GMC.VIN GMC VIN decoding — brand-specific tables & examples
Decode GMC VIN →
17 characters • hundreds of build details • zero guesswork

Decode a GMC VIN like a human — not like a random character generator

A GMC VIN is a compact build story: what it is, where it was built, and (for several GMC lines) which engine / chassis / series it left the factory with. This page explains the logic and shows real GMC tables for Sierra, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Savana. No VIN checker form on GMC.VIN — decode via the external link, then interpret using the tables below.

GMC VIN decoder Plant code (11th) Engine code (8th) Chassis/Series (5–6) Sierra • Yukon • Savana
Decode GMC VIN → Jump to model tables VIN map

Practical truth: the fastest scam-filter is 10th character (model year) + 11th (plant). If those don’t fit the story you were told — don’t “hope for the best”. Verify.

GMC VIN 1GT•••••••S•Z•••••• VIN positions 10 11 10th = model year • 11th = plant Sierra Yukon + Savana
key VIN chars year/plant focus model tables below
What VIN decoding is not: it does not prove mileage, title status, accident history, or that the drivetrain hasn’t been swapped. VIN decoding is about factory identity; history requires separate checks.

Where to find the VIN on a GMC vehicle

Start here to avoid decoding the wrong number

Before you decode anything, make sure you’re reading the actual VIN (17 characters) — not a stock number, not a partial, not a plate that doesn’t match the paperwork. Most modern GMC vehicles show the VIN in multiple places.

Common VIN locations

  • Windshield plate: driver-side lower corner (visible from outside).
  • Certification label area: driver-side B-pillar / door jamb area (location varies by model).
  • Documents: registration/title/insurance paperwork.
Tip: Compare at least two sources (windshield + label or paperwork) before trusting a VIN from a listing photo.

Quick “don’t get tricked” checklist

  • VINs typically avoid I, O, and Q (to prevent confusion).
  • 0 (zero) is not the letter O.
  • If a decoder says “invalid VIN”, re-check the 9th character (check digit errors often reveal typos).
1) Windshield plate Driver-side lower corner 2) Certification label Door jamb / B-pillar area (Exact spot varies) 3) Paperwork Title / registration / insurance

VIN structure (1–17): read it like coordinates

WMI (1–3) • VDS (4–9) • VIS (10–17)

GMC uses the standard 17-character VIN format. The trick is to stop thinking “VIN = one thing” and start thinking “VIN = three blocks”: WMI (who/brand type), VDS (vehicle descriptor), and VIS (year/plant/serial).

1WMI
2WMI
3WMI
4GVWR/Body
5Chassis
6Series
7Restraint
8Engine
9Check
10Year
11Plant
12Seq
13Seq
14Seq
15Seq
16Seq
17Seq
WMI: positions 1–3 VDS: positions 4–9 VIS: positions 10–17

Manual decoding in 60 seconds (GMC-friendly)

  1. Read 1–3: does it look like a GMC WMI pattern (1GT, 1GK, etc.)?
  2. Read 10: model year code (use the year table below).
  3. Read 11: plant code (interpret per model/year table).
  4. Read 8: engine code (model/year table — Sierra/Yukon/Savana differ).
  5. Read 5–6: chassis/series (often reveals 2WD/4WD + series/trim in the model tables).

Check digit (position 9) — why decoders reject a VIN

The 9th character is a computed check digit (0–9 or X). If you mistype even one character, the check digit usually fails. So if a decoder says “invalid VIN”, suspect a copy error first.

Work smart: copy-paste the VIN from a photo and then visually verify the risky characters (0/O, 1/I).

GMC WMI prefixes you actually see

The “who/what brand-type” part (positions 1–3)

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. For GMC, common patterns depend on the model line (truck vs MPV) and region.

WMI (1–3) Typically seen on What it signals
1GT Sierra / Sierra HD (truck) GMC truck WMI pattern (used on the Sierra examples shown).
2GT Sierra / Sierra HD (truck) Another GMC truck WMI pattern used in North America contexts.
3GT Sierra 1500 (truck) GMC truck WMI pattern associated with Mexico coding in the Sierra example table.
3GD Incomplete vehicle patterns GMC incomplete vehicle WMI pattern (shown in the Sierra example table).
1GK Yukon (SUV/MPV) GMC MPV/SUV WMI pattern (shown in the Yukon example table).
1GJ Savana (bus/van variations) GMC bus/van classification used in some Savana tables.
1GD Savana / incomplete vehicles GMC incomplete classification used in some Savana tables.
Use WMI as a strong hint, not a final verdict. WMI is great for spotting “this VIN doesn’t belong to that kind of vehicle” — but the model year and plant fields are your strongest consistency checks.

GMC model tables: real examples that explain the codes

Sierra (2025) • Sierra HD (2025) • Savana (2025) • Yukon (2021)

Below are simplified extracts of manufacturer-style GMC VIN coding tables for specific model years. They show how GMC encodes key fields for a given line and year — and why “one universal chart” often fails.

