- Characters 1-3 of a Geo VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Geo
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Geo VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Geo VIN.
- 10th Character in the Geo VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Geo VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Geo Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Geo
- How to find a Geo's VIN?
- What info can a Geo VIN reveal?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Geo
How to decode a Geo VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Geo VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique three-letter sequences that are part of a vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), providing crucial information about the vehicle’s manufacturer, including the company name, the type of vehicle, and the country and location of manufacture. For instance, General Motors LLC utilizes codes like 2C1 and 2CN for passenger cars and multipurpose vehicles respectively, produced in Warren, Michigan, United States, while 1Y1 is associated with passenger cars from New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., located in Fremont, California. Additionally, JGC denotes trucks by General Motors LLC manufactured in Warren, Michigan. These codes, applied during specific model years such as from 1989 to 1997, help to identify the origin and basic characteristics of a vehicle at a glance. This system plays a vital role in vehicle tracking, registration, and recall actions.
List of WMI Codes for a Geo
| WMI | Manufacturer Name | Vehicle Type | City | State or Province | Country | Model Years Covered | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2C1 | General Motors LLC | Passenger Car | Warren | Michigan | United States | 1990-1997 | 2C1MR2467L6011569 |
| 1Y1 | New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. | Passenger Car | Fremont | California | United States | 1990-1997 | 1Y1SK7166LZ016777 |
| 2CN | General Motors LLC | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Warren | Michigan | United States | 1990-1994 | 2CNBJ18U1L6200153 |
| JGC | General Motors LLC | Truck | Warren | Michigan | United States | 1989 | JGCBJ18U3KW831933 |
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Geo VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a Geo:
| Known VDS for a Geo | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR246 | MS246 | MR646 | MR229 | MR226 | MR529 | SK716 | SK746 | SK516 | SK546 |
| SK538 | SK536 | SK528 | SK526 | BJ18U | BE18U | BJ186 | |||
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Geo VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the Geo VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| V | 1997 |
| T | 1996 |
| S | 1995 |
| R | 1994 |
| P | 1993 |
| N | 1992 |
| M | 1991 |
| L | 1990 |
| K | 1989 |
11th Character in the Geo VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Geo Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ingersoll | Ontario | Canada | Na-Canada (Gm/Suzuki J.V.) | 2C1MR2467L6011569 |
| W | Iwata | Shizuoka | Japan | JGCBJ18U3KW831933 | |
| Z | Fremont | California | United States | New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. | 1Y1SK7166LZ016777 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Geo
The final 6 characters in a Geo’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Geo’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Geo is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your Geo. The VIN is typically placed here, visible from outside the vehicle.
- Look inside the driver’s side door jamb or on the door frame of your Geo. The VIN can often be found on a sticker or metal plate where the door locks when closed.
- Inspect the engine block of your Geo. The VIN might also be stamped onto the engine itself, which can be useful for matching the engine to the vehicle.
- Check your Geo’s vehicle registration documents or insurance card/policy. The VIN is always recorded on official documents related to the vehicle.
What info can a Geo VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1995, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN encodes basic vehicle information, including the make, for example, Toyota, and the model, which is Prizm. Additionally, it may also include engine details, such as a 1.8-liter engine with an in-line configuration.
- Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, for example, Sedan/Saloon, and the number of doors, which for this vehicle is 4, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Safety Features: Standard safety features, including the presence of curtain, front, and knee air bags located in the 1st row for both driver and passenger, can be inferred from the VIN, providing potential insights into the vehicle’s safety capabilities.
- Fuel Type: The VIN discloses the primary fuel type a vehicle uses, which in this example is Gasoline, offering insights into the vehicle’s fuel requirements.
- Engine Manufacturer and Model: The vehicle’s engine specifics, such as the manufacturer Toyota and the engine model 7A-FE, can be detailed through a VIN, providing insights into the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
- Manufacturing Location: A VIN can give insight into the manufacturing location, indicating not only the country, in this case, the United States, but also the specific city and state, namely Fremont, California, along with the plant’s company name, potentially offering insights into the vehicle’s origin and production details.
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Decode a Geo VIN
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Sample VIN Decode Report for a Geo
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Cooling Type | Water |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Displacement (CC) | 1762 |
| Displacement (CI) | 109.84273937051 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.8 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Engine Model | 7A-FE |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Model | Prizm |
| Model Year | 1995 |
| Plant City | Fremont |
| Plant Company Name | New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | California |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Seat Cushion Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1Y1SK528*SZ |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1Y1SK5281SZ007763 |
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