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VIN decoder

Kia VIN decoder

Enter a Kia VIN to decode it. Several Kia models come from more than one plant, and the VIN changes with the plant, so it’s worth knowing which version you’re looking at.

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 the decoder shows for a Kia
  2. Kia manufacturer codes (WMI)
  3. Kia’s positions 4 to 8 and 11
  4. Kia-specific checks
  5. Before you buy a used Kia

What the decoder shows for a Kia

When the VIN reaches 17 characters, the decoder pulls Kia’s data from NHTSA’s free vPIC service: model year, model, trim, body and drive, engine or EV battery and motors, plant and restraints. It adds the recalls NHTSA lists for that year and model. The decode can’t tell you about title brands, accidents or mileage after the car was sold new; a history report does. See the VIN decoder for other makes, or pricing.

Kia manufacturer codes (WMI)

Source: NHTSA vPIC, WMIs registered to Kia, checked October 25, 2026. Main codes only; vPIC also lists shared Hyundai-Kia codes.
WMIManufacturer as registeredVehicle type
KNAKIA CORPORATIONPassenger car
KNDKIA CORPORATIONMultipurpose passenger vehicle
5XXKIA GEORGIA, INCPassenger car
5XYKIA GEORGIA, INCMultipurpose passenger vehicle
3KPKIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V.Passenger car
3KMKIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V.Multipurpose passenger vehicle

The first character gives the country: K for South Korea, 5 for the United States (Kia Georgia), 3 for Mexico. Kia’s VIN guides are filed with NHTSA by the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, so the layout matches Hyundai’s, but the codes are Kia’s own.

Kia’s positions 4 to 8 and 11

In Kia’s 2027 guides, 4 is make and line, 5 the model series or trim (LX, EX, SX and so on), 6 body type with drive and GVWR class, 7 restraint system and 8 engine or motor. Position 9 is the check digit, 10 the model year (V for 2027), 11 the plant and 12 to 17 a sequential number.

Source: Kia Part 565 VIN decoding guides in NHTSA’s Manufacturer Information Database.
Position 11Plant2027 models in the filings
GGeorgia, USAEV6, EV9, Sorento, Sportage
7Gwangju, KoreaSportage
5Hwasung, KoreaK5, Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid
EMexicoK4, K4 Hatchback

Two models show why this matters. A Georgia-built 2027 Sportage starts 5XY and has K in position 4; a Korean-built one starts KND and has P. A gasoline 2027 Sorento comes from Georgia under 5XY, while the Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid come from Hwasung under KND. Both versions are genuine; they just read differently.

Kia-specific checks

  • Kia’s recall page searches by 17-character VIN and covers safety recalls initiated after July 1, 1994. Kia says a Kia dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
  • The decoder lists recalls for the model, not this exact car. Kia’s page or NHTSA, which tells you to look on the lower left of the windshield for the VIN, shows what’s unrepaired.
  • Position 10 is the model year; the full list is in 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 Kia

  • Match the VIN on the windshield, the driver-door label and the title.
  • Check that the WMI and plant fit each other: 5XY with G, KND with a Korean plant code.
  • Look for title brands, total losses and mileage gaps in a history report. See odometer rollback check and salvage title check.
  • Search the VIN for open recalls with Kia before you buy.

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

Questions

Why do two 2027 Sportage VINs start differently?

Kia’s filings list the 2027 Sportage from Georgia (5XY, plant G, K in position 4) and from Gwangju, Korea (KND, plant 7, P in position 4).

Which position is the trim on a Kia VIN?

Position 5, the model series. On the 2027 K4, for example, Kia lists separate codes for LX, EX and GT-Line.

How far back does Kia’s recall search go?

Kia says you can search all safety recalls initiated after July 1, 1994.

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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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