Buick VIN decoder

What is Buick VIN?

Due to regulatory changes in the early 1980s, manufacturers implemented a new technique to identify each manufactured vehicle. Since then, each Buick has received a metal plate with a distinctive 17-digit code called VIN, intended to serve as a unique identifier.

Although the length of every VIN is the same, each digit has a different meaning. A VIN contains information about the Buick's origin, specifications, and attributes and is used to record various events during the vehicle's lifespan.

Therefore, using a VIN decoder, you can unveil a detailed car history and learn about the number of owners, any accidents the vehicle may have been involved in, how the mileage changed over its lifetime, and more.

This type of information is essential for buyers of Buick cars since Buick is the oldest functioning American vehicle manufacturer. Established in Detroit, Buick made its name with cars like the extraordinary-looking Buick Riviera or monstrous Buick GSX with 7,4-liter V8.

Where to search for the VIN?

A vehicle’s VIN number is typically located in multiple areas, which can depend on the brand. However, there are specific common places where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.

Buick cars are no exception, and you’ll most likely find the Buick VIN in one of the locations shown above. You can start by checking the following:

• The dashboard above the steering wheel (also visible from outside the car)
• The inner side of the driver’s door

If you can’t find the VIN on the car, check its owner's manual or documents, as it’s a common practice to include it there, too.

What is Buick VIN decoder?

Every Buick’s VIN is used to record vehicle ownership-related information, such as title changes, recall details, accidents, and more. Therefore, performing a VIN number lookup is necessary if you want to access a complete vehicle history report, which will provide you with information that vehicle sellers usually never could.

All you need to do is enter the car’s VIN into the VIN decoder. Remember, if the seller hesitates to share the car's VIN, he’s probably trying to hide certain information from you.

How accurate is the information provided by the Buick VIN decoder?

The carVertical VIN decoder gathers information from diverse and reliable sources, including law enforcement, insurance companies, state registries, and other reputable data providers. Therefore, getting a vehicle history report is a great way to learn more about a car you want to buy (or increase transparency when selling), as it provides a detailed and up-to-date overview of its history.

How to decode a VIN number - Buick VIN breakdown

Every Buick VIN is composed of four sections: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), Security Check Digit, and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). Each section discloses fundamental information about the vehicle, providing an overview of the selected model.

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The World Manufacturer Identifier is a three-digit section representing key points about the vehicle's origin.

In the Buick VIN, the first letter indicates the manufacturing region, while the second and third letters are associated with the manufacturer and the make of the model. Typically, Buick VINs start with 1G4, 2G4 or 3G4.

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The Vehicle Descriptor Section is the second segment within the Buick VIN that provides specific details about a vehicle’s features and attributes.

For Buick cars produced from 1990 to the present day, such details as the model, body style, restraint codes, and engine types are described in the VDS section of the VIN (see the example below). However, Buick used a slightly different VIN coding system during the 1980s (from 1980 to 1989). For instance, the restraint system was represented by the fourth character, while the body type was revealed by the fifth.

Based on the current standard, here are some examples of Buick’s WMI section and its characters:

In Buick VINs, the 6th character indicates the body style of Buick passenger cars.

The 7th digit in the Buick VIN carries essential details about the safety restraint codes.

Buick vehicles utilized a variety of four, six, and eight-cylinder petrol engines. The 8th character in the VIN code specifically highlights the type of engine.

Security Check Digit

The 9th character in the Buick VIN is called a Security Check Digit. It doesn’t convey any vehicle-specific information. Instead, it helps to detect errors and safeguard against tampering within the VIN system.

The Security Check Digit is calculated using a dedicated algorithm known as the VIN formula. This formula uses the remaining characters of the VIN, assigning distinct weights to each of them. The Check Digit is derived based on the sum of these weighted values.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The remaining characters (10th-17th) of the Buick VIN make up the Vehicle Identifier Section. The meaning of each character can help you learn when and where a particular Buick vehicle was made.

The model year is encoded in the 10th digit of the VIN. Car manufacturers, including Buick, use the following system to encode it:

The manufacturing facility responsible for producing Buick cars is identified in the 11th character in the VIN. Depending on the model, specific Buicks were produced in Mexico, Korea, or even Germany. Nevertheless, the majority of Buicks are manufactured in either the United States or Canada.

Is a Buick VIN decoder available for a free VIN check?

Fundamental information about a vehicle, including such details as the model year, manufacturer, country of origin, and technical specifications, can be obtained using a free Buick VIN decoder.

However, the free version does not provide information about the Buick's history and condition, such as damage, mileage, and financial status. For this, you have to purchase a vehicle history report.

List of Buick models

• Buick Cascada
• Buick Century
• Buick Electra
• Buick Enclave
• Buick Encore
• Buick LaCrosse
• Buick LeSabre
• Buick Lucerne
• Buick Park Avenue
• Buick Reatta
• Buick Regal
• Buick Rendezvous
• Buick Riviera
• Buick Roadmaster
• Buick Skylark
• Buick Terraza

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