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Honda VIN decoder

Enter a Honda VIN to decode it. Honda packs the model, trim, transmission and engine into a single model code in the middle of the VIN, and the plant letter tells you which of its factories built the car.

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 free decoder shows for a Honda
  2. Honda manufacturer codes (WMI)
  3. Honda’s model code in positions 4 to 8
  4. Honda-specific checks
  5. Before you buy a used Honda

What the free decoder shows for a Honda

Put in all 17 characters and the decoder fetches Honda’s data from NHTSA’s free vPIC service: model year, model and trim (Civic Sport, CR-V EX-L and so on), body, engine or hybrid system, transmission, drive, plant and airbags. It also lists recalls NHTSA has for that year and model. A decode describes the car as built. It won’t show a salvage title, an insurance write-off or a mileage problem: those are in a history report. Try the VIN decoder for other makes or see pricing.

Honda manufacturer codes (WMI)

Source: NHTSA vPIC, WMIs registered to Honda, checked October 25, 2026. Car and light-truck codes only; the full list is longer.
WMIManufacturer as registeredVehicle type
JHMHONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Passenger car
1HGAMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.Passenger car
19XAMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.Passenger car
2HGHONDA OF CANADA MFG., A DIVISION OF HONDA CANADA INC.Passenger car
3HGHONDA DE MEXICO, S.A. DE C.V.Passenger car
5FNAMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.Multipurpose passenger vehicle
5J6AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.Multipurpose passenger vehicle
2HKHONDA OF CANADA MFG., A DIVISION OF HONDA CANADA INC.Multipurpose passenger vehicle
3CZHONDA DE MEXICO, S.A. DE C.V.Multipurpose passenger vehicle
5FPAMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.Truck

The first character is the country of manufacture: J for Japan, 1, 4 and 5 for the United States, 2 for Canada and 3 for Mexico. Honda’s vPIC list also includes motorcycle codes, such as JH2, which you won’t see on a car.

Honda’s model code in positions 4 to 8

Honda’s VIN filings with NHTSA treat positions 4 to 8 as one model code and print a table for each model. Each code stands for a model, trim, drive system, transmission, body type, GVWR class, restraint system and engine. In the 2027 tables, FE2F2 is a Civic sedan LX with a CVT and the K20C9 engine, and FL2H8 a Civic Hatchback Sport. Because one code carries the trim, a mismatch between the decoded trim and the badges on the car is easy to spot.

Position 9 is the check digit, 10 the model year (V for 2027) and 12 to 17 the sequential production number. Position 11 is the plant. Examples from Honda’s recent filings:

Source: Honda Part 565 VIN filings in NHTSA’s Manufacturer Information Database.
Position 11PlantModel in the filing
AMarysville, Ohio2026 Accord sedan
LEast Liberty, Ohio2027 CR-V
EGreensburg, Indiana2027 Civic Hatchback
BLincoln, Alabama2027 Odyssey
HAlliston, Ontario2027 Civic sedan
MCelaya, Mexico2027 HR-V
XYorii, Japan2027 Prelude

Honda-specific checks

  • Honda’s recall search works by VIN or by year, model and trim. Honda says it covers safety recalls from the past 15 calendar years; older recalls aren’t included.
  • Our decoder lists recalls for the model, not this car. NHTSA’s VIN search shows unrepaired recalls for the exact vehicle.
  • Position 10 is the model year, not the date the car was built: Honda’s 2027 filings use V, its 2026 filings T. 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 Honda

  • Compare the VIN on the dash, the driver-door label and the title.
  • Check the decoded trim against the car: the model code in positions 4 to 8 fixes trim, transmission and engine.
  • Run a history report for title brands, total losses and mileage. See salvage title check, odometer rollback check and what a VIN is.
  • Search the VIN for open recalls before you pay.

A CARFAX report on a used Honda is $8.99 with us.

Questions

What is the Honda model code in a VIN?

Positions 4 to 8. Honda’s filings list each five-character code against the model, trim, drive, transmission, body, GVWR class, restraints and engine.

My Civic VIN starts with 2HG. Where was it built?

2HG is registered to Honda of Canada Mfg. Honda’s 2027 Civic sedan filing lists H in position 11, Alliston, Ontario. Civic Hatchbacks in the 2027 filing start with 19X and were built in Greensburg, Indiana.

How far back does Honda’s recall search go?

Honda says its recall site covers safety recalls announced in the past 15 calendar years. For older recalls, ask a Honda dealer.

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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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