Buick VIN Decoder

A free Buick VIN decoder lets you look up options, models, years, engines, transmissions, and specifications. In addition, you can also check the title records and accidents by clicking Check History. Use this free online VIN Decoder Tool to check what engine, transmission, and options are installed on your vehicle.

HOW TO DECODE BUICK VIN

Position 1

This position of the VIN is used to identify the country or final assembly point of the Buick. Buick vehicles are manufactured in several countries, such as the United States, Canada, Korea, and Germany.

• 1, 4, 5: US
• 2: Canda
• 3: Mexico
• K: Korea
• W: Ger

Position 2

This is the number that is used to identify the Buick manufacturer.

Position 3

This provides information on the brand division. This number makes it possible to point out the exact division of the manufacturer in cases where they have multiple divisions.

The first three positions are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). Some of the examples for your Buick may be as follows:

Mark	WMI	Manufacturer	Brand Owner	Country Code	Country
BUICK	1G4	GM (USA)	GM	1G	USA
BUICK	2G4	GM (CAN)	GM	2G	Canada
BUICK	3G4	GM (MEX)	GM	3G	Mexico
BUICK	5GA	GM (USA)	GM	5G	USA
BUICK	KL4	GM-DAT (KOR)	GM	KL	Korea
BUICK	LSG	Shanghai General Motors Corp Ltd (CHN)	GM	LS	China
BUICK	W04	Adam Opel AG (PL)	GM	W0	Poland

Position 4 to 5

Positions four through five are used to identify the model of your Buick’s model and its execution.

• B_: LeSabre (until 1985)
• B_: Roadmaster (1991 … 1996)
• B_: Electra Estate Wagon (1980 … 1989)
• B_: LeSabre Estate Wagon (1980 … 1989)
• B_: Roadmaster Estate Wagon (1991 … 1996)
• CU: Avenue General Description Ultra Park then
• CW: Avenue General Description Park then
• G_: LeSabre (2000 …)
• G1: LaCrosse 1SV
• G2: the Regal 1SV
• G3: the Regal, the Sport, the Touring
• G4: the Sport LaCrosse the Touring
• G8: the Regal (for export )
• G9: LaCrosse (export)
• GA: LaCrosse Base
• GB: LaCrosse Leather
• GC: LaCrosse Leather AWD
• GD: LaCrosse Premium
• GE: LaCrosse Premium AWD
• GF: LaCrosse Touring
• GK: Regal Leather
• GL: Regal Leather AWD
• GM: Regal Fleet
• GN: Regal I w Premium / eAssist
• GP: Regal Premium I
• GR: Regal Premium I AWD
• GS: Regal Premium II
• GT: Regal Premium II AWD
• GU: Regal GS
• GV: Regal GS AWD
• HP: Le Sabre Custom (1986 … 1999)
• HR: le Sabre Limited (1986 … 1999)
• the P1: the Verano Base
• PP: the Verano 1SD
• PR: the Verano Convenience 1SG
• PS: the Verano Leather A 1SL
• PT: the Verano Premium 1ST (Turbo)
• PV: the Verano 1SV
• PW: the Verano, the Sport, the Touring
• WB: the Regal the LS
• WC: Lacrosse (Allure in Canada) the CX
• WF: the Regal the GS
• WG: Cascada 1SV (PL) (code of the WMI = W04)
• WH: Cascada (PL) (the WMI = W04 code)
• WS: Century Custom

Position 6  Body Variant

Position 6 indicates the body variance of your Cadillac vehicle. These may be as shown below:

• 1: 2 door coupe
• 2: 2 door Sedan
• 3: 2-door Convertible
• 5: 4 door Sedan
• 6: 4 door Sedan, Hatchback
• 8: 5 door wagon/ hatch
• 9: touring

Position 7 Security Systems

This number identifies the Security Systems that make up your Buick.

