Hyundai VIN decoder
Hyundai VIN decoder
Hyundai builds the Elantra, Sonata, Santa Fe and Santa Cruz in Montgomery, Alabama (5NP, 5NM and 5NT) and most other models in South Korea (KMH and KM8). The VIN on this page is our sample report vehicle: decode it to try the tool.
Hyundai WMI codes
The first three VIN characters. Verified against the NHTSA vPIC database.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Vehicle type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5NM | Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama LLC (Hmma) | SUVs, vans & crossovers | United States |
| 5NP | Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc (Hatci) | Cars | United States |
| 5NT | Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama LLC (Hmma) | Trucks | United States |
| KM8 | Hyundai Motor Co | SUVs, vans & crossovers | South Korea |
| KMH | Hyundai Motor Co | Cars | South Korea |
What to know about Hyundai VINs
- A Hyundai VIN starting with 5N was assembled in Alabama; KM VINs were built in South Korea.
- Like some Kias, older Hyundais without push-button start were targeted by thieves; check theft records and recall campaigns for the anti-theft update.
- Our sample report is a 2020 Elantra that was branded junk and not-actual-mileage after a water-damage total loss. That is exactly what a decoder alone cannot show.
Hyundai models you can decode
- Elantra
- Sonata
- Tucson
- Santa Fe
- Palisade
- Kona
- Venue
- Santa Cruz
- Ioniq 5
- Ioniq 6
Any 17-character Hyundai VIN from the 1981 model year onwards can be decoded. Check open recalls for free on NHTSA.
How a Hyundai 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 Hyundai
- 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 Hyundai, 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
What does 5NP mean in a Hyundai VIN?
5NP is a Hyundai WMI for passenger cars built in the United States, at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.
Can I see Hyundai recall campaigns by VIN?
Manufacturer service campaigns reported for the VIN appear in the VinCode report timeline. You can also check open recalls free with NHTSA.
Is the Hyundai VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding a Hyundai VIN is free. A full VinCode report with title brands, accidents, odometer readings and owners costs $5.99.
Does a Hyundai 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.