Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN codes)/GM/VIN Codes

General Motors uses the following VIN formats and codes.

American GM

American VIN format

GM has traditionally encoded the platform as the fourth character of the VIN. Other content includes an engine code and manufacturing plant. GM's VIN format is as follows:

Position	Sample	Description
1	1	World Manufacturer Identifier
2	G
3	6
4	D	Platform
5	M	Platform Series Code
6	5	Body style
7	7	Restraint type
8	N	Engine type
9	0	Check digit
10	3	Model year
11	0	Factory ID
12	1	Sequential number
13	2
14	3
15	7
16	6
17	2

Platform codes

GM used a lettered system of automobile platform codes for three decades. These letters were used as the fourth position of the VIN. Though today's GM platforms use Greek characters, they are still encoded with Latin characters in the fourth position. Position five encodes the specific model and trim level of the vehicle.

List of GM platforms	Platform Code	Series Code	Model
GM C platform	C
		W	Buick Park Avenue
		D, T	Cadillac DeVille
		B	Cadillac Fleetwood
		G	Cadillac Sixty Special
GM D platform	D	W	Cadillac Brougham
		V	Buick Terraza
		G, M, P, R, U	Cadillac CTS
GM E platform	E	C	Pontiac G8
		L, T	Cadillac Eldorado
		Z	Buick Riviera
GM A,F platform	A,F	P	Chevrolet Camaro
		S	Pontiac Firebird
		V,W	Pontiac Firebird Formula/ Trans Am
GM G platform	G	R, S	1995-99 Buick Riviera & Oldsmobile Aurora
GM H platform	H	P	Buick Le Sabre Custom
		R	Buick Le Sabre Limited
		X	Pontiac Bonneville SE
		Y	Pontiac Bonneville SLE
		Z	Pontiac Bonneville SSEi
GM J platform	J	B	Pontiac Sunfire
		C, F	Chevrolet Cavalier
		H	Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
GM Epsilon platform	J	T, U	Saturn L200
		W	Saturn L300
GM K platform	K	D, E, F	Cadillac Deville
		S	Cadillac Seville/ Cadillac SLS
		Y	Cadillac Seville/ Cadillac STS
GM L platform	L
		D	Chevrolet Corsica Base
		T	Chevrolet Corsica LT
		V	Chevrolet Beretta "GT"
		W	Chevrolet Beretta "GT" RPO Z21 & Z26
		Z	Chevrolet Corsica LTZ RPO Z54
		Z	Chevrolet Beretta "GTZ" RPO Z04
GM N platform	N	D	Chevrolet Malibu
		E	Chevrolet Malibu LS/ Pontiac Grand Am SE
		F	Pontiac Grand Am SE1/ Oldsmobile Alero GLS
		G	Pontiac Grand Am SE2
		K	Oldsmobile Alero Level I
		L	Oldsmobile Alero Level II
		V	Pontiac Grand Am GT1
		W	Pontiac Grand Am GT
GM P platform	P
		E	Pontiac Fiero Coupe
		F	Pontiac Fiero SE
		G	Pontiac Fiero GT
		M	Pontiac Fiero Sport coupe
GM S platform	S	L	Pontiac Vibe
		M	Pontiac Vibe AWD
		N	Pontiac Vibe GT
GM V platform	V	R	Cadillac Allanté/ Cadillac Catera
		S	Cadillac Allanté coupe
		X	Pontiac GTO coupe
GM W platform	W	B	Chevrolet Impala / Buick Regal LS
		C	Buick Lacrosse / Allure (in Canada) CX
		D	Buick Lacrosse / Allure (in Canada) CXL
		E	Buick Lacrosse / Allure (in Canada) CXS
		F	Chevrolet Impala/ Buick Regal GS
		H	Chevrolet Impala LS
		J	Pontiac Grand Prix SE
		K	Pontiac Grand Prix SE1
		L	Chevrolet Lumina
		P	Pontiac Grand Prix GT / Chevrolet Impala
		R	Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
		S	Buick Century Custom
		W	Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS
		X	Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
		Y	Buick Century Limited
GM Y platform	Y	V	Cadillac XLR
		Y	Chevrolet Corvette
		Z	Chevrolet Corvette

Body style codes

The Body type is specified as character six of the American GM VIN for passenger cars.

VIN	Description
1	Two-Door Coupe
2	Two-Door
3	Two-Door Convertible
5	Four-Door Sedan
6	Four-Door Sedan Hatchback
8	Four-Door Station Wagon/Two-Door Hatchback
9	Four-Door Station Wagon

American restraint types

The restraint type is specified as character seven of the American GM VIN for passenger cars.

