Free Geo Prizm VIN Decoder

How to decode a Geo Prizm VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Geo Prizm VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is an integral component of a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), comprising the first three characters. These alphanumeric codes uniquely identify the vehicle manufacturer and sometimes even provide information on the vehicle’s type or country of production. For the Geo Prizm, a car branded by Geo—a marque of General Motors—as a result of a joint venture with Toyota, the WMI codes help pinpoint its origin and the collaboration behind its creation. Each Geo Prizm rolling off the production line carries a WMI that serves as a testament to its mixed lineage, embedding the car’s corporate heritage right at the start of its unique identification number.

List of WMI Codes for a Geo Prizm

WMI: 1Y1

• Model Years Covered: 1990-1997
• Example VIN: 1Y1SK7166LZ016777
• Manufacturer Name: New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Fremont
• State or Province: California
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Geo Prizm 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 Prizm:

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 Prizm 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 Prizm VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the Geo Prizm VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Geo Prizm Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Geo Prizm

The final 6 characters in a Geo Prizm’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a Geo Prizm VIN reveal?

• Manufacturer Name: The VIN can reveal the manufacturer of the vehicle, providing information about the company responsible for producing the Geo Prizm.
• Plant State: The VIN might indicate the state in which the Geo Prizm was manufactured, giving insight into the potential location of the production facility.
• Vehicle Type: The VIN may identify the Geo Prizm as a passenger car, potentially confirming its classification and purpose.
• Body Class: The VIN could specify that the Geo Prizm is a sedan/saloon, providing potential information about the body style of the vehicle.
• Engine Manufacturer: The VIN might indicate that the engine of the Geo Prizm was manufactured by Toyota, possibly revealing a partnership between Geo and Toyota in the production of the vehicle.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Geo Prizm