV is a GMC: its VIN starts with GM’s 1GT (pickup) or 1GK (SUV) codes and shows U, Factory Zero, in position 11 for 2027.
  • GM’s recall center searches by VIN for GMC and other GM brands. GM puts the VIN on the driver’s side of the dashboard at the bottom of the windshield and on the driver’s door jamb.
  • Position 10 is the model year (V for 2027). See VIN year codes.
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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 GMC

  • Check the VIN on the dash, the door jamb and the title match exactly.
  • Make sure position 3 says GMC (T or K for most models) and the plant code fits the model.
  • Look at the history: title brands, total losses and odometer readings. See odometer rollback check and salvage title check, or read what a VIN is first.
  • Search the VIN for open recalls with GM or NHTSA.

An AutoCheck report on a GMC truck or SUV is $7.99 with us.

Questions

How can I tell a GMC VIN from a Chevrolet VIN?

Look at position 3. In GM’s 2027 standard, GMC trucks use T and GMC SUVs use K, while Chevrolet trucks use C and Chevrolet SUVs N or 7.

What does a Non-US, Non-Canada series code mean?

GM lists some series codes for vehicles built for other markets, such as H9 for a 2WD Sierra in 2027. A truck for sale in the US with one of those codes was built for another market, so ask the seller how it got here and check its history.

Where is the Hummer EV built, according to its VIN?

GM’s 2027 standard lists U in position 11, Factory Zero, for the GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV and the Sierra EV.

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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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