GMC VIN decoder for USA

Free GMC VIN Decoder to check car history and specifications for GMC USA

What is a GMC VIN?

The GMC VIN serves as a crucial component of the digital identity for all GMC SUVs, pickups, vans, and light-duty vehicles. It has been an integral feature of every GMC vehicle produced since 1981, following the approval by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of a new methodology designed to aid in identifying cars sold in the United States and other parts of the world.

Regulations mandated manufacturers to use a 17-character combination to encode detailed information about their models, including make, model, manufacturing year, engine, body type, and other specifications. However, today, with the use of a VIN decoder, you can learn a lot more.

Each time a GMC vehicle visits a workshop, is involved in an accident, or gets stolen, the VIN is used to record these events. This way, car owners and buyers can use their vehicles’ VINs to get a full vehicle history report and check changes in ownership, access accident history, mileage records, and more.

While GMC has a longstanding reputation for producing a wide range of trucks, tracing back to 1902 when the company's founder sold his first truck to the American Garment Cleaning Company of Detroit, GMC vehicles are also not necessarily renowned for their excellent reliability ratings.

For over a century, GMC has stood as a division of General Motors. From 1920 onwards, GMC primarily manufactured models that were often similar, sharing the same platform and many components with Chevrolet vehicles. Nonetheless, GMC has consistently made substantial investments in areas where it can set its cars apart. This includes a focus on distinctive exterior and interior designs, offering more luxurious trims, and incorporating additional features.

Where to search for the VIN on your GMC?

A vehicle’s VIN number is located in multiple places and can depend on the brand. However, there are specific common locations where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.

Where to find VIN - location GMC USA

As with most vehicles manufactured in the US, the VIN number on GMC vehicles can be found at three main locations:

  • On the driver’s side door jamb
  • On the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield
  • On older GMC vehicles, the VIN can be found on the engine block, under the spare tire, or at the front end of the frame (on older models).

If you prefer a hassle-free approach, you can also locate the VIN in the vehicle documents, such as the title, registration, or insurance papers.

What is a GMC VIN decoder?

GMC has always been known for producing vehicles with a wide range of capabilities, suitable for various demanding activities. For example, the GMC Savana cargo van is indispensable for making deliveries, and the GMC Canyon excels in handling off-road adventures and heavy towing tasks.

This broad spectrum of applications implies that GMC vehicles are not typically reserved solely for leisure, resulting in inevitable wear and tear. Regular maintenance becomes necessary, incurring expenses that may not always be budget-friendly. As maintenance costs rise, some owners may find it challenging to resist cutting corners or resorting to drastic measures, such as mileage clocking or even falsifying maintenance records.

This is precisely where a GMC VIN lookup becomes invaluable. It serves as a crucial tool to verify the information provided by sellers, potentially revealing relevant shortcomings and enabling more informed decisions for prospective buyers.

How accurate is the information provided by the GMC VIN decoder?

The information in GMC's history report is sourced from law enforcement, insurance companies, state registries, and other reputable data providers. This ensures that each vehicle history report offers in-depth and up-to-date details, providing a clear understanding of the vehicle's past.

How to decode a VIN number - GMC VIN breakdown

Every GMC VIN consists of four segments: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), Security Check Digit, and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS).

Each of these components reveals general information about the vehicle, providing an overview of the selected specifications and offering a clear understanding of its features.

VIN breakdown (GMC USA)

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The World Manufacturer Identifier within the GMC VIN consists of three characters, each embodying distinct meanings. The first character denotes the country where the vehicle was assembled. Given that GMC operates under the extensive umbrella of General Motors, its vehicles are manufactured in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Moving on, the second digit in the GMC VIN reveals the manufacturer. Once again, this digit underscores the close connection between GMC and General Motors, indicating that the manufacturer is not GMC but General Motors itself.

Finally, the third position in the WMI denotes the specific division within General Motors responsible for crafting the vehicle. In the GMC VIN, this position may assume values like D, J, K, or T

WMIMeaning
Position 1Country of origin
1US
2Canada
3Mexico
Position 2Manufacturer information
GGeneral Motors

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The second segment of the VIN number reveals information about the characteristics of the GMC vehicle.

