How to Check and Decode a Kia VIN
You can find your Kia VIN on the driver’s side of the dashboard or inside the driver’s side door jamb. The 17 digits follow a standardized set of codes.
Written by Sarah Williams
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
You can decode a
Kia
VIN by breaking down the 17-digit code, which represents the car’s country of origin, manufacturer, vehicle information, model year, and assembly plant. The VIN can be found either on the front sidewall of the engine bay, the top of the dashboard, or on the driver's side door jamb. Finding your vehicle identification number (VIN) is part of the process to renew your driver’s license, update your vehicle’s registration, or sell your car. But what do those 17 digits really mean?
Here to help you locate and decode your Kia’s VIN is car insurance comparison super app,
Jerry
. Not only can Jerry find you the best deals on car insurance
, but we’ve created a guide to Kia VINs: where to find them, how they’re made, and how to read them. How to check your Kia’s VIN
Your Kia’s VIN is its vehicle identification number—in other words, it's a unique string of 17 digits that identifies your Kia.
There are several places to find your Kia VIN. They include:
- Your insurance card
- Your DMV-issued registration card
- Punched on the front sidewall of the engine bay
- At the top of your dashboard, where it meets the windshield
- On the vehicle certification label found on the driver’s side door jamb
Once you’ve figured out your VIN, you can use it to find out the type of engine or transmission in your Kia, the country in which the car was produced, and the plant it was manufactured in, plus its make, year, model, and body type.
How to decode a Kia VIN
VINs have been used in the U.S. since the 1950s, but they weren’t standardized until 1981. Since then, those 17 digits have held a specific set of universal meanings.
These meanings are expressed through the 10 digits (0-9) and 23 letters of the alphabet, excluding letters that could be confused with numbers (I, O, and Q).
Read on to learn how to decode your Kia VIN.
First position: country of origin
The first three digits are the world manufacturer identifier (WMI) code. For Kias, the first number refers to the production location, or the country where the car was manufactured.
The United States is represented with a VIN code of 1 or 4, but you will likely see a K for Korea on your Kia.
Positions 2-3: manufacturer information
The following two digits represent identifying information with regard to the manufacturer. The second digit refers to the brand of your car, which in this case will be an N for Kia.
The third digit indicates what type of vehicle your Kia is. For example, you may see an A for passenger car or a D for multi-purpose vehicle.
Positions 4-8: vehicle-specific information
The following five digits of your VIN contain vehicle-specific information. With the many styles and trim levels available, these specifications help to narrow down the specific Kia you are driving.
The fourth digit is the model; the fifth is the series; the sixth and seventh are the body type; and the eighth is the engine type.
Position 9: the VIN check digit
Because so many other digits are standardized, it could be easy to generate a fake VIN. That’s where the 9th digit comes in! The ninth element is a unique “check digit” based on the other numbers in the VIN and is used to prevent fake VINS.
Position 10: model year
As the years go by, the system for referencing model years gets more complicated. We are seeing more VINs re-use digits that already refer to earlier model years.
Here’s a breakdown of the VIN model year codes over the last 20 years:
Code | Year |
|---|---|
1 | 2001 |
2 | 2002 |
3 | 2003 |
4 | 2004 |
5 | 2005 |
6 | 2006 |
7 | 2007 |
8 | 2008 |
9 | 2009 |
A | 2010 |
B | 1981 OR 2011 |
C | 1982 OR 2012 |
D | 1983 OR 2013 |
E | 1984 OR 2014 |
F | 1985 OR 2015 |
G | 1986 OR 2016 |
H | 1987 OR 2017 |
J | 1988 OR 2018 |
K | 1989 OR 2019 |
L | 1990 OR 2020 |
M | 1991 OR 2021 |
Position 11: assembly plant
The eleventh digit refers to the location of assembly of your Kia. Kia has four plants in Korea, one in Slovakia, and one in Georgia.
Positions 12-17: vehicle serial number
The final six digits of a VIN represent the specific car’s serial number. This number is unique to your Kia and is generally assigned while in assembly.
How to find affordable Kia insurance
VINs may be complicated, but insurance doesn’t have to be. Just download the
Jerry
app for free to save an average of $887 a year on car insurance. A licensed broker, Jerry helps you compare quotes from over 50 top providers like Nationwide and Allstate in minutes. When you find a better rate, Jerry can help you buy your new coverage and even cancel your old policy.
“This app is all about savings!Jerryjust saved me $193/month on my car insurance. They literally found me the cheapest policies out there and with better coverage! Seriously, just sit back and watch Jerry work its magic.” —Rachel B.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™
Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.
4.7
