Hyundai VIN Decoder

Hyundai VIN decoder reads the 17 characters on an Elantra, Sonata, Tucson, Santa Fe or Ioniq. Korean builds open with KMH, United States sedans use 5NP and utilities use 5NM. Characters four through eight describe the model, body style, engine and restraint system assigned on the line, and the final six digits give the build order for that plant. The prefix alone shows whether a Tucson came from Ulsan in Korea or an Elantra from Montgomery, Alabama, and the plant code confirms the factory.

Hyundai VIN decoder treats position nine as a check digit, position ten as the model year and position eleven as the plant. Those digits confirm the year and factory before a shopper books a test drive. A report shows original trim, engine, transmission, drivetrain and factory options, which helps verify a used Tucson or Santa Fe against the seller’s claims and the listed price. A clean decode takes seconds, needs no account and covers every Hyundai sedan, SUV and electric model built after 1981.

What a Hyundai VIN Tells You

A Hyundai VIN records the vehicle at the point of assembly. The first three characters identify the world manufacturer and the country of origin. Characters four through eight describe the model, body, engine, and restraint system. The ninth character is a check digit, The tenth character is the model year, The eleventh character is the plant, and The final six characters are the production sequence. The pattern is standardized across US vehicles, but the meaning of the middle characters belongs to Hyundai. NHTSA’s vPIC decode returns fields such as make, model, model.

Hyundai WMI Codes

NHTSA lists fifteen World Manufacturer Identifiers tied to Hyundai passenger cars, trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trailers. The table below keeps the thirteen entries tied to Hyundai vehicles and excludes the two trailer records. Trailer builders and unrelated companies are left out. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office.

The KM prefixes point to South Korea. KMH, KPH, and KMT cover passenger cars, KMF and KME cover trucks, and KM8 and KMU cover multipurpose vehicles. The U5Y and 5NP codes belong to the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, which registers vehicles produced for the US market.

The 5NT and 5NM codes point to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery, where the Santa Fe, Tucson, and Elantra have been assembled. The 7YA code points to the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia, a newer site for electric and hybrid production. The PFD code covers the Singapore innovation centre, a small-volume operation that builds the Ioniq 5 in a highly automated facility.

The two excluded records are 3H3, registered to Hyundai de Mexico with a trailer vehicle type, and 145, registered to Hyundai Steel Industries with a trailer vehicle type. Neither belongs on a passenger vehicle page. If you see one of those prefixes on a car, treat the listing as suspect and check the full VIN.

The Metaplant code is new enough that some decoders may not return a model name for it. A 2025 or 2026 Ioniq 5 built in Georgia can decode with the make and plant but leave the series field blank. That gap reflects the speed of the registry, not a problem with the car. Confirm the build with the door label and the dealer paperwork.

Hyundai VIN Breakdown

Read the VIN in blocks rather than as a single string. The order is fixed, and each block narrows the identity of the car. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office. Keep the title, the registration and the photo ID together for the visit. A second check at the counter saves a.

The First Three Characters: World Manufacturer Identifier

The first character is the region. A K means South Korea, a 5 or a 7 means the United States, a U means the United States, and a P means Singapore. The second and third characters combine with the first to identify Hyundai. The character after the WMI is not part of the country code. It belongs to the descriptor block and can change from one model to the next. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

Characters Four Through Eight: Vehicle Descriptor Section

Hyundai uses this five-character block for model, body, engine, and restraint details. The exact split has changed across generations. On a modern Tucson, the block can distinguish the trim series, the engine, and the drive type. On an older Accent, the same positions carry a different set of codes tied to that generation’s platform. The letters are not universal. A decoder reads them against Hyundai’s own mapping. This is the part of the VIN to check when a seller claims a specific engine or package.

The Ninth Character: Check Digit

The ninth character validates the other sixteen. Each letter maps to a number, each position carries a weight, and the sum produces a remainder between 0 and 10. A remainder of 10 is written as X. The letters I, O, and Q are excluded from VINs to avoid confusion with 1 and 0. A failed check digit points to a typing error, a damaged label, or a fabricated number. It does not prove that the car is stolen. A cloned VIN copied from another vehicle can pass the math and still be false.