American engine codes

GM encodes the engine type in character 8 of the VIN. The following table outlines the various engines encoded there:

Engine codes for passenger cars

Mistake on the engine code M, this M code comes out on the 1995 - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the engine is an RPO L82 3.1 SFI engine.

VIN code T also designates a 3.1 V6, the base engine in the 1990-92 Camaro/Firebird platform, and VIN code 8 is much better known as the L98 5.7 V8 TPI, standard in the 1985-91 Corvette and optional in the 1987-92 Camaro/Firebird platform .

Missing Entry: 1985-1988 Pontiac Fieros have a 9 engine code for the 2.8L L44 V6.

Missing Entry: The 2009 Corvette uses a W engine code for the 6.2L LS3 V8.

Missing Entry: Vin Code V for 2.4 L LE9 2.4L MFI I4

Warning: Issues with the decoding are related to year/model combinations. Such as the 4.1 V6 is not included in the list, however it was used on El Dorada and some Cadillac models. Each Year has different break down for each code, a complete list would be a subject of its own. Along with Plants and some model break downs over years.

Missing Entry: 1991 Limo with engine code 7, is not listed. According to one source the limo engine is a 5.7L.

VIN	RPO	Size	Type	Fuel
1	L67	3.8 L	V6	SFI
2	LY8	1.3 L	I4	MFI
4	LN2	2.2 L	I4	SFI
6	L42	2.2 L	I4	MFI
7	LY7	3.6 L	V6	SFI
8	LV6	1.8 L	I4	MFI
9	L37	4.6 L	V8	SFI
A	LGO	2.3 L	I4	MFI
C	L47	4.0 L	V8	SFI
D	LD2	2.3 L	I4	MFI
E	LA1	3.4 L	V6	SFI
E	L03	5.0 L	V8	TBI
F	L61	2.2 L	I4	MFI
F	LB9	5.0 L	V8	TPI
G	LS1	5.7 L	V8	MFI
H	LX5	3.5 L	V6	SFI
H	LG4	5.0 L	V8	4BBL
J	LG8	3.1 L	V6	SFI
K	L36	3.8 L	V6	SFI
L	LNK	1.8 L	I4	SFI
M	L95	1.4 L	I4	MFI
M	LY9	2.6 L	V6	MFI
N	LA3	3.2 L	V6	MFI
P	LT1	5.7 L	V8	SFI
P	LSJ	2.0 L	SC Straight-4|I4	SFI
R	L81	3.0 L	V6	MFI
S	LS6	5.7 L	V8	SFI
S	LB8	2.8 L	V6	MPFi
T	LD9	2.4 L	I4	SFI
U	LS2	6.0 L	V8	MFI
W	L35	2.8 L	V6	MPI
X	LG5	3.1 L	V6	MPFI
Y	LD8	5.0 L	V8	4BBL

Engine codes for light trucks

There is a mistake for 2012. The engine code for 4.8 L Flexfuel engine is an A and is not listed.

VIN Size Type Fuel
1 6.6 L V8 Diesel
2 6.6 L V8 Diesel
B 5.3 L V8 RPO-L33 Vortec 5.3L 310 Alum Blk HO
D 6.6L V8 Diesel
G 8.1L V8 (Vortec 8100)
J 6.2 L V8 Diesel, Non-Turbo
L 2.5 L L4
M 5.0 L V8
N 6.0 L V8 (GENIII LQ9)
P 5.3 L V8
K 5.7 L V8 TBI V0604VSA
R 5.7 L V8 Vortec
S 4.2 L L6
T 5.3 L V8 (VORTEC 5300)
U 6.0 L V8 (GENIII LQ4)
V 4.8 L V8
W 4.3 L V6 CPI
X 4.3 L V6
Z 4.3 L V6 TFI

American GM factories

See List of GM factories.

GM WMIs

Also mistake on Country codes...GMC light trucks are not listed. The code is 1GT which indicates Ft Wayne, IN.

WMI	Marque	Country
1G1	Chevrolet	United States
2G1		Canada
3G1		Mexico
KL1		South Korea
9BG		Brazil
8AG		Argentina
8GG		Chile
8Z1		Venezuela
KLA	GM Daewoo	South Korea
1G2	Pontiac	United States
2G2		Canada
3G2		Mexico
5Y2		United States
6G2		Australia
KL2		South Korea
1G3	Oldsmobile	United States
2G3		Canada
1G4	Buick	United States
2G4		Canada
3G4		Mexico
1G6	Cadillac	United States
W06		Germany
1G8	Saturn	United States
W08		Belgium