Chevrolet VIN Decoder: Free VIN Lookup
Decode any 17-character Chevrolet VIN to see year, model, engine, and build plant, instantly, free, no signup.
Enter a 17-character Chevrolet VIN
For full vehicle history (title brands, salvage, recalls, market value), get the report for $9.99
A Chevrolet VIN is a 17-character identifier on every Chevy built since 1981. US-built Chevrolets start with 1G1 (cars), 1GC (trucks), or 1GN (SUVs); Mexican-built with 3G; Korean-built models with KL. Decoding a Chevy VIN is free, but a decode never shows title brands, theft, or odometer history, that requires a title report.
Example: decoding a Chevrolet VIN
Sample pattern: 1GCUYDED••Z••••••
| Positions | Characters | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 1GC | General Motors, USA, Chevrolet truck |
| 4–8 | UYDED | VDS: Silverado 1500 cab/drive configuration, GVWR/restraints, and 5.3L V8 engine code |
| 9 | • | Check digit |
| 10 | • | Model year letter (e.g., M = 2021, P = 2023) |
| 11 | Z | Fort Wayne, IN assembly |
| 12–17 | •••••• | Sequential production number |
Structure per NHTSA 49 CFR Part 565.
Chevrolet WMI codes: where your Chevrolet was built
| WMI | Country | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1G1 | USA | Passenger cars (Malibu, Camaro, Corvette, Bolt) |
| 1GC | USA | Trucks (Silverado, Colorado) |
| 1GN | USA | SUVs (Tahoe, Suburban, Traverse) |
| 1GB | USA | Incomplete/cutaway chassis (Express, Silverado chassis) |
| 2G1 / 2GC | Canada | Cars / trucks (historic Oshawa builds; Oshawa now builds Silverado) |
| 3GC | Mexico | Trucks, Silao (Silverado crew cabs) |
| 3GN | Mexico | SUVs, San Luis Potosí, Ramos Arizpe (Equinox, Blazer) |
| KL1 / KL7 | South Korea | GM Korea (Spark, Trax, Trailblazer) |
Source: NHTSA vPIC WMI registry.
How to read each position of a Chevrolet VIN
- Positions 1–3, WMI: World Manufacturer Identifier. Identifies the maker and country of origin.
- Positions 4–8, VDS: Vehicle Descriptor Section. Encodes body style, engine, restraint system, and model line.
- Position 9, Check digit: Math-derived validator. A failed check digit can indicate a typo or a cloned VIN.
- Position 10, Model year: Single character; see the table below.
- Position 11, Assembly plant: Manufacturer-specific code for the factory.
- Positions 12–17, Sequence: Sequential production number unique to that car.
Model-year code table (position 10)
| Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 / 2010 | S | 1995 / 2025 |
| B | 1981 / 2011 | T | 1996 / 2026 |
| C | 1982 / 2012 | V | 1997 / 2027 |
| D | 1983 / 2013 | W | 1998 / 2028 |
| E | 1984 / 2014 | X | 1999 / 2029 |
| F | 1985 / 2015 | Y | 2000 / 2030 |
| G | 1986 / 2016 | 1 | 2001 / 2031 |
| H | 1987 / 2017 | 2 | 2002 / 2032 |
| J | 1988 / 2018 | 3 | 2003 / 2033 |
| K | 1989 / 2019 | 4 | 2004 / 2034 |
| L | 1990 / 2020 | 5 | 2005 / 2035 |
| M | 1991 / 2021 | 6 | 2006 / 2036 |
| N | 1992 / 2022 | 7 | 2007 / 2037 |
| P | 1993 / 2023 | 8 | 2008 / 2038 |
| R | 1994 / 2024 | 9 | 2009 / 2039 |
Plant codes vary by model line, the decoder above returns the registered plant for your exact VIN.
Where to find the VIN on a Chevrolet
- On a metal plate at the base of the windshield on the driver's side (visible from outside).
- On a sticker on the driver's door jamb.
- Stamped on the engine block or firewall on many models.
- On the title, registration, and insurance card, always confirm the paperwork matches the physical VIN. Mismatches are a serious red flag.
Chevrolet title & history red flags to check before you buy
Decoding a VIN tells you how a vehicle was built. To see what happened to it, you need a full vehicle history report, which surfaces title brands, odometer readings, theft records, and more.
