- What you'll get from Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN check?
- Chevrolet Bolt EV Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Chevrolet Bolt EV
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN.
- 10th Character in the Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Chevrolet Bolt EV Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Chevrolet Bolt EV
- How to find a Chevrolet Bolt EV's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Chevrolet Bolt EV
What you’ll get from Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal that the vehicle is a 2020 model, offering insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Make: The VIN provides the specific make of the vehicle, which can help identify the manufacturer.
- Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN specifies the vehicle as a Passenger Car with a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback body class, providing valuable insights into the vehicle’s structure and design.
- Drive Type: The VIN indicates that the vehicle is Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), which can help in understanding the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
- Electrification Level: The VIN encodes the vehicle as a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), highlighting its energy source and eco-friendly nature.
- Safety Features: The VIN details reveal a range of safety features such as Standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), and Forward Collision Warning (FCW), which may enhance the safety of the vehicle.
- Engine and Fuel Type: The VIN specifies an electric engine with a brake horsepower starting from 200 hp, listing Electric as the primary fuel type.
- Air Bag Locations and Safety Systems: Key safety essentials such as Curtain Air Bags for all rows and Knee Air Bags for the 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) are standard, illustrating the vehicle’s commitment to occupant safety.
- Plant Information: The manufacturing details such as the Plant City being Lake Orion, Plant State Michigan, and the Plant Country United States, provide insight into the vehicle’s production origin.
Chevrolet Bolt EV Vehicle History Risk Factors
Chevrolet’s reliability is model-dependent — the Silverado and Suburban are among the most durable vehicles in their segments, while some car-based models have more checkered histories. A Bumper check on a used Chevrolet is particularly valuable for the following:
AFM/DoD lifter failures on 5.3L V8 engines (2007–2021 Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban). GM’s Active Fuel Management system, which deactivates cylinders at highway speeds, caused widespread lifter and camshaft failures in this engine generation. The repair cost ($2,000–$5,000) makes this one of the most expensive used-vehicle surprises in any segment. Service records showing lifter replacement or an AFM delete kit are significant items to verify before purchase.
Ignition switch recall (2005–2014 multiple models). GM’s ignition switch recall — one of the most significant safety-related recalls in automotive history — affected Malibus, Cobalts, and several other models. Affected switches could move out of the “run” position while driving, cutting power to safety systems including airbags. Verify recall compliance on any Chevrolet from this era.
Transmission shudder on 8-speed automatic (2015–2019 Silverado, Colorado). GM’s 8L90 and 8L45 eight-speed automatics generated extensive owner complaints and TSBs related to torque converter shudder, especially at low speeds. This is well-documented and frequently appears in service records.
Rust on older Silverado and Colorado frames. Like other full-size trucks, older Chevrolet pickups from rust-belt states can have significant frame deterioration. A registration and ownership history in the Bumper report is your first indicator — a truck that’s spent decades in Minnesota or Michigan is a different proposition than one from Arizona.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are a fundamental part of a vehicle’s identification number (VIN), uniquely identifying the manufacturer of the vehicle, its type, and the country of production. The Chevrolet Bolt EV, produced by General Motors LLC, is assigned the WMI 1G1, denoting its manufacture in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This prefix is crucial for automotive industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies, enabling them to efficiently identify and classify vehicles. The WMI not only reveals the vehicle’s manufacturer but also provides insight into the vehicle’s assembly location and its class as a passenger car. Understanding WMIs is essential for tasks ranging from vehicle registration to recall management, ensuring a standardized method of vehicle identification worldwide.
List of WMI Codes for a Chevrolet Bolt EV
WMI: 1G1
- Model Years Covered: 2017-2023
- Example VIN: 1G1FX6S00H4128404
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Chevrolet’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes body style, restraint system, engine type, and series level across its Silverado, Equinox, Malibu, and Tahoe lineups. On Silverados, the VDS is particularly useful for confirming cab style (regular, double, or crew cab), bed length, and engine variant — important because a 5.3L V8 Silverado and a 4.3L V6 from the same model year can look identical from the exterior. For the Equinox and Traverse, the VDS distinguishes between engine variants that differ significantly in fuel economy, towing capacity, and long-term reliability profiles. When comparing two Chevrolets with similar prices, always cross-reference VDS characters to confirm you’re comparing equivalent specifications.
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 Chevrolet Bolt EV 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 Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| P | 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV |
| N | 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV |
| M | 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV |
| L | 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV |
| K | 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV |
| J | 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV |
| H | 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV |
11th Character in the Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Chevrolet Bolt EV Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Lansing - Grand River | Michigan | United States | Gmna | 1G1FX6S00H4128404 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Chevrolet Bolt EV
The final 6 characters in a Chevrolet Bolt EV’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Chevrolet Bolt EV’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Chevrolet Bolt EV is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet Bolt EV. The VIN is typically displayed on a small plaque that can be viewed from outside the vehicle.
- Look inside the driver’s side door frame on your Chevrolet Bolt EV. The VIN is often found on a sticker or label where the door latches when closed.
- Explore the area around the steering column of your Chevrolet Bolt EV. The VIN may sometimes be located on a label or metal plate near the steering mechanism.
- Check the vehicle registration documents or insurance paperwork related to your Chevrolet Bolt EV. These documents usually contain the VIN.
Don’t have your Chevrolet Bolt EV’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Chevrolet Bolt EV
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) | Optional |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) / Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) | Standard |
| Automatic Pedestrian Alerting Sound (for Hybrid and EV only) | Standard |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Standard |
| Base Price ($) | 36620 |
| Blind Spot Warning (BSW) | Optional |
| Body Class | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) | Optional |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | All Rows |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | FWD/Front-Wheel Drive |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electrification Level | BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 200 |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Optional |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | 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) |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Optional |
| Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) | Optional |
| Model | Bolt EV |
| Model Year | 2020 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 2 |
| Number of Seats | 5 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) | Optional |
| Plant City | Lake Orion |
| Plant Company Name | GMNA |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Michigan |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | Optional |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Series | LT |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Speeds | 1 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1G1FW6S0*L4 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 102.40 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 17 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 17 |
| Windows | 4 |
| Sample VIN | 1G1FW6S00L4103448 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Chevrolet Bolt EV for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Chevrolet Bolt EV?
On most Chevrolet vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.
How do I check a Chevrolet Bolt EV's history for free?
Enter the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.
What do Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN numbers start with?
Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN's start with 1G1 for vehicles manufactured by General Motors LLC in United States. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
Decode a Chevrolet VIN
Look up a Chevrolet Bolt EV by license plate:
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