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Hyundai VIN decoder

Enter a Hyundai VIN to decode it. Hyundai’s VIN guides follow one clear pattern across its range, from the Venue to the Ioniq 9, so the middle of the VIN reads the same way on most models.

By Tayron Bram

Updated October 2026 · 3 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 you’ll see for a Hyundai
  2. Hyundai manufacturer codes (WMI)
  3. How Hyundai fills positions 4 to 8 and 11
  4. Hyundai-specific checks
  5. Before you buy a used Hyundai

What you’ll see for a Hyundai

The decoder runs once the 17th character is entered and pulls Hyundai’s entries from NHTSA’s free vPIC service: model year, model, trim, body and drive, engine or electric motor and battery, plant and restraints. It lists the recalls NHTSA has for that year and model too. It won’t show what the car went through after delivery, such as a salvage title, an accident or an odometer problem; a history report covers that. The VIN decoder works for every make, and pricing shows report costs.

Hyundai manufacturer codes (WMI)

Source: NHTSA vPIC, WMIs registered to Hyundai, checked October 25, 2026. Main passenger-vehicle codes only; the full list is longer.
WMIManufacturer as registeredVehicle type
KMHHYUNDAI MOTOR COPassenger car
KM8HYUNDAI MOTOR COMultipurpose passenger vehicle
5NPHYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI)Passenger car
5NMHYUNDAI MOTOR MANUFACTURING ALABAMA LLC (HMMA)Multipurpose passenger vehicle
5NTHYUNDAI MOTOR MANUFACTURING ALABAMA LLC (HMMA)Truck
7YAHYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP METAPLANT AMERICAMultipurpose passenger vehicle

Position 1 is the country: K for South Korea, 5 and 7 for the United States. The 7YA code belongs to the Metaplant in Georgia, which Hyundai’s filings list for the 2027 Ioniq 5 and the Ioniq 9. The Santa Cruz pickup is registered as a truck under 5NT, while Alabama-built SUVs use 5NM.

How Hyundai fills positions 4 to 8 and 11

Hyundai’s VIN decoding guides, filed with NHTSA by its US technical center (HATCI), label the middle of the VIN the same way: 4 make and line, 5 model series (the trim), 6 body type, which also carries drive and GVWR class, 7 restraint system and 8 engine or motor. Position 5 really is the trim: a 2026 Ioniq 9 revision exists only to add the Calligraphy Design trim to the 5th digit. Position 9 is the check digit and 10 the model year (V for 2027).

Source: Hyundai Part 565 VIN decoding guides in NHTSA’s Manufacturer Information Database.
Position 11PlantModels in the filings
UUlsan, Korea2027 Nexo, Venue
AAsan, Korea2027 Ioniq 6 N
HAlabama, USA2027 Santa Fe, Santa Cruz
YMetaplant (HMGMA), Georgia, USA2027 Ioniq 5, 2026 Ioniq 9

Hyundai-specific checks

  • Hyundai’s recall search looks up safety recalls and service campaigns by VIN, with information back to August 20, 1986. Hyundai lists the driver’s side dashboard, the driver’s door jamb, the insurance card and the title as places to find the VIN.
  • The decoder shows recalls for the model. Hyundai’s tool or NHTSA tells you whether this VIN still has one open.
  • On an electric Hyundai, position 8 describes the battery and motors, so a single-motor and a dual-motor Ioniq 5 get different codes.
  • Read position 10 with the VIN year codes table.
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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 Hyundai

  • Match the VIN on the dashboard, the door jamb and the title.
  • Compare the decoded trim (position 5) and drive (position 6) with the car itself.
  • Check title brands, total losses and mileage in a history report. See salvage title check and odometer rollback check.
  • Search the VIN for open recalls and service campaigns with Hyundai.

An AutoCheck report on a Hyundai is $7.99 with us.

Questions

Which character shows the trim on a Hyundai VIN?

Position 5, which Hyundai calls the model series. Its guides list a trim for each code, such as SE, SEL or Limited.

Why does my Ioniq 5 VIN start with 7YA?

7YA is registered to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia. Hyundai’s 2027 Ioniq 5 guide lists that code and Y in position 11 for the Metaplant.

How far back does Hyundai’s recall lookup go?

Hyundai says its VIN search provides information as far back as August 20, 1986.

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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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