• 1: Seat belts
• 2: Seat belts and dual front airbags
• 3: Seat belts and driver’s airbag
• 4: Safety belts. Front and side airbags
• 5: Seat belts. Front and side driver’s airbag
• 6: Seat belts. Front and side airbags. Occupancy sensor passenger
• 7: Seat belts. Front and side airbags. Side airbags for the rear seats
• 9: Static seat belts (only very old models)

Position 8 Engine

This position identifies the engine specifications of your Buick. Some of these engine specifications are as shown below:

• 1: 3.8L V6 (L67)
• 2: 1.3L L4 (LY8)
• 3: 3.6L V6 (LFX)
• 4: 2.2L L4 (LN2)
• 5: 1.6L L4 (LWC)
• 6: 2.2L L4 (L42)
• 8: 1.8L L4 (LV6)
• 9: 4.6L V8 (L37)
• A: 2.3L L4 (LG0)
• C: 4.0L V8 (L47)
• D: 2.3L L4 (LD2)
• E: 3.4L V6 (LA1)
• E: V8 5.0L (L03)
• F: 2.2L L4 (L61)
• F: 5.0L V8 (LB9)
• G: 5.7L V8 (LS1)
• H: 5.0L V8 (LX5)
• H: 5.0L V8 (LG4)
• J: 3.1L V6 (LG8)
• K: 2.4L L4 (LEA)
• K: 3.8L V6 (L36)
• L: 1.8L L4 (LNK)
• M: 1.4L L4 (L95)
• M: 2.6L V6 (LY9)
• N: 3.2L V6 ( LA3)
• P: 2.0L L4 (LSJ)
• P: 5.7L V8
• R: 2.4L L4 (LUK)
• R: 3.0L V6 (L81)
• S: 5.7L V8 (LS6)
• S: 2.8L V6 (LB8)
• T: 2.4 L4 L (LD9)
• U: 6.0L V8 (LS2)
• V: 2.0L L4 (LHU, Turbo)
• W: 4.3L L6
• X: 2.0L L4 (LTG, Turbo)
• Y: 4.6L V8 (LD8)

Position 9 Check Sum

Position nine is the check number used to validate the Buick VIN algorithmically.

Position 10 Model Year

The VIN’s tenth position identifies your Buick model’s production year.

Year of Issue	Designation	Year of Issue	Designation	Year of Issue	Designation
1971	1	1991	M	2011	B
1972	2	1992	N	2012	C
1973	3	1993	P	2013	D
1974	4	1994	R	2014	E
1975	5	1995	S	2015	F
1976	6	1996	T	2016	G
1977	7	1997	V	2017	H
1978	8	1998	W	2018	J
1979	9	1999	X	2019	K
1980	A	2000	Y	2020	L
1981	B	2001	1	2021	M
1982	C	2002	2	2022	N
1983	D	2003	3	2023	P
1984	E	2004	4	2024	R
1985	F	2005	5	2025	S
1986	G	2006	6	2026	T
1987	H	2007	7	2027	V
1988	J	2008	8	2028	W
1989	K	2009	9	2029	X
1990	L	2010	A	2030	Y

Position 11 Assembly Plant

Position 11 identifies the plant where your Buick was assembled. This number makes it possible to identify the exact assembly plant for those manufacturers with several plants. Some of Buick’s plans are as follows:

• 0: Lansing: Grand River, MI ( USA)
• 1: Oshawa # 2, ON (CAN)
• 4: Orion, MI (USA)
• 5: Bowling Green, KY (USA)
• 7: Lordstown, OH (USA)
• 9: Oshawa # 1, ON (CAN)
• A: Arlington, TX (USA)
• C: Changwon (KOREA)
• F: Fairfax, KS (USA)
• G: Gliwice (POLAND)
• L: Elizabeth (AUS)
• L: San Luis Potosi (MEX )
• S: Ramoz Arizpe (the MEX)
• U: The Detroit, MI (USA)
• X: not for sale (USA)

Position 12-17 Serial Number

This sequence of six numbers is known as the Buick’s serial number. The serial number identifies the exact car holding the VIN, which is not standardized. These characters are selected depending on the manufacturer’s preference.

