How to decode a 2020 Kia Optima VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2020 Kia Optima VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique three-letter codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer globally. These codes are the initial characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which helps in identifying the manufacturer, vehicle type, and country of assembly. For the 2020 Kia Optima, two WMIs are pertinent: ‘5XX’ for models assembled by Kia Georgia, Inc. in West Point, Georgia, United States, and ‘KNA’ for those made by Kia Corporation in Seoul, Seocho-Gu, South Korea. These WMIs indicate that the 2020 Kia Optima was manufactured in two different countries, showcasing Kia’s global manufacturing footprint. Through these codes, the specific origins and manufacturing details of any 2020 Kia Optima can be accurately determined.

List of WMI Codes for a 2020 Kia Optima

WMI: 5XX

Model Years Covered: 2012-2020
Example VIN: 5XXGU4C19LG423094
Manufacturer Name: Kia Georgia, Inc.
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: West Point
State or Province: Georgia
Country: United States WMI: KNA
Model Years Covered: 2001-2020
Example VIN: KNAGU4LE0L5037247
Manufacturer Name: Kia Corporation
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Seoul
State or Province: Seocho-Gu
Country: South Korea

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2020 Kia Optima VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 2020 Kia Optima:

Known VDS for a 2020 Kia Optima
GU4C1	GW4L2	GT4L3	GU4L3	GU4LE	GT4C3	GU4L1	GV4LD

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 2020 Kia Optima VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 2020 Kia Optima VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
L	2020

11th Character in the 2020 Kia Optima VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2020 Kia Optima Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
5	Hwasung		South Korea		KNAGU4LE0L5037247
G		Georgia	United States		5XXGU4C19LG423094

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2020 Kia Optima

The final 6 characters in a 2020 Kia Optima’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Kia Optima’s VIN below:

How to find a 2020 Kia Optima’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2020 Kia Optima is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Kia Optima. Typically, the VIN can be seen through the windshield on the lower corner where the dashboard meets the glass.
Examine the door pillar on the driver’s side door jamb of your 2020 Kia Optima. The VIN can usually be found on a label or sticker when you open the door.
Check under the hood. Your Kia Optima may have the VIN inscribed on the engine block or on a metal plate attached to the chassis.
Look in the trunk area. It’s possible to find the VIN near where the spare tire is stored or on the trunk’s lid hinge.
Review your vehicle’s documentation. The VIN for your Kia Optima will be listed on the title, registration, and insurance documents.
Inspect the rear wheel well. Peer through the rear tire spokes of your Kia Optima. You may find a VIN sticker located above the tire on the well.

What info can a 2020 Kia Optima VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2020, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN may indicate that the vehicle is a Sedan/Saloon with a specific number of doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Drive Type: The VIN can identify the drive type, which in this case, might suggest a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), possibly helping in understanding the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
Electric Vehicle Specifications: For hybrid and electric vehicles, the VIN details may include electrification level, battery type, such as Lithium-Ion, and other battery-related information, possibly reflecting on the vehicle’s environmental footprint and performance characteristics.
Technology and Comfort: The VIN information suggests that the vehicle may come standard with features like a backup camera, keyless ignition, and automatic pedestrian alerting sound, possibly highlighting the vehicle’s emphasis on convenience and driver assistance technologies.
Safety Features: The VIN code indicates that the vehicle is equipped with advanced safety technologies, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, and forward collision warning, suggesting a vehicle equipped with modern safety measures.
Manufacturing Details: Information regarding the vehicle’s assembly location, including the plant city and country (Hwasung, South Korea), is available, potentially providing context on the manufacturing origin and potentially the build quality.

Don’t have your 2020 Kia Optima’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2020 Kia Optima

Vehicle Spec	Value
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)	Standard
Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB)	Standard
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)	Standard
Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs	Standard
Automatic Pedestrian Alerting Sound (for Hybrid and EV only)	Standard
Axles	2
Backup Camera	Standard
Base Price ($)	29310
Battery Type	Lithium-Ion/Li-Ion
Battery Voltage (Volts) From	270
Blind Spot Warning (BSW)	Standard
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Crash Imminent Braking (CIB)	Standard
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Daytime Running Light (DRL)	Standard
Displacement (CC)	2000
Displacement (CI)	122.0474881894
Displacement (L)	2
Doors	4
Drive Type	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Dynamic Brake Support (DBS)	Standard
Electrification Level	HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) - Level Unknown
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	Standard
Engine Brake (hp) From	154
Engine Manufacturer	KMC
Engine Model	GDI NU
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)	Standard
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Fuel Type - Secondary	Electric
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Headlamp Light Source	LED
Keyless Ignition	Standard
Knee Air Bag Locations	Driver Seat Only
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)	Standard
Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA)	Standard
Model	Optima
Model Year	2020
Number of Seat Rows	2
Number of Seats	5
Number of Wheels	4
Other Battery Info	6.5Ah,Motor : [3-phase AC]: 38 kW
Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB)	Standard
Plant City	Hwasung
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	South Korea
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching	Standard
Series	HEV EX
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Steering Location	Left-Hand Drive (LHD)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Traction Control	Standard
Transmission Speeds	6
Transmission Style	Automatic
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KNAGU4LE*L5
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Wheel Base (inches) From	110.4
Wheel Size Front (inches)	17
Wheel Size Rear (inches)	17
Sample_VIN	KNAGU4LE0L5037247