Genesis VIN Decoder: Free VIN Lookup
Decode any 17-character Genesis VIN to see year, model, engine, and build plant, instantly, free, no signup.
Enter a 17-character Genesis VIN
For full vehicle history (title brands, salvage, recalls, market value), get the report for $9.99
A Genesis VIN decoder reads the 17-character VIN to identify model, engine, model year, and plant. Korean-built Genesis vehicles use KM-prefix WMIs (KMT sedans, KMU SUVs; early Hyundai-badged Genesis sedans used KMH), while the US-built Electrified GV70 carries a 5-prefix Alabama WMI. Decoding is free, but it does not show title or accident history.
Example: decoding a Genesis VIN
Sample pattern: KMUHCESC•PU••••••
| Positions | Characters | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | KMU | Genesis SUV, South Korea |
| 4–8 | HCESC | Model line, body, engine, restraints |
| 9 | • | Check digit |
| 10 | P | 2023 model year |
| 11 | U | Ulsan plant (verify via live decode) |
| 12–17 | •••••• | Production sequence |
Structure per NHTSA 49 CFR Part 565.
Genesis WMI codes: where your Genesis was built
| WMI | Country | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| KMT | South Korea | G70, G80, G90 sedans, Ulsan |
| KMU | South Korea | GV60, GV70, GV80 SUVs, Ulsan |
| KMH | South Korea | 2009–2016 Hyundai Genesis sedan/coupe (pre-brand spinoff) |
Source: NHTSA vPIC WMI registry.
How to read each position of a Genesis 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 Genesis
- 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.
Genesis 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.
Young brand, short paper trails
Genesis only became a standalone brand for 2017, so most used examples are 1–2 owner cars, which makes any gap or out-of-state title hop in a short history more conspicuous, not less. Verify the chain of title.
Fuel-leak and stalling recall cluster
Recent campaigns cover GV70/GV80 fuel-pipe leaks, G70–GV80 stalling risk, and a 2024 GV70 transmission-harness water-intrusion defect that can shift the car out of Park. Confirm completion by VIN.
High-theft-era Hyundai halo confusion
Genesis models weren't part of the Kia Boyz immobilizer wave, but Hyundai-badged 2009–2016 Genesis sedans (KMH VINs) sit in the older fleet where theft and salvage records deserve a look.
Luxury depreciation totals borderline cars
Strong new-car discount pressure plus luxury repair costs push damaged Genesis vehicles to total-loss decisions; rebuilt GV80s are already appearing at auction.
Genesis recalls: check before you buy
Instrument-cluster software failure, 2023–24 G80/GV80, 2025 GV70, 2023–25 Electrified GV70 (FMVSS 101 noncompliance). Fuel pipe-to-rail leak, 2022–2026 GV70/GV80. 2024 GV70 transmission control harness water intrusion (Park-to-Neutral shift risk). G70/G80/GV70/GV80 stalling-risk recall.
Run a free Genesis 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 Genesis?
GV60 and Electrified GV70/G80 use E-GMP-derived high-voltage packs; flood history is the key disqualifier, and the US-built Electrified GV70's different WMI is a quick authenticity check. ICCU/charging-software campaigns on related Hyundai EVs are worth checking per VIN.
What to check on a used Genesis
A used Genesis can be an excellent buy, but the condition you can see during a test drive is only part of the picture. Two vehicles with the same year, mileage, and asking price can have completely different histories, and the difference usually lives in the paperwork rather than under the hood.
Start with maintenance evidence. Ask for service records covering oil changes, cooling system work, brakes, tires, and any major repair, and be skeptical of a seller who offers a single recent receipt instead of a history. Inspect for mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps, replacement lights, and fresh undercoating, since all of them can mask prior collision repair. Look for rust on the frame, rocker panels, and brake lines if the vehicle spent time in a salt state.
Flood damage is the pattern buyers miss most often. Storm-damaged vehicles are frequently repaired, moved to another state, and retitled, so check for musty odors, silt under the carpet and in the spare tire well, corroded seat rails and bolts, and moisture inside light housings. A car that smells strongly of air freshener deserves a closer look.
Before money changes hands, verify the four items a visual inspection cannot answer: whether the title carries a brand such as salvage, junk, rebuilt, or flood, whether the recorded odometer readings move forward consistently over time, whether the vehicle was ever declared a total loss or reported stolen, and whether a lien is still open against it. Recall completion on the exact VIN belongs on that list too.
See the history on this exact Genesis before you pay for it.
Get the full Genesis history: $9.99Looking at safety campaigns? Read Genesis 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 Genesis Report, $9.99Genesis VIN decoder: frequently asked questions
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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).