Hyundai VIN Decoder
A Hyundai VIN decoder allows you to look up options, models, years, engines, transmissions, and specifications.
At a Glance
- Hyundai cars from Korea usually start with KMH; SUVs with KM8.
- US built Hyundais from Alabama start with 5NP (Sonata, Elantra) or 5NM (Santa Fe).
- Position 10: model year, such as A for 2010 and L for 2020.
- Position 11: the assembly plant; positions 12 to 17: the serial number.
In addition, you can also check the title records and accidents by clicking Check History. To check what engine, transmission, and options are installed on your vehicle, use the VIN Decoder Tool.
HOW TO DECODE HYUNDAI VIN
Let’s look at a Hyundai VIN breakdown.
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Position 1
Position one of the VIN is used to identify the country where the Hyundai was assembled.
For example:
- 2: Canda
- 3: USA
- K: Korea
Position 2
Position two identifies the division of Hyundai that manufactured your vehicle.
Position 3
Position three of the VIN identifies the brand division. The character that holds this position identifies the exact division of the manufacturer, even if they have multiple divisions.
These first three characters are called World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). Some of the examples for your Hyundai may be as follows:
| Mark | WMI | Manufacturer | Owner of the Brand | Code of the Country | Country |
| HYUNDAI | 2HM | Bromont Assy Plant (CAN) | HYUNDAI | 2H | Canada |
| HYUNDAI | 3H3 | HYUNDAI (USA) | HYUNDAI | 3H | USA |
| HYUNDAI | KM2 | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KM5 | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KM6 | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KM7 | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KM8 | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMC | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KME | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMF | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMH | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMJ | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KML | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMM | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMN | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMP | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMR | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMX | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMY | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KMZ | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KM | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KN1 | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KN | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KN2 | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KN | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KNH | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KN | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KNN | Hyundai Motor Co (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KN | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KNV | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KN | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KRT | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KN | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | KRU | HYUNDAI (KOR) | HYUNDAI | KN | Korea |
| HYUNDAI | MAL | HYUNDAI (I) | HYUNDAI | MA | India |
| HYUNDAI | MB2 | HYUNDAI (I) | HYUNDAI | MB | India |
| HYUNDAI | MC3 | HYUNDAI (I) | HYUNDAI | MC | India |
| HYUNDAI | NA6 | Rayen Vehicle Manufacturing Co (RVMCO) (IR) | HYUNDAI | NA | Iran |
| HYUNDAI | NLH | HYUNDAI (TR) | HYUNDAI | NL | Turkey |
| HYUNDAI | NLJ | HYUNDAI (TR) | HYUNDAI | NL | Turkey |
| HYUNDAI | X7M | TagAZ (RUS) | HYUNDAI | X7 | Russia |
| HYUNDAI | X89 | KuzbassAvto Ltd. (RUS) | HYUNDAI | X8 | Russia |
| HYUNDAI | XU7 | Rostov plant lorries (RZGA) | HYUNDAI | XU | Russia |
| HYUNDAI | Y6L | LuAZ SA | HYUNDAI | Y6 | Ukraine |
| HYUNDAI | Z94 | HYUNDAI MOTOR MANUFACTURING RUS LLC (RUS) | HYUNDAI | Z9 | Russia |
Position 4
Position four of the VIN for Hyundai vehicles represents the vehicle’s model and the wheel’s location.
