How to Decode Buick VIN Numbers

Every automobile since 1980 has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).   It is a series of 17 numbers and letters that will provide many details about the vehicle as manufactured.    This number can be easily manually decoded to provide the details.  There are also web sites that will perform the function quickly and for free.   Such web sites can be readily found by searching the Internet.

When decoding a VIN, keep in mind that some of the fields are manufacturer specific.  The following is how to decode a Buick VIN.

• World Manufacturer Identifier appears in characters 1 -3.
        Position 1 is the country.
        Positions 2,3 are the manufacturer.  Buick is designated by G and GC.


•  Platform is position 4.
         Buick is designated by C, P, S, V, W and Y.


• Platform Series is position 5.
          W = Park Avenue
           V = Terraza
            Z = Riviera
            P = Le Sabre Custom
            R = Le Sabre Limited
            C = Lacrosse CX
            D = Lacrosse CXL
             E = Lacrosse CXS
             F = Regal
             S = Century Custom
             Y = Century Limited


• Body Style is position 6
            1 =Two-door coupe
            2 = Two-door
            3 = Two-door convertible
            4 is not used
             5 = Four-door sedan
             6 = Four-door sedan hatchback
             7 is not used
             8= Four-door station wagon or Two-door hatchback
             9 = Four-door station wagon


• Restraint Type is position 7
       1 = Active belts
      2 =  Active belts,  driver & passenger front airbags
      3 =  Driver side airbag in front
      4 = Active belts, driver side airbags, passenger front airbag
      5 = Active belts, driver & passenger side airbags
      6 = Active belts, driver side airbags, passenger front airbag, passenger sensor
      7 = Active belts, driver side airbags, passenger front airbag, rear side airbags
       8 = Unknown
       9 = Seatbelts only  (before standard airbags)


• Engine Type is position 8
       This will denote the RPO, Size, Type and Fuel.  These are not listed since there are
         over 26 values.


• Check Digit is position 9
     The check digit is part of the VIN so that any two vehicles manufactured within a 30
      year period will  not have the identical number.


• Model Year is position 10
       Letters are used for 1980 through 2000.  To decrease confusion of numbers and
        letters, the letters I, O, Q, U and Z are not used.   Numbers were used for 2001
        through 2009.   It was deemed unlikely that a newer model would be confused with
         an older one, so 2010 started reuse of letters.
  A = 1980
  B – 1981
  C – 1982
  D – 1983
  E – 1984
  F – 1985
  G – 1986
  H – 1987
  I – not used
  J – 1988
  K – 1989
  L – 1990
  M – 1991
  N – 1992
  O – not used
  P – 1993
  Q – not used
  R – 1994
  S – 1995
  T – 1996
  U – not used
  V – 1997
  W – 1998
  X – 1999
  Y – 2000
  Z – not used
  1 – 2001
  2 – 2002
  3 – 2003
  4 – 2004
  5 – 2005
  6 – 2006
  7 – 2007
  8 – 2008
  9 – 2009
  A – 2010
  B – 2011
  C – 2012
  D – 2013


• Factory ID is position 11
       This identifies which assembly plant the vehicle was made at


• Serial Number is positions 12 through 17.
        Numbers will always be in the last four characters.