GMC VIN decoder
Enter a GMC VIN to see the model, year, engine, factory and open safety recalls. Free, with official NHTSA data.
About GMC VINs
GMC is General Motors' truck brand, so its VINs follow the same pattern as Chevrolet. US-built GMC pickups such as the Sierra start with 1GT, SUVs such as the Yukon and Acadia with 1GK, and trucks built in Canada or Mexico with 2GT or 3GT.
GMC is part of General Motors.
Good to know
- A GMC Sierra and a Chevrolet Silverado from the same plant share most of the VIN layout; only the brand code differs.
- The 8th character is the engine code on most models.
- For options, read the RPO codes on the Service Parts Identification label in the glove box.
GMC manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 21 codes for GMC. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G5 | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Pontiac |
| 1GD | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 1GJ | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Bus | – |
| 1GK | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 1GT | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Truck | – |
| 2CK | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Pontiac, Geo |
| 2CT | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 2G0 | General Motors LLC | Canada | Bus | – |
| 2GD | General Motors LLC | Canada | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 2GH | General Motors LLC | Canada | Bus | – |
| 2GJ | General Motors LLC | Canada | Bus | – |
| 2GK | General Motors LLC | Canada | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 2GT | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Truck | – |
| 3GD | General Motors LLC | Mexico | Incomplete Vehicle | Saab |
| 3GK | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 3GT | General Motors LLC | Mexico | Truck | – |
| 4G5 | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | – |
| 4GD | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Opel |
| 4KD | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 5G3 | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| JGT | General Motors LLC | United States (USA) | Truck | Suzuki |
Some codes are shared by several brands of the same group. The full decode shows the brand.
How to read a GMC 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 GMC VIN is the model year. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used. The codes repeat every 30 years.
GMC models in the NHTSA database
NHTSA lists 61 model names under GMC. Decode a VIN to see which one yours is, with its exact trim and engine.
- Acadia
- Aluminum Tilt
- Articulated Coach
- B7
- Bus Chassis
- C/K Pickup
- C4
- C5
- C6
- C7
- C8
- Caballero
- Canyon
- Cruise Origin AV
- Cutaway Chassis
- Cutaway Van
- D7
- Electric Vehicle
- Envoy
- Forward Control
- Geo Tracker
- GMT-400
- Heavy Conventional
- Hi-Cube
- Hummer EV Pickup
- Hummer EV SUV
- Jimmy
- Jimmy Utility
- Magna Van
- Motorhome Chassis
- P6S
- P Truck Forward
- Rally
- R Conventional
- S6
- S7
- S15 Pickup
- S15 Utility
- Safari
- Savana
- Sierra
- Sierra HD
- Sierra Limited
- Sonoma
- Suburban
- T-Series
- Terrain
- Transit Coach
- Typhoon
- Value Van
- Vandura
- V Conventional
- W3
- W4
- W5
- W6
- W7
- W3500/W4500
- W5500/W5500 HD
- Yukon
Show all 61 models
- Yukon XL
Vehicle types NHTSA lists for GMC
Bus, Incomplete Vehicle, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), Passenger Car, Truck
Where to find the VIN on a GMC
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.
GMC recalls by VIN
Every decoded GMC 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 GMC dealer or use GMC's own recall lookup with the VIN.
GMC VIN decoder questions
How do I decode a GMC 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 GMC 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 GMC VIN mean?
They are the manufacturer code (WMI): maker, brand and country of manufacture. NHTSA lists 21 codes for GMC; the table on this page shows them.
Does a GMC 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.