The first model: model and the location of the wheel:
- A: Stellar (right wheel)
- B: Stellar (left wheel)
- C: Sonata II (left wheel)
- D: Sonata II (right wheel)
- E: Marcia (left wheel)
- F: Marcia (right wheel)
- G: Equus
- J: Elantra (left wheel)
- K: Elantra (right wheel)
- L: other models with left-hand steering
- M: Grandeur (left wheel)
- P: Pony (left wheel)
- R: Pony (right wheel)
- S: Stellar (left wheel)
- T: Stellar (right wheel)
- U: Pony / Accent / Lantra (all RHD)
- V: Pony / Accent / Excel / S-Coupe (all LHD)
- X “Dynasty
Subsequent models: range:
- A: Atos / Santro / Visto / i10
- B: Click / Getz
- C: Accent / Verna / Solaris
- D: Elantra (XD) / Lantra (XD) / i30 / Avante
- E: Sonata (except for the North American market) / Sonata (pr-va India)
- F: Grandeur XG / Azera
- G: Genesis
- H: Coupe / Tuscani / Tiburon
- J: Tucson
- K: Galopper
- M: Carstar / Santamo / Trajet
- N: Terracan / Veracruz
- P: Matrix
- R: Grace
- S: Fe Santa
- W: Starex / Sonata (North American market) / H1 / H100
Position 5
Position five of the VIN for the Hyundai vehicles made for the European market represents the equipment level of your vehicle.
- A- L (Standart)
- B: GL (Deluxe)
- C: GLS (Super DeLuxe)
- D: GDS (High / Grand Salon)
- E: HGS (High / Super Grand Salon)
- F: L (Standart)
- G: GL (Deluxe)
- H: GLS (Super DeLuxe)
- J: GDS (High / Grand Salon)
- K: HGS (High / Super Grand Salon)
- L: L (Standart)
- M: GL (Deluxe)
- N: GLS (Super DeLuxe)
- P: GDS (High / Grand Salon)
- R: HGS (High / Super Grand Salon)
- S: L (Standart)
- T: GL (Deluxe)
- U: GLS (Super DeLuxe)
- V: GDS (High / Grand Salon )
- W: HGS (High / Super Grand Salon)
- X: L (Standart)
- Y: GL (Deluxe)
- Z: GLS (Super DeLuxe)
Position five of the Hyundai VIN represents the vehicle’s body type for the North American market.
- A: hatchback, five doors
- B: pickup two doors
- C: convertible
- D: hatchback three doors
- E: coupe two doors
- F: sedan 4D
- G: coupe two doors
- N: Combi 3 door
- P: combi, five doors
- S: wagon, five-doors
- T: wagon door 5
- V: minivan
- W: wagon, five doors
Position 6
This position holds the character that identifies the body type of your Hyundai vehicle.
- 0: pickup
- 1: limousine/wagon (front-wheel drive)
- 2: coupe, two doors
- 3: hatchback 3-door
- 4: a sedan, 4 door
- 5: hatchback, five doors
- 6: coupe, two doors
- 7: Convertible / touring (4×4)
- 8: wagon
- D: double cab pickup (double cab)
Position 7
Position seven of the Hyundai VIN, identifies the type of security systems incorporated in the vehicle.
- 1: Inertial seat belts
- 2: airbags
- 3 “pillow safety, driver
- 4: pillow safety, driver and passenger
- 5: switchable passenger airbag
Position 8
Position 8 of the Hyundai VIN code represents the vehicle™s engine type for a class of models. This is as shown below:
Class A (Atos / Santo / Visto / i10):
- B: 1.1 l (gasoline, SOHC (3 valves per cylinder))
- C: 1.2 (1.3) l (gasoline, DOHC)
- F: 0.8 liters (gasoline, SOHC)
- G: 1.0 l (gasoline, SOHC)
- H: 1.1 liters (gasoline, SOHC)
- J: 0.8 l (gasoline)
- R: 0.8 l
Class B (Getz / Click):
- A: 1.5 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- B: 1.6 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- C: 1.8 liter (gasoline, DOHC)
- F: 1.0 liters (gasoline, SOHC)
- G: 1.1 l (gasoline, SOHC)
- H: 1.3 liters (gasoline, SOHC)
- J: 1.5 l (gasoline, SOHC)
- V: 1.1 l (diesel, TCI)
- W: 1.5 l (diesel, TCI)
Class C (Accent / Verna / Matrix / Lavita):
- B: 1.5 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- C: 1.6 liter (gasoline, DOHC)
- D: 1.8 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- F: 1.0 / 1.3 liters (gasoline, SOHC)
- G: 1.5 l (gasoline, SOHC)
- V: 1.5 l (diesel, TCI)
- W: 2.0 l (diesel, TCI)
Class C + (Elantra / Lantra / i30 / Avante):
