Buick VIN decoder
Free Buick VIN Decoder to check car history and specifications.
What is Buick VIN?
What is Buick VIN decoder?
How accurate is the information provided by the Buick VIN decoder?
How to decode a VIN number - Buick VIN breakdown
Every Buick VIN is composed of four sections: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), Security Check Digit, and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). Each section discloses fundamental information about the vehicle, providing an overview of the selected model.
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
The World Manufacturer Identifier is a three-digit section representing key points about the vehicle's origin.In the Buick VIN, the first letter indicates the manufacturing region, while the second and third letters are associated with the manufacturer and the make of the model. Typically, Buick VINs start with 1G4, 2G4 or 3G4.| WMI | Meaning |
| Position 1 | Region |
| 1 | United States |
| 2 | Canada |
| 3 | Mexico |
| 4 | United States |
| K | Korea |
| W | Germany |
| Position 2 | Manufacturer |
| G | General Motors |
| Position 3 | Make |
| 4 | Buick |
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
The Vehicle Descriptor Section is the second segment within the Buick VIN that provides specific details about a vehicle’s features and attributes.For Buick cars produced from 1990 to the present day, such details as the model, body style, restraint codes, and engine types are described in the VDS section of the VIN (see the example below). However, Buick used a slightly different VIN coding system during the 1980s (from 1980 to 1989). For instance, the restraint system was represented by the fourth character, while the body type was revealed by the fifth.Based on the current standard, here are some examples of Buick’s WMI section and its characters:| 4th & 5th character | Model |
| AH | Century Custom |
| CF | Electra T-Type |
| EZ | Riviera |
| HP | LeSabre Custom |
| G2 | Regal |
| G9 | LaCrosse |
| PP | Verano |
| WG | Cascada |
| 5th character (For models produced from 1980 to 1989) | Model |
| B | Skylark |
| E | Century Wagon |
| H | Century |
| G | 98 Regency (RWD) |
| J | Regal |
| K | Regal Sport |
| L | Century Limited |
| N | LeSabre |
| V | Electra Estate |
| Y | Riviera |
In Buick VINs, the 6th character indicates the body style of Buick passenger cars.
| 6th character | Body Style |
| 1 | Two-door coupe |
| 2 | Two-door |
| 3 | Two-door convertible |
| 5 | Four-door sedan |
| 6 | Four-door sedan |
| 8 | Four-door station wagon |
| 9 | Four-door station wagon |
The 7th digit in the Buick VIN carries essential details about the safety restraint codes.
| 7th character | Safety restraint codes |
| 1 | Active (Manual) belts |
| 2 | Active (Manual) belts with driver and passenger inflatable restraint system (front) |
| 3 | Active (Manual) belts with driver inflatable restraint system |
| 4 | Active (Manual) belts with driver & passenger inflatable restraint system (front & side) |
| 5 | Active (Manual) belts with driver & passenger inflatable restraints, front & driver inflatable restraints (side) |
| 6 | Active (Manual) belts with driver & passenger inflatable restraints (front & side). Automatic occupant sensor (Passenger). |
| 7 | Active (Manual) belts with driver & passenger inflatable restraints (front & side). Rear passenger inflatable restraints (Side). |
Buick vehicles utilized a variety of four, six, and eight-cylinder petrol engines. The 8th character in the VIN code specifically highlights the type of engine.
| 8th character | Engine Type |
| 1 | 3,8-liter, six-cylinder petrol |
| 3 | 2,3-liter, four-cylinder petrol |
| 4 | 2,2-liter, four-cylinder petrol |
| 7 | 5,7-liter, eight-cylinder petrol |
| E | 5,0-liter, eight-cylinder petrol |
| J | 3,1-liter, six-cylinder petrol |
| K | 3.8-liter, six-cylinder petrol |
| M | 3,1-liter, six-cylinder petrol |
Security Check Digit
The 9th character in the Buick VIN is called a Security Check Digit. It doesn’t convey any vehicle-specific information. Instead, it helps to detect errors and safeguard against tampering within the VIN system.The Security Check Digit is calculated using a dedicated algorithm known as the VIN formula. This formula uses the remaining characters of the VIN, assigning distinct weights to each of them. The Check Digit is derived based on the sum of these weighted values.Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)
The remaining characters (10th-17th) of the Buick VIN make up the Vehicle Identifier Section. The meaning of each character can help you learn when and where a particular Buick vehicle was made.The model year is encoded in the 10th digit of the VIN. Car manufacturers, including Buick, use the following system to encode it:| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year |
| A | 1980 | L | 1990 | Y | 2000 | A | 2010 | L | 2020 | Y | 2030 |
| B | 1981 | M | 1991 | 1 | 2001 | B | 2011 | M | 2021 | 1 | 2031 |
| C | 1982 | N | 1992 | 2 | 2002 | C | 2012 | N | 2022 | 2 | 2032 |
| D | 1983 | P | 1993 | 3 | 2003 | D | 2013 | P | 2023 | 3 | 2033 |
| E | 1984 | R | 1994 | 4 | 2004 | E | 2014 | R | 2024 | 4 | 2034 |
| F | 1985 | S | 1995 | 5 | 2005 | F | 2015 | S | 2025 | 5 | 2035 |
| G | 1986 | T | 1996 | 6 | 2006 | G | 2016 | T | 2026 | 6 | 2036 |
| H | 1987 | V | 1997 | 7 | 2007 | H | 2017 | V | 2027 | 7 | 2037 |
| J | 1988 | W | 1998 | 8 | 2008 | J | 2018 | W | 2028 | 8 | 2038 |
| K | 1989 | X | 1999 | 9 | 2009 | K | 2019 | X | 2029 | 9 | 2039 |
The manufacturing facility responsible for producing Buick cars is identified in the 11th character in the VIN. Depending on the model, specific Buicks were produced in Mexico, Korea, or even Germany. Nevertheless, the majority of Buicks are manufactured in either the United States or Canada.
| 11th character | Assembly plant |
| 0 | Lansing, Michigan |
| 1 | Oshawa, CanadaRüsselsheim, Germany |
| 4 | Orion, Michigan |
| C | Changwon, Korea |
| F | Fairfax, Kansas |
| L | Bupyeong, Korea |
| S | Ramoz Arizpe, México |
Where to search for the VIN?
A vehicle’s VIN number is typically located in multiple areas, which can depend on the brand. However, there are specific common places where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.Buick cars are no exception, and you’ll most likely find the Buick VIN in one of the locations shown above. You can start by checking the following:- The dashboard above the steering wheel (also visible from outside the car)
- The inner side of the driver’s door
If you can’t find the VIN on the car, check its owner's manual or documents, as it’s a common practice to include it there, too.
What Buick models work with our free VIN decoder?
List of Buick models
- Buick Cascada
- Buick Century
- Buick Electra
- Buick Enclave
- Buick Encore
- Buick LaCrosse
- Buick LeSabre
- Buick Lucerne
- Buick Park Avenue
- Buick Reatta
- Buick Regal
- Buick Rendezvous
- Buick Riviera
- Buick Roadmaster
- Buick Skylark
- Buick Terraza
Is a Buick VIN decoder available for a free VIN check?
However, the free version does not provide information about the Buick's history and condition, such as damage, mileage, and financial status. For this, you have to purchase a vehicle history report.Car history report
Avoid costly problems by checking a car's history. Just enter the VIN and get a full report.
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