Cadillac VIN decoder
Enter a Cadillac VIN to see the model, year, engine, factory and open safety recalls. Free, with official NHTSA data.
About Cadillac VINs
Cadillac is General Motors' luxury brand. Cadillac cars start with 1G6, and SUVs such as the Escalade and XT5 with 1GY. The VIN layout is the same GM pattern used by Chevrolet and GMC.
Cadillac is part of General Motors.
Good to know
- The 8th character is the engine code on most models.
- Factory options are listed as RPO codes on the Service Parts Identification label, usually in the glove box or trunk.
- An Escalade shares its platform with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, but its WMI is Cadillac's own.
Cadillac manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 10 codes for Cadillac. The first character shows the region where the vehicle was built (1, 4, 5 USA; 2 Canada; 3 Mexico; J Japan; K Korea; W Germany; Z Italy).
| Code | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type | Also used by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G6 | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | – |
| 1GE | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 1GY | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 2G6 | General Motors LLC | Canada | Passenger Car | – |
| 2GE | General Motors LLC | Canada | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 3GG | General Motors LLC | Mexico | Truck | – |
| 3GY | General Motors LLC | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| LRB | Shanghai General Motors Corp Ltd. | China | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Buick |
| LRE | Shanghai General Motors Corp Ltd. | China | Passenger Car | – |
| LSG | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | – |
Some codes are shared by several brands of the same group. The full decode shows the brand.
How to read a Cadillac VIN
| Position | Meaning | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Manufacturer code (WMI) | Maker, brand and country, as in the table above. |
| 4-8 | Vehicle descriptor | Model, body, engine and safety equipment. Each maker sets its own layout here. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that catches typing errors and fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the year (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory code, set by the maker. |
| 12-17 | Serial number | The production number of that vehicle. |
Model year codes
The 10th character of a Cadillac VIN is the model year. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used. The codes repeat every 30 years.
Cadillac models in the NHTSA database
NHTSA lists 37 model names under Cadillac. Decode a VIN to see which one yours is, with its exact trim and engine.
Cadillac models with years and recalls
- Cadillac Vistiq 2026–2027
- Cadillac Escalade IQL 2026–2027
All Cadillac model names
- 60 Special
- Allante
- Armored Vehicle
- ATS
- Brougham
- Catera
- Celestiq
- Cimarron
- Commercial Chassis
- CT4
- CT5
- CT6
- CTS
- Deville
- DTS
- Eldorado
- ELR
- Escalade
- Escalade ESV
- Escalade IQ
- Escalade IQL
- Fleetwood
- Funeral Coach
- Hearse
- Limousine
- Lyriq
- Optiq
- Seville
- SRX
- Stretch Limousine
- STS
- Vistiq
- XLR
- XT4
- XT5
- XT6
- XTS
Vehicle types NHTSA lists for Cadillac
Incomplete Vehicle, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), Passenger Car, Truck
Where to find the VIN on a Cadillac
Windshield
At the bottom of the windshield on the driver side, readable from outside.
Driver door frame
On the label on the door pillar, with tire pressures and weights.
Papers
On the title, registration and insurance card.
Cadillac recalls by VIN
Every decoded Cadillac VIN on VinGear shows the safety recalls NHTSA lists for that model and year. To know whether the repair was already done on your vehicle, ask a Cadillac dealer or use Cadillac's own recall lookup with the VIN.
Most recalled Cadillac models
- Cadillac Vistiq 5 recalls, 2026–2027
- Cadillac Escalade IQL 2 recalls, 2026–2027
Cadillac VIN decoder questions
How do I decode a Cadillac VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN in the box at the top of this page and press Decode VIN. You get the model, year, engine, factory and safety recalls from NHTSA, free.
Is this Cadillac VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding and recall checks are free with no sign-up. The data comes from NHTSA, the US vehicle safety agency.
What do the first three characters of a Cadillac VIN mean?
They are the manufacturer code (WMI): maker, brand and country of manufacture. NHTSA lists 10 codes for Cadillac; the table on this page shows them.
Does a Cadillac VIN show options or the owner?
No. The VIN codes the model, body, engine and factory, not options or colour. It never shows the owner, and VinGear does not look up owners.