- A: 1.5 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- B: 1.6 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- C: 1.4 liter (gasoline, DOHC) [i30]
- C: 1.8 liter (gasoline, DOHC )
- D: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- J: 1.5 l (gasoline)
- L: 1.5 L (gasoline)
- M: 1.8 l (gasoline)
- R: 1.6 l (gasoline)
- T: 1.6 l (diesel, CRDI) [i30]
- U: 2.0 l (diesel, CRDI) [i30]
- V: 2.0 l (diesel, TCI)
Class D (Sonata for the European market):
- A: 1.8 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- B: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- D: 2.4 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- E: 2.5 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- F: 2.7 liters (gasoline, DOHC)
- H- 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- M: 2.0 l
Class D (Sonata for the North American market):
- E: 3.3 l (gasoline)
- F: 2.0 liters (gasoline)
- H: 2.7 liters (gasoline)
- N: 1.9 l (gasoline)
- S: 2.4 l (gasoline)
- V: 2.5 l (gasoline)
II Sonata:
- D: 1.8 l (gasoline)
- F: 2.0 liters (gasoline)
- L: L of 2.0
- M: 1.8 l
- N: 1.8 l
- T: 3.0 l
XG Grandeur:
- A: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- C: 2.5 liter (gasoline, DOHC)
- D: 3.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- E: 3.5 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- M: 2.7 l
Genesis:
E: 3.8 l (gasoline, DOHC, V6)
Coupe / Tuscani / Tiburon:
- B: 1.6 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- C: 1.6 liter (gasoline, DOHC)
- D: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- F: 2.7 liters (gasoline, DOHC)
Santamo:
- M: 2.0 l (gasoline, SOHC)
- N: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- P: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- S: L 2.0 (gasoline, SOHC)
- Z: 2.0 l (SOHC)
Santa Fe:
- A: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- B: 2.4 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- D: 2.7 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- E: 3.5 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- P: 2.7 liter
- V: 2.0 l (gasoline)
- V: 2.7 l (diesel, TCI)
- W: 2.2 l (diesel, TCI)
Terracan:
- C: 3.5 liter (gasoline, DOHC)
- W: 2.5 l (TCI)
- X: 2.9 l (TCI)
Trajet:
- A: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- C: 2.7 liter (gasoline, DOHC)
- N: 2.7 l (DOHC)
- V: 2.0 l (diesel, TCI)
Tucson:
- B: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- D: 2.7 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- P: 2.0 l (gasoline, DOHC)
- V: 2.0 l (diesel, TCI)
Veracruz:
- C: 3.8 liter (gasoline, DOHC)
- W: 3.0 l (diesel, TCI)
Position 9
Position nine for Hyundai vehicle™s made for the North American market indicates the checksum. This number is used to verify whether the VIN code is valid.
For Hyundai vehicles made for the European market, the character identifies the steering wheel arrangement as indicated below:
P “Left-hand side
R: Right-hand side
Position 10 “Model Year
Position ten of the Hyundai VIN identifies the year of production of your model.
| 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 |
For more help with your vehicle problems, check out our website’s Hyundai Repair Guides section.
Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Hyundai.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the first three characters of a Hyundai VIN mean?
They show where the vehicle was built. Hyundais built in Korea start with KM, and many Hyundais built in Alabama start with 5N.
Can the VIN tell me which engine my Hyundai has?
On North American models, yes. The engine is encoded in the VIN, so use the position table above, then confirm with the label under the hood.
Where else is the VIN on a Hyundai?
It is on the lower driver side of the windshield, on the label in the driver door jamb, and on your title, registration and insurance documents.
Related guides: Find Hyundai VIN Number Location · YOUCANIC VIN Decoder