The Tenth Character: Model Year

The tenth character is the model year. Hyundai follows the same SAE cycle as every other US manufacturer. The letter or digit rotates through a 30-year sequence and skips I, O, Q, U, Z, and 0. A 2019 Elantra uses K, a 2020 uses L, and a 2021 uses M. The VIN reports the model year Hyundai assigned, not the calendar year the car rolled off the line. A late-season build can carry the next model year code. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

The Eleventh Character: Assembly Plant

The eleventh character identifies the plant. Hyundai’s network includes Ulsan, Asan, and other South Korean sites, Montgomery in Alabama, the Metaplant in Georgia, and the innovation centre in Singapore. The plant code matters for parts since running changes can differ by factory. It matters for recall searches since a campaign may cover one plant’s output and not another’s. NHTSA vPIC returns the plant name and city for a decoded VIN, which is more reliable than a memorized list of letters. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

The Final Six Characters: Production Sequence

The last six characters are the serial number. They are assigned in build order and make the VIN unique. The sequence is the field a dealer uses to match a recall or a service bulletin to one car. It is not a registration number, and it does not encode the paint color, the options, or the dealer that sold the car. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

Hyundai Model Year Code Table

Find the tenth character in your VIN and match it below. The table covers 1995 through 2026, which includes nearly every Hyundai still in daily use in the United States. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office. Keep the title, the registration and the photo ID together for the visit.

Two cautions apply. First, the same character can appear in a VIN for a vehicle built 30 years earlier, so a decoder must weigh the full code. Second, the model year on the title can differ from the model year in the VIN if a state corrected the record after a clerical error. In that case, ask the motor vehicle agency which field controls the registration.

Popular Hyundai Models

NHTSA’s Hyundai list includes current models, discontinued lines, and early imports. The names below are the ones most often searched by US buyers and most often found in used listings. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office. Keep the title, the registration and the photo ID together for the visit.

• Elantra — the compact sedan, sold as the Elantra GT hatchback and Elantra N in other body styles.
• Sonata — the midsize sedan that has anchored the US lineup for decades.
• Tucson — the compact SUV and one of Hyundai’s highest-volume models.
• Santa Fe — the midsize SUV with two-row and three-row versions across generations.
• Kona — the subcompact SUV with gas, hybrid, and electric variants.
• Palisade — the three-row family SUV at the top of the gas lineup.
• Accent — the entry-level sedan and hatchback.
• Venue — the small crossover that replaced the Accent hatchback slot.
• Veloster — the three-door coupe with an asymmetric door layout.
• Ioniq — the hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric hatchback that preceded the Ioniq 5.
• Ioniq 5 — the electric crossover built on a dedicated EV platform.
• Ioniq 6 — the electric sedan with a low, streamlined profile.
• Santa Cruz — the compact pickup built in Alabama.
• Nexo — the hydrogen fuel-cell crossover.

Model names and body styles do not always line up across years. The Santa Fe added a three-row option and later split into the Santa Fe and Santa Fe XL. The Ioniq name moved from a hatchback to a family of EVs. A VIN decode returns the manufacturer’s label for that code, which may differ from the name in the listing.

Where to Find the VIN on a Hyundai

Hyundai repeats the VIN in several places. Any one location can be damaged or replaced, so compare at least two. Check two locations on the vehicle and compare both numbers with the title. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office. Keep the title, the registration and the photo ID together for the visit. A second check at the counter saves a return trip when.

• Windshield: look at the lower driver-side corner from outside the car. The plate is visible through the glass.
• Driver door jamb: open the front door and read the certification label on the B-pillar. It shows the VIN, build date, and tire information.
• Firewall: open the hood and check the panel at the back of the engine bay. A stamped or riveted plate carries the number on many models.
• Engine block: a partial VIN or engine code is stamped on the block, which helps confirm that the engine matches the chassis.
• Floor pan: some models carry a stamped number under the front passenger seat or beneath the carpet.
• Rear hatch sill: on SUVs, lift the cargo floor and check the sill or the spare tire well for a sticker.