GMC uses the 4th and 5th characters to disclose the model platform and model series code. These characters could be either letters or numbers, depending on the GMC manufacturing year and vehicle type, as illustrated in the following example:

4th & 5th characterMeaning
01Sierra C2500 Heavy Duty
ECSierra 
FKYukon
FCYukon XL
HGSavana
KKAcadia Denali
T1Sierra K2500
TUSierra K1500

The 6th digit in the GMC VIN encodes the vehicle’s body style. In contrast to the more varied options from Chevrolet, GMC exclusively produces vehicles with three body styles:

6th characterBody type
1SUV
3Truck
GVan

The 7th digit in the GMC VIN encodes information about the safety restraint system, and this varies depending on the model and interior trim.

7th characterSafety restrain
1Seat belts only
2Dual front airbags
3Driver's airbag
4Front and side airbags
5Dual front airbags and side driver's airbag
6Front and side airbags with passenger occupancy sensor
7Front and side airbags, including side airbags for rear seats

The 8th character in the GMC VIN represents the engine capacity and type. Take a look at the example below:

8th characterEngine
A4.8l V8 (L20)
B6.0l V8 CNG
C5.3l Flex-Fuel with Active Fuel Management
F6.2l V8 (L94)
G8.1l Vortec 81006.0l V8 (L96)
J6.0l V8 (LZ1)
K6.0l V8 (LY6)
L6.6l V8 Diesel (LGH)
P5.3l Vortec 5300, aluminum block and heads
T5.3l Vortec 5300
X4.3l Vortec V6, iron block and heads
Z4.3l Vortec V6, throttle body injection
05.3l V8 (LMG)
26.2l V8 (LH9)
35.3l V8 (LC9)
45.3l V8 (LMF)
66.6l V8 Diesel (LMM)

Security Check Digit

The 9th character of the VIN represents the Security Check Digit, functioning like a unique fingerprint for the identification number. This single-digit number also serves as a safety feature designed to detect and prevent potential errors in the VIN.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The VIN's final segment (10th-17th characters) holds such details as the model year, assembly plant, and a unique serial number.

CodeYearCodeYearCodeYearCodeYearCodeYearCodeYear
A1980L1990Y2000A2010L2020Y2030
B1981M199112001B2011M202112031
C1982N199222002C2012N202222032
D1983P199332003D2013P202332033
E1984R199442004E2014R202442034
F1985S199552005F2015S202552035
G1986T199662006G2016T202662036
H1987V199772007H2017V202772037
J1988W199882008J2018W202882038
K1989X199992009K2019X202992039

The 11th character in the overall VIN sequence reveals the vehicle's assembly plant. Depending on the model and its manufacturing year, the car could have been produced in the US, Canada, or Mexico.

CodeAssembly plant
RArlington, Texas
UHamtramck, Michigan
FFlint, Michigan
ZRoanoke, Indiana
JDelta Township, Michigan
0Lansing, Michigan
7Lordstown, Ohio
4Orion, Michigan
1Ontario, Canada
SRamos Arizpe, Mexico
GSilao, Mexico

Is a GMC VIN decoder available for a free VIN check in the USA?

You can use the GMC VIN decoder USA for free to confirm details such as the vehicle’s model or body type. However, for a clear understanding of the car’s history, it is recommended to obtain a full vehicle history report.

Opting for the complete report provides valuable insights into the vehicle's mileage log, accident history, and other pertinent data, sourced from reliable entities, such as government registries and insurance companies.

List of GMC models in the USA

  • Acadia
  • Canyon
  • Envoy
  • Jimmy
  • Safari
  • Savana
  • Sierra 1500
  • Sierra 2500HD
  • Sierra 3500HD
  • Sonoma
  • Suburban
  • Syclone
  • Terrain
  • Typhoon
  • Yukon

FAQ

Can I use a GMC VIN decoder to find out the car's manufacturing date and location?

Yes. The 10th and 11th characters of the VIN encode information about the car’s manufacturing date and location.

Can the VIN decoder tell me about the car's previous accidents or damage history?

The free version of the VIN decoder in USA cannot provide this information. To gain insight into the previous accident and damage history, you will have to purchase a full vehicle history report.

Can a VIN decoder tell me if the GMC vehicle has ever been stolen or salvaged?

Yes, the GMC VIN decoder can inform you whether the car has ever been stolen or salvaged.