GMC Sierra 1500: chassis/series, engine & plant in the VIN

Example tables: 2025 Sierra

On the Sierra example table used here, the VIN can reveal engine family (position 8), drive/series (positions 5–6), and plant (position 11) using model-specific codes.

Engine code (position 8) — Sierra examples

VIN pos 8Engine (example mapping)
DRPO L84 — 5.3L V8 gas
KRPO L3B — 2.7L turbo gas
LRPO L87 — 6.2L V8 gas
8RPO LZ0 — 3.0L diesel

Plant code (position 11) — Sierra examples

VIN pos 1VIN pos 11Plant
1ZFort Wayne
21Oshawa
3GSilao

Same position (11) — different plant code depending on the region code context.

Chassis/Series (positions 5–6) — trims show up here

For this Sierra example table, the 5th character separates 2WD vs 4WD buckets (example: H vs U), while the 6th character points to series like SLE/SLT/AT4/Denali.

VIN pos 5–6Meaning (example mapping)
H ASierra 1500 Fleet/Base 2WD
H CSierra 1500 Elevation 2WD
H GSierra 1500 Denali 2WD
U ESierra 1500 AT4 4WD
U GSierra 1500 Denali 4WD
U HSierra 1500 Denali Ultimate 4WD
Why this is useful: if a listing claims “Denali Ultimate” but the VIN’s series codes map to something else (for that year/table), that’s a red flag — or a model-year mismatch.

A realistic Sierra VIN walkthrough (masked example)

Masked to avoid publishing a real vehicle’s serial. Replace the dots with your actual characters and decode via the external link.

Example VIN fragmentHow to read it
1GT N H A E D • S Z • ••••••
  • 1GT (1–3): GMC truck WMI pattern.
  • D (8th): engine code (example mapping → L84 5.3L V8 gas).
  • S (10th): model year code (example table → S = 2025).
  • Z (11th): plant code (example table → Z = Fort Wayne when pos1 is 1).
Decode your Sierra VIN → Plant code map

GMC Sierra HD: different engines, different plant example

Example tables: 2025 Sierra HD

In the Sierra HD example table used here, the engine set is different (6.6L gas or Duramax diesel), and the plant code example points to Flint.

Engine code (position 8) — Sierra HD examples

VIN pos 8Engine (example mapping)
YRPO L5P — 6.6L Duramax diesel
7RPO L8T — 6.6L gas

Plant code (position 11) — Sierra HD example

VIN pos 11Plant
FFlint

Plant codes are model/year specific — interpret using the correct table for your line.

Series examples (positions 5–6) — HD trims in the VIN

VIN pos 5–6Meaning (example mapping)
H LSierra 2500 Fleet/Base 2WD
U PSierra 2500 AT4 4WD
U WSierra 3500 Denali 4WD
U XSierra 2500 Denali Ultimate 4WD
U ZSierra 2500 AT4X AWD

GMC Savana: vans, cutaways, and extra coding detail

Example tables: 2025 Savana

Savana decoding gets interesting because it includes cargo/passenger vans and cutaway configurations. The example table used here also shows additional restraint-system coding.

WMI patterns shown for Savana (example table)

Valid WMI combinationsNotes
1GD, 1GJ, 1GTExamples of GMC combinations used for Savana classifications.
7GZShown for a specific incomplete/Navistar context in the example table.

Plant code (position 11) — Savana example

VIN pos 1VIN pos 11Plant
11Wentzville
7NSpringfield (shown in the example table context)

Engine code (position 8) — Savana example

VIN pos 8Engine (example mapping)
PRPO LV1 — 4.3L V6 gas
1RPO LWN — 2.8L diesel
7RPO L8T — 6.6L gas

Series examples (positions 5–6) — Savana configurations

VIN pos 5–6Meaning (example mapping)
7 ASavana 2500 Cargo
7 CSavana 2500 Passenger LS
7 GSavana 3500 Cargo
7 RSavana 3500 Cutaway 139" wheelbase
7 USavana 4500 Cutaway 159" wheelbase

GMC Yukon: SUV/MPV coding + Arlington plant example

Example tables: 2021 Yukon

The Yukon example shows a different brand-type code: 1GK (GMC MPV), plus a plant code mapping to Arlington and series codes for 4x2 vs 4x4 and Yukon vs Yukon XL.

WMI, model year, plant (example Yukon table)

FieldExample mapping
WMI (1–3)1GK — GMC MPV
Model year (10th)M — 2021
Plant (11th)R — Arlington

Engine code (position 8) — Yukon example

VIN pos 8Engine (example mapping)
DRPO L84 — 5.3L V8 gas
LRPO L87 — 6.2L V8 gas
TRPO LM2 — 3.0L diesel

Series examples (positions 5–6): Yukon vs Yukon XL + 4x2/4x4

VIN pos 5–6Meaning (example mapping)
1 A4x2 Yukon SLE
1 D4x2 Yukon Denali
1 F4x2 Yukon XL SLE
2 C4x4 Yukon AT4
2 H4x4 Yukon XL AT4
2 J4x4 Yukon XL Denali
Shortcut: For Yukon, the series pair (5–6) is one of the best “does this match the listing?” checks you can do in seconds.

GMC plant codes: what the 11th character can reveal

Plant codes are model/year specific

The 11th character is typically the assembly plant code — but don’t rely on a random “universal plant list”. Plant codes can vary by manufacturer, model line, and model year coding tables. Use the plant mapping that matches your GMC line.

Plant code examples shown on this page

Model tablePlant codePlant
Sierra (example)ZFort Wayne
Sierra HD (example)FFlint
Yukon (example)RArlington
Savana (example)1Wentzville
Sierra (Mexico example)GSilao
Sierra (Canada example)1Oshawa

Plant info: how it helps (and where it doesn’t)

  • Buying: does the build location match the market story?
  • Parts: plant + year can correlate with running changes.
  • Verification: if plant code doesn’t fit the model/year claim, verify the VIN.
Reminder: plant code is not a guarantee of exact option content. Always confirm with the decoded configuration and (when needed) RPO/build info.
Fort Wayne (code Z in Sierra example) Flint (code F in Sierra HD example) Arlington (code R in Yukon example) Wentzville (code 1 in Savana example) Oshawa (code 1 in Sierra Canada example) Silao (code G in Sierra Mexico example) Example plant in this guide HD plant example SUV plant example Other example markers

Options & RPO codes: VIN identifies, RPO describes

Use VIN first • confirm build content when needed

GMC VIN decoding can reveal big-ticket identity fields (year, plant, engine code, series code). But when you need to confirm exact equipment (towing packages, axle ratios, specific tech packages), you’re often looking for GM’s build content — commonly represented as RPO codes.

VIN code vs RPO code — the practical difference

  • VIN = standardized identity, key configuration signals, and sequence number.
  • RPO codes = factory option/build codes (often 3 characters) describing equipment content.

Notice the overlap: engine identifiers like L84, L87, L5P can appear as “engine type” references in model-year VIN tables, while the VIN itself uses a compact engine character (position 8) to point to those engine codes.

GMC engine RPO cheat sheet (from the example tables here)

Engine codeCommonly described asShown on this page for
L3B2.7L turbo gasSierra example
L845.3L V8 gasSierra & Yukon examples
L876.2L V8 gasSierra & Yukon examples
LZ03.0L dieselSierra example
LM23.0L dieselYukon example
L5P6.6L Duramax dieselSierra HD example
L8T6.6L gasSierra HD & Savana examples
LV14.3L V6 gasSavana example
LWN2.8L dieselSavana example

Want the cleanest path? Decode first, interpret second.

Use the external GMC VIN decoder, then return here and cross-check: WMI, engine (pos 8), year (pos 10), plant (pos 11), and series (pos 5–6).

Decode GMC VIN → Sierra Yukon Savana

Model year code table (10th character)

Codes repeat every 30 years

The 10th character is typically the model year code. If your decoded year looks “off by one”, remember: model year can differ from production date.

Quick table (2010–2039)

CodeYearCodeYear
A2010L2020
B2011M2021
C2012N2022
D2013P2023
E2014R2024
F2015S2025
G2016T2026
H2017V2027
J2018W2028
K2019X2029
Y203012031
2203232033
4203452035
6203672037
8203892039

Two common mistakes

  • Mixing cycles: A can mean 2010 or 1980 depending on the 30-year cycle.
  • Assuming calendar year: a vehicle built late in a year can be the next model year.
Rule of thumb: if the year code doesn’t match the vehicle generation or body style, you’re in the wrong cycle — or looking at the wrong VIN.

FAQ

Short answers • real-world focus
Does a GMC VIN always tell me the exact trim (Denali / AT4 / AT4X / SLE / SLT)?

Often it can point you in the right direction via the series/chassis codes (especially in the model-year tables shown above), but exact trim naming and package content can be market and year dependent. Use the VIN decode as the backbone, then confirm options via build content when the details matter.

Where is the plant code on a GMC VIN?

Typically position 11. The same letter/number can mean different plants depending on the model line and year tables, so interpret it in the correct model context.

Why do some GMC VINs start with 1GT while others start with 1GK?

Different GMC lines use different brand/type codes (e.g., trucks vs MPVs/SUVs). The WMI (positions 1–3) is the “who/what type” signature, so it changes by category and coding standard.

My VIN decodes, but the engine shown doesn’t match the badge. What now?

First, double-check the VIN characters (especially position 8). If it still doesn’t match, treat it as a verification issue: wrong listing, wrong paperwork, or swapped components are possibilities. Use the decoded VIN result as the baseline and investigate.

Can I decode a GMC VIN without sharing it on this site?

Yes. GMC.VIN intentionally has no VIN input form. Use the external decoder link and then come back to interpret the fields using the tables above.

Decode now

Open the decoder, decode your VIN, and verify the key characters using the model tables above.

Decode GMC VIN →