A missing or painted-over door label is a warning sign. So is a dashboard VIN that does not match the windshield plate. Take photos of each location before you hand over payment, and compare the characters one by one rather than trusting the first and last few.

How to Decode a Hyundai VIN Free

The vinnumber.us VIN decoder accepts a 17-character Hyundai VIN and returns the NHTSA vPIC fields at no cost. You can query vPIC directly if you prefer the raw response. The stages are the same either way. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office. Keep the title, the registration and the photo ID.

• Copy the VIN from the windshield or door jamb. Remove spaces and dashes.
• Confirm that the string has 17 characters and no I, O, or Q.
• Enter the VIN in the decoder and submit it.
• Read the returned make, model, year, body class, engine, and plant.
• Compare those fields with the listing, title, and insurance card.
• Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup for open campaigns.

A free decode gives you the factory configuration. It does not give you a lien check, a title brand, or a mileage history. Those records come from state agencies and commercial history providers. Use the free decode first, then spend money on the checks that matter for the specific car.

Hyundai Recalls

Recalls are matched to a VIN range, not to a model name. A 2021 Tucson and a 2022 Tucson can carry the same badge and fall under different campaigns. The free search at NHTSA Recalls accepts a full VIN and returns the campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle. You can search by year, make, and model if you do not have the VIN yet. Hyundai has issued campaigns for airbag inflators, fuel system parts, electrical components, engine assemblies, and software updates over the years.

What a VIN Does Not Show

A VIN does not report accidents, frame damage, flood damage, odometer tampering, lien status, or the number of previous owners. It does not prove that the car is safe to drive or that the seller holds clear title. Those facts live in insurance claims, state title systems, inspection reports, and lien filings. A decoder that promises them is pulling from a commercial database or making assumptions. The VIN does not list every option in plain language. It returns codes, and the codes map to configurations that can change within a model year.

Hyundai VIN FAQ

These are the questions drivers ask most about Hyundai VIN Decoder, with answers drawn from the official sources used on this page. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state. Check the source again before a purchase or a trip to the office. Keep the title, the registration and the photo ID together for the visit. A second check at the counter saves a return trip.

Where Is the VIN on a Hyundai?

The windshield’s lower driver-side corner is the fastest spot. The driver door jamb, firewall, engine block, and floor pan carry the same number. Check two locations before you trust a listing, since a replaced door or dashboard can carry a different label. The title should match both. A partial VIN on the engine block confirms the chassis. The firewall plate is the easiest underhood check. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

What Does a Hyundai VIN Starting with KM Mean?

KM identifies Hyundai Motor Co. in South Korea. KMH, KPH, and KMT cover passenger cars, KMF and KME cover trucks, and KM8 and KMU cover multipurpose vehicles. The car was built in South Korea. A 5N prefix points to U.S. production, often in Alabama. A 7YA prefix marks the Metaplant America factory in the United States. The tenth character carries the year. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

Can I Decode a Hyundai VIN for Free?

Yes. The vinnumber.us decoder and the NHTSA vPIC site both return the basic factory fields at no charge. Neither requires an account or a payment method. Enter all 17 characters to see make, model, year, body class, engine, and plant data. The response takes a few seconds. The tool does not store the VIN. A paid history report is separate. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. The details below apply to vehicles titled in the state.

Does the VIN Show Whether a Hyundai Has All-wheel Drive?

Often. The decoded drive type field returns front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive for many model years. Older or incomplete records may leave the field blank, so compare the decode with the badge and the undercarriage before you rely on it. The window sticker gives a third check. A seller’s description is not proof. That matters on a used Tucson or Santa Fe. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

What Does the Tenth Character Mean on a Hyundai?

It is the model year. K is 2019, L is 2020, M is 2021, N is 2022, P is 2023, R is 2024, S is 2025, and T is 2026. The sequence skips I, O, Q, U, Z, and 0, and it repeats every 30 years, so confirm older cars with the body style and the door jamb build date. Official sources: Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file. Confirm the current rule with the official state page before you file.

• https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
• https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls