Decode a GMC VIN
How to read a GMC VIN (position by position)
Every GMC built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 23 WMIs used on GMC vehicles, such as 1G5, 1GD and 1GJ.
| Position | Part | On a GMC VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, J (the United States, Canada and Mexico) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 1G5, 1GD, 1GJ, 1GK, 1GT, 1HV and 17 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | GMC's own codes for model, body, engine and restraints |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | G (2016) to S (2025) for current GMC models |
| 11 | Plant | GMC plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | GMC's production sequence |
GMC WMI codes
GMC WMIs point to 3 countries of manufacture: the United States (1G5, 1GD, 1GJ, 1GK…), Canada (2G0, 2GD, 2GH, 2GJ…) and Mexico (3GD, 3GT). 6 of them are shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers GMC WMIs for suv / mpv, incomplete vehicle, bus, truck and passenger car vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1G5 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC (also Pontiac) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 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 |
| 1HV | INTERNATIONAL MOTORS, LLC (also Navistar, Caterpillar, Ic bus, Workhorse, International, Gm) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle |
| 2CK | GENERAL MOTORS LLC (also Pontiac, Geo) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 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 (also Saab) | MEXICO | Incomplete Vehicle |
| 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 (also Opel) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 4KD | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle |
| 5G3 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 7GZ | INTERNATIONAL MOTORS, LLC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle |
| JGT | GENERAL MOTORS LLC (also Suzuki) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by GMC itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any GMC VIN.
GMC model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2025 GMC Terrain carries S, a 2025 GMC Yukon carries S and a 2025 GMC Yukon XL carries S. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a GMC
- On the dashboard, at the base of the windshield on the driver side (read it from outside).
- On the label in the driver-side door jamb.
- On the title, registration and insurance card.
- Often stamped on the engine bay firewall or the frame.
GMC recalls
NHTSA lists 445 GMC vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2015 model year has the most, with 45; 2020–2024 models account for 110.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2022 | 25 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2016 | 31 |
| 2015 | 45 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2012 | 23 |
| 2011 | 27 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2009 | 27 |
| 2008 | 26 |
GMC models in vPIC
vPIC lists 12 GMC models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- Acadia 2016–2025
- Canyon 2016–2025
- Cruise Origin AV 2024
- Hummer EV Pickup 2022–2025
- Hummer EV SUV 2024–2025
- Savana 2016–2025
- Sierra 2016–2025
- Sierra HD 2019–2025
- Sierra Limited 2019–2022
- Terrain 2016–2025
- Yukon 2016–2025
- Yukon XL 2016–2025
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a GMC by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on GMC models from 2016 to 2025 it runs from G to S (L = 2020, R = 2024). The same letters were used 30 years earlier.
What does a GMC VIN tell you?
The maker and country (characters 1–3), model, body and engine (4–8), a check digit (9), the model year (10), the plant (11) and the serial number (12–17). It does not record color, options or accident history.
Can I find a GMC paint code from the VIN?
Usually not: the paint code isn't part of the VIN. It's printed on the vehicle's information label, often in the driver's door jamb, and a GMC dealer can look it up from the VIN.