GMC VIN decoder
GMC VIN decoder
GMC is General Motors’ truck and SUV brand. Its VINs follow the GM pattern, with 1GT and 1GK for US-built trucks and SUVs and 2G or 3G for vehicles built in Canada or Mexico.
GMC WMI codes
The first three VIN characters. Verified against the NHTSA vPIC database.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Vehicle type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GD | General Motors LLC | Chassis cabs & incomplete | United States |
| 1GK | General Motors LLC | SUVs, vans & crossovers | United States |
| 1GT | General Motors LLC | Trucks | United States |
| 2GK | General Motors LLC | SUVs, vans & crossovers | Canada |
| 2GT | General Motors LLC | Trucks | Canada |
| 3GK | General Motors LLC | SUVs, vans & crossovers | Mexico |
| 3GT | General Motors LLC | Trucks | Mexico |
What to know about GMC VINs
- The 8th character is GM’s engine code on GMC trucks and SUVs.
- Heavy-duty Sierras are often used for towing and commercial work; check commercial use and odometer records.
- Denali and AT4 trims cost much more than base models; confirm the decoded series matches the listing.
GMC models you can decode
- Sierra 1500
- Sierra HD
- Canyon
- Yukon
- Yukon XL
- Acadia
- Terrain
- Hummer EV
- Savana
Any 17-character GMC VIN from the 1981 model year onwards can be decoded. Check open recalls for free on NHTSA.
How a GMC VIN is built
All 17-character VINs for vehicles sold in the US follow the same structure.
Example: 5NPD74LF5LH611542
| Position | What it means | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country / region | Where the manufacturer is registered: 1, 4, 5 and 7 = United States, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = South Korea, W = Germany. |
| 2–3 | Manufacturer | Positions 1–3 together form the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), assigned to one maker and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Manufacturer-coded details such as model line, body style, restraint system, engine and gross weight rating. |
| 9 | Check digit | A 0–9 or X calculated from the other 16 characters. It catches typos and many fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the model year. The codes repeat every 30 years (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory that built the vehicle. Plant codes are defined by each manufacturer. |
| 12–17 | Serial number | The production sequence number that makes the VIN unique. |
VIN model year chart (10th character)
Codes repeat every 30 years. On cars and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means the later year.
A
1980 · 2010
B
1981 · 2011
C
1982 · 2012
D
1983 · 2013
E
1984 · 2014
F
1985 · 2015
G
1986 · 2016
H
1987 · 2017
J
1988 · 2018
K
1989 · 2019
L
1990 · 2020
M
1991 · 2021
N
1992 · 2022
P
1993 · 2023
R
1994 · 2024
S
1995 · 2025
T
1996 · 2026
V
1997 · 2027
W
1998 · 2028
X
1999 · 2029
Y
2000 · 2030
1
2001 · 2031
2
2002 · 2032
3
2003 · 2033
4
2004 · 2034
5
2005 · 2035
6
2006 · 2036
7
2007 · 2037
8
2008 · 2038
9
2009 · 2039
The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the number 0 are never used as year codes.
Where to find the VIN on a GMC
- Lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, readable from outside the car
- Sticker or plate on the driver’s door jamb (open the door)
- Title, registration card and insurance card
- Engine bay, often on the firewall or the front of the frame on trucks
- Seller’s listing or the dealer’s window sticker
The VIN on the car, the title and the listing must all match. If they do not, do not buy.
VinCode report · $5.99
Before you buy a used GMC, check its history
Title brands, accidents, total-loss events, odometer readings, owners and service records for the VIN, scored with the VinCode Score.
- Title brand check
- Accidents & damage
- Odometer chart
- Owners & usage
- Service records
- VinCode Score
Is a GMC Sierra VIN the same as a Silverado VIN?
They follow the same GM pattern, but the WMI identifies the brand: 1GT is GMC, 1GC is Chevrolet.
Can I check if a GMC Yukon was a rental?
A VinCode report shows rental, fleet and other commercial use when it was reported for the VIN.
Is the GMC VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding a GMC VIN is free. A full VinCode report with title brands, accidents, odometer readings and owners costs $5.99.
Does a GMC VIN show accident history?
No. The VIN only encodes how the vehicle was built. Accident, damage and title history come from records reported for the VIN, which is what the VinCode report shows.