BUICK VIN NUMBER LOCATION

The Buick VINs can be located in several places on the vehicle. These areas are as follows:

• It is stamped on the upper left side of the engine near the carburetor.
• Die-stamped on the upper left side of the engine at the number one cylinder.
• Usually stamped directly into the frame or on a tag attached to the frame.
• It is stamped on a plate attached to the top of the right frame side rail and located ahead of the front body bracket.
• Stamped on the crankcase at the front end of the block just forward of the right cylinder head.

BUICK MODELS

Buick models are as follows:

• Buick Encore
• Buick Verano
• Buick Cascada
• Buick Enclave
• Buick LaCrosse
• Buick Regal
• Buick Century
• Buick LeSabre
• Buick Lucerne
• Buick Model 21
• Buick Model 26
• Buick Model 32
• Buick Model 33
• Buick Model 38
• Buick Model 39
• Buick Model 41
• Buick Park Avenue
• Buick Rainier
• Buick Reatta
• Buick Rendezvous
• Buick Riviera
• Buick Super Riviera
• Buick Roadmaster
• Buick Skylark
• Buick Terraza

EXAMPLE DECODED BUICK VIN

VIN: 1G4GJ117XHP400001

WMI: 1G4

VDS: GJ117X

VIS: HP400001

Manufacturer: Buick GM Canada

Brand: Buick

Model: Regal

Region/ Plant: Orion Michigan USA

Check: X

Year: 2017

Sequential Number: 00001

Approximate Mileage: New

OPTIONS AND FEATURE CODES

Option Code	Description
5XQ	LPO, 19″ (48.3 cm) machine-faced aluminum wheels
A45	Memory settings
A51	Seats, front bucket
A6C	Seat adjuster, passenger, 4-way manual, 2-way power vertical
AE2	Trunk latch, safety
AEF	Window, power
AEQ	Windows, power
AG1	Seat adjuster, driver 8-way power
AG2	Seat adjuster, front passenger 8-way power
AHR	Head restraints, 4-way adjustable
AKX	Windshield, solar absorbing
AL0	Airbag, Passenger Sensing System
AP9	Cargo net
APG	Seat adjuster, driver 4-way power lumbar
AQQ	Remote Keyless Entry
ASV	Sensor, humidity
ATH	E-Z Key Passive Entry System
AW7	Air bags, dual-stage frontal and side-impact, driver and right-front passenger
AXG	Window, power
B34	Floor mats, carpeted front
B35	Floor mats, carpeted rear
B7Y	Sill plates, front
B85	Moldings, bodyside
BTM	Keyless start
BTV	Remote vehicle starter system
C3U	Moon roof, power
C59	Air vents, rear
CAV	LPO, Cargo tray
CJ2	Air conditioning, dual-zone automatic climate control
D70	Axle, 2.77 final drive ratio
D7B	Door handles, body-color
DA5	Armrest, rear center
DB3	Sunshade, power
DD8	Mirror, inside rearview auto-dimming
DH6	Visors, driver, and front passenger illuminated vanity mirrors
DLF	Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable
DLG	Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable
F45	Chassis continuously variable real-time damping
F46	Drivetrain, all-wheel drive
FE9	Emissions, Federal requirements
FX3	StabiliTrak, stability control system

VIN Plate Missing or Hard to Read?

Most modern Buick models also store the VIN in the engine computer. Any OBD-II scanner, such as the YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro on supported models, can read it through the diagnostic port, which also confirms that the VIN on the dashboard matches the car.

Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Buick.

Video

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the VIN on a Buick?

Look at the lower left corner of the windshield from outside, the driver door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card.

What do the first three characters of a Buick VIN mean?

They are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Most US built Buicks start with 1G4, while some SUVs and imported models use other codes.

Which VIN character shows the model year?

The 10th character shows the model year on 17 character VINs, for example A for 2010 and L for 2020.

Related guides: YOUCANIC VIN Decoder

---

Related Products

---