Pontiac VIN decoder

What is a Pontiac VIN?

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-character combination that makes every vehicle unique. This number is necessary for vehicle registration, passing an MOT, or checking its history.

Pontiac started implementing identification numbers in the late 1960s, but these were 9-character codes unique to some General Motors (GM) cars. The current 17-character VIN format was standardized in 1981, forcing all car makers to use it and creating an easier way to identify vehicles regardless of the manufacturer.

The Pontiac brand was founded in 1926, but it became its own General Motors division in 1931. The carmaker peaked in the late 1960s with iconic models like GTO, Firebird, Grand Prix, and Star Chief. However, Pontiac sales started dropping rapidly in the 1990s, and because of such downfall, the last Pontiac was built in 2009.

Where to search for the VIN?

A vehicle’s VIN is located in multiple places to help ensure its legitimacy. However, there are specific common locations where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.

Here’s where you can find it in Pontiac cars:

• On the dashboard near the windshield
• On the inner side of the driver’s side doorjamb
• In the engine bay, near the firewall
• On the steering column

Remember that a VIN is essential in a car’s ownership, so it should be printed on a tamper-proof sticker or stamped into metal. Make sure the numbers in each location match and there are no signs of tampering.

What is Pontiac VIN decoder?

One of the most important things about VIN numbers is that they can provide essential information about the car’s history. Get the VIN number of your vehicle or a car you want to buy, use a VIN decoder to perform a VIN lookup, and learn more about the vehicle’s historical facts, including mileage rollbacks, damage records, and ownership changes.

Our Pontiac VIN decoder is very easy to use. All you have to do is enter a car’s VIN and get a vehicle history report, where you’ll find specifications, historical facts, and other information about the vehicle.

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

carVertical’s Pontiac VIN decoder collects data from governmental registries, vehicle inspection centers, law enforcement databases, dealerships, insurance companies, and numerous other trusted sources. Information in vehicle history reports is always up-to-date and legitimate, allowing you to easily evaluate a car or provide more information when selling it.

When there’s no data about a vehicle in databases, a history report can be scarce and provide little to no information. In that case, you’ll get your spent credits back automatically.

How to decode a VIN number - Pontiac VIN breakdown

Most 17-character VIN numbers are divided into four main sections: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), Security Check Digit, and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS).

Most characters in these sections hold particular vehicle-related information, such as model, body style, year of manufacture, etc. The only exception is the Check Digit section, which is a single number used for security reasons.

Different car makers typically choose different meanings for each letter and number.

You can technically decode an entire VIN manually if you know the meaning of each character, but it’s very inconvenient compared to the Pontiac VIN decoder. However, knowing the meaning of a few characters can help you reveal essential information about the car at a glance.

Let’s break down each section to reveal the most valuable data of any Pontiac VIN.

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The first three characters of a VIN number create a WMI section, which can reveal some key facts about the vehicle. In the case of most Pontiac cars, the WMI section indicates the car’s manufacturing country.

Here are some possible combinations:

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The second section (VDS) contains five characters (positions 4-8) and provides information about the car’s restraint type, model, body type, and engine.

For instance, the 5th character reveals information about the model, which can be useful when checking the legitimacy of a VIN. Here are some examples:

The 6th character reveals the body type, which can also ease the inspection when buying a used Pontiac. The few main body types together with respective VIN characters are:

Another character you’d want to check is the 8th one because it represents the original engine. This information can help you learn if the engine was replaced with a different one.

However, there are a bunch of different engine combinations, so you may need to know what you’re looking for. Some of the more popular engines are:

Security Check Digit

The 9th character in a VIN is a Security Check Digit, which helps verify that the VIN is valid. This digit varies in different VINs because it’s a result of the special U.S. Department of Transportation formula that uses all remaining VIN characters.

The Check Digit won’t be the same if one or more characters of the VIN are changed.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The last section has eight characters, but only two of them can be helpful when decoding the VIN manually.

The 10th character of VIN always reveals the model year, while the 11th represents the assembly plant ID.

Here’s what model years each character represents:

The 11th position of most Pontiac cars usually holds an assembly plant ID:

The last six characters in a VIN form a sequential production number.

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

The Pontiac VIN decoder is free if you want to reveal a car’s model, specs, and other basic information. However, if you want to learn about a car’s history, you’ll have to buy a full history report.

These reports aren’t free because we collect raw data from various reliable sources, process it, and provide it in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

List of Pontiac models

As Pontiac went out of business in 2010, no currently produced models exist. However, some of the most popular models were:

• Pontiac G3
• Pontiac G8
• Pontiac G5
• Pontiac G6
• Pontiac Torrent
• Pontiac Solstice
• Pontiac Vibe
• Pontiac Aztek
• Pontiac Montana
• Pontiac Sunfire
• Pontiac Trans Port
• Pontiac Fiero
• Pontiac Sunbird
• Pontiac Firebird/Trans Am
• Pontiac GTO
• Pontiac Bonneville

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