3rd-most-stolen vehicle in America
The Silverado 1500 logged 21,666 thefts in 2024, the only pickup in the national top five. Theft and recovery records ride with the VIN in NMVTIS.
Most-stolen vehicle in nine states
The Silverado tops state-level theft charts in nine states including Texas (~6,453 stolen in 2024) and California, buyers in truck country should treat a theft-record check as standard.
Bolt EV battery-fire salvage history
All ~140,000 Bolt EV/EUVs were recalled for battery fire risk; used Bolts deserve a check for fire-related total-loss or buyback records.
Flood-truck title washing
Heavy Silverado registration in Gulf-coast states means flood brands are common after hurricane seasons; NMVTIS brand history follows the VIN across state re-titling.
Odometer rollback on work trucks
High-mileage fleet Silverados are rollback candidates before resale; sequential NMVTIS odometer records expose mileage discrepancies.
Chevrolet recalls: check before you buy
The Chevy Bolt EV/EUV (2017–2022) recall covered ~140,000 vehicles in North America for fire risk from LG cell defects (torn anode + folded separator); LG paid GM $1.9B toward the recall. Takata airbag inflators (2007–2014 trucks/SUVs): NHTSA ordered GM to recall ~5.9 million vehicles including Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban for Takata inflators. A brake vacuum pump recall (2014–2018 trucks/SUVs) covered ~3.46 million pickups and SUVs over degraded vacuum-pump brake assist.
Run a free Chevrolet recall check →Recall counts shown by the free tool are model-level context for this model year, not a VIN-specific verdict. VIN-specific recall completion status is in the $9.99 report.
Buying an electric Chevrolet?
Chevrolet's EV history is dominated by the Bolt recall: every 2017–2022 Bolt EV/EUV (~140k) was recalled for battery fire risk, and some received full pack replacements, a used Bolt with a new pack can be a value, but verify recall completion and check the title for fire/total-loss brands. Silverado EV and Equinox EV (2024+) carry large packs where flood exposure typically means an insurance total.
What to check on a used Chevrolet
Chevrolet spans work trucks, family SUVs, and high-mileage commuter cars, so a used Silverado, Equinox, Malibu, or Tahoe can arrive with very different histories at the same price point. Sort out how the vehicle was used before you argue about price.
On Silverado and Tahoe models, check frame rust, brake line corrosion on salt-state trucks, and signs of heavy towing. On Equinox and Malibu, ask about oil consumption and timing chain service on four-cylinder engines, and confirm any prior engine work with receipts rather than a verbal description.
Rebuilt and salvage titles are common on full-size trucks and SUVs because parts are plentiful and repairs pencil out. Hail damage is another pattern worth knowing: Plains and Southwest hail events produce large numbers of branded vehicles that then move to other states looking cosmetically fine after paintless dent repair.
Confirm the title brand history, odometer readings across time, salvage and total-loss records, theft records, open liens, and VIN-specific recall completion status before handing over a deposit.
See the history on this exact Chevrolet before you pay for it.
Get the full Chevrolet history: $9.99Looking at safety campaigns? Read Chevrolet recalls: how to check open safety recalls, or run a VIN through the free recall check.
Free VIN decode vs. full vehicle history report
| What you learn | TitlePull Report, $9.99 one-time | Free decoder | Other providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year, make, model, engine specs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (free) |
| Title history | ✓ | No | Varies by provider |
| Title brands (salvage, flood, lemon) | ✓ | No | Varies by provider |
| Odometer readings over time | ✓ | No | Varies by provider |
| Theft & total-loss records | ✓ | No | Varies by provider |
| Recalls | ✓ VIN-specific completion status | Model-level list (free tool) | Varies |
| Black Book® valuation | ✓ | No | Often extra |
| AI summary | ✓ | No | Rare |
| Subscription required | Never | Never | Often |
Checked the specs? Now check the history.
Get Your Chevrolet Report, $9.99Chevrolet VIN decoder: frequently asked questions
VIN decoders for other makes
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Related: Cars guide · Buying in California · Buying in Texas · Buying in Florida · Vehicle history reports guide
By the TitlePull Team · Published June 7, 2026 · Last updated July 29, 2026 · Fact-checked against NHTSA vPIC
Sources: NHTSA vPIC & 49 CFR Part 565 · NHTSA recall database · NICB theft data · HLDI (Highway Loss Data Institute) · Mitchell · NMVTIS (U.S. Department of Justice).