Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Honda Prelude VIN
List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Honda Prelude
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Honda Prelude VIN
Character 9 is the "check digit" in a 1998 Honda Prelude VIN.
10th Character in the 1998 Honda Prelude VIN — Year Code
11th Character in the 1998 Honda Prelude VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1998 Honda Prelude Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Honda Prelude
How to find a 1998 Honda Prelude's VIN?
What info can a 1998 Honda Prelude VIN reveal?
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Honda Prelude

How to decode a 1998 Honda Prelude VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Honda Prelude VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial sequence of characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which uniquely identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle. Specifically, the WMI for a 1998 Honda Prelude denotes “JHM” as its unique sequence, pointing towards Honda Motor Co., Ltd. as the manufacturer. This vehicle was produced in Japan, with the specific location being Tokyo in the Musashi province. The WMI not only confirms the vehicle as a passenger car crafted by Honda but also emphasizes its origin from a country renowned for its automotive industry. This coding system provides an essential layer of vehicle identification globally, facilitating traceability, registration, and recall processes.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Honda Prelude

WMI: JHM

Model Years Covered: 1981-1982, 1985-2001
Example VIN: JHMBB6240WC000074
Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Tokyo
State or Province: Musashi
Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Honda Prelude 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 1998 Honda Prelude:

Known VDS for a 1998 Honda Prelude
BB624	BB614	BB615

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 1998 Honda Prelude 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 1998 Honda Prelude VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Honda Prelude VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Honda Prelude Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
C	Sayama	Saitama	Japan		JHMBB6240WC000074

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Honda Prelude

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Honda Prelude’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Honda Prelude’s VIN below:

How to find a 1998 Honda Prelude’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Honda Prelude is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look on the dashboard near the windshield on the driver’s side of your 1998 Honda Prelude. The VIN is commonly displayed on a metal or plastic plate.
Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door jamb or the door itself. Your Honda Prelude might have a sticker or plate with the VIN at this location where the door latches when closed.
Check the front of the car frame, near the container that holds windshield washer fluid. Sometimes the VIN is stamped onto the frame.
Peek under the hood and look for the VIN on the front of the engine block. This is a less common place but worth checking on a Honda Prelude.
Examine the rear wheel well. Turn the steering wheel to the maximum extent and look above the tire; the VIN can sometimes be found in this area.

What info can a 1998 Honda Prelude VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Plant Location: Manufacturing details found in the VIN, like the plant city Sayama, country Japan, and state Saitama, demonstrate the geographical production origins of the vehicle.
Engine Specifications: The VIN provides information about the engine, such as an In-Line engine with a model H22A, 4 cylinders, and delivers a brake horsepower starting from 195.00. The displacement details offer insights into the engine’s size and power output, with measurements given in CC, CI, and Liters.
Fuel Type: The VIN can specify gasoline as the primary fuel type for the vehicle, indicating its energy source.
Safety Features: The VIN might showcase the presence of 1st-row (Driver and Passenger) airbags, providing a glimpse of the basic safety equipment provided.
Transmission Details: Details such as a manual/standard transmission with 5 speeds may be outlined in the VIN, hinting at the vehicle’s performance and driver engagement level.
Body and Design: The VIN could classify the vehicle as a Coupe with 2 doors and carry a unique trim, Type SH. This information, along with details like the Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) valve train design, can paint a comprehensive picture of the vehicle’s structure and capabilities.

Don’t have your 1998 Honda Prelude’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Honda Prelude

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Coupe
Displacement (CC)	2163.092448
Displacement (CI)	132
Displacement (L)	2.163092448
Doors	2
Engine Brake (hp) From	195.00
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Model	H22A4
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Prelude
Model Year	1998
Plant City	Sayama
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Japan
Plant State	Saitama
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Transmission Speeds	5
Transmission Style	Manual/Standard
Trim	Type SH
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	JHMBB615*WC
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	JHMBB6152WC014407