- What you'll get from Honda Civic VIN check?
- Honda Civic Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Honda Civic VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Honda Civic
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Honda Civic VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Honda Civic VIN.
- 10th Character in the Honda Civic VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Honda Civic VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Honda Civic Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Honda Civic
- How to find a Honda Civic's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Honda Civic
What you’ll get from Honda Civic VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the specific model year of the vehicle, such as the 2021 Civic, offering insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Engine Specifications: Engine characteristics like type (Gasoline), configuration (In-Line), displacement (1.5L), and horsepower (180 hp) can typically be identified through the VIN, providing valuable details about the vehicle’s performance and power.
- Body Class and Dimensions: The VIN can help ascertain the vehicle’s body class, for instance, Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback, along with specific dimensions like wheelbase and wheel sizes, giving detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Safety Features: Key safety technologies such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and Curtain Air Bags available in both 1st and 2nd rows are usually encoded within the VIN, offering valuable information about the vehicle’s safety capabilities.
- Fuel Type and Efficiency: The VIN may provide details about the primary fuel type, in this case, Gasoline, along with the engine’s fuel injection type, offering insights into the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
- Manufacturing Information: The VIN can divulge manufacturing details such as the plant country (United Kingdom), city (Swindon), and other specifics like the steering location’s orientation (Left-Hand Drive), giving insights into the vehicle’s origin and manufacturing specifics.
- Transmission and Drive Type: Information on the vehicle’s transmission style (Manual/Standard) and drive type (4x2) are typically decipherable from a VIN, offering insights into the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
Honda Civic Vehicle History Risk Factors
Honda has one of the strongest reliability reputations in the used car market, but that reputation can mask specific model-year problems that show up disproportionately in vehicle history reports. A Bumper VIN check on a used Honda is particularly valuable for catching three recurring patterns.
Transmission issues on 2015–2017 CR-Vs and 2016–2017 HR-Vs. Honda’s CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in these years generated an elevated number of NHTSA complaints and TSBs related to shuddering, hesitation, and premature failure. Look specifically for service records that reference transmission flushes or replacements — a clean-looking CR-V can have a transmission already on borrowed time.
Airbag recall compliance. Honda vehicles were among the most affected by the Takata airbag inflator recall — one of the largest automotive recalls in U.S. history. While most inflators have been replaced, a Bumper report will show you exactly which recalls are open on the specific VIN you’re checking, and whether the prior owner ever had the work done.
Flood and water damage on Civics and Accords. Honda sedans, particularly Civics from 2012–2015, appear frequently in flood damage reports from hurricane-affected regions. Water intrusion causes long-term electrical issues that don’t always show up immediately. If a VIN shows a registration history in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, or New Jersey, a flood damage check is worth running.
Odometer rollback on high-demand models. Honda Accords and CR-Vs rank consistently among the most stolen and most resold used vehicles in the U.S., which also makes them disproportionately common in odometer fraud cases. Verify reported mileage against service record intervals.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Honda Civic VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Honda Civic VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes uniquely identify the manufacturer of a vehicle by assigning a specific code sequence to every manufacturer. For the Honda Civic, these codes vary based on manufacturing locations and years, indicating a global production footprint. The WMI JHM signifies Civics made by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan, whereas 1HG and 19X point to American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in Torrance, California, USA. Meanwhile, 2HG represents Honda Civics built by Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. in Alliston, Ontario, Canada, and SHH is used for cars manufactured by Honda of the U.K. Mfg., Ltd. in Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. These codes, encoded within the VIN of each vehicle, provide insights into the geographical diversity of Honda Civic production.
List of WMI Codes for a Honda Civic
WMI: JHM
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1983, 1985-2012, 2018-2019, 2022-2023
- Example VIN: JHMST3431BS031303
- Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Tokyo
- State or Province: Musashi
- Country: Japan
WMI: 1HG
- Model Years Covered: 1987-2009
- Example VIN: 1HGEC4637HA041917
- Manufacturer Name: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Torrance
- State or Province: California
- Country: United States
WMI: 2HG
- Model Years Covered: 1988-2024
- Example VIN: 2HGED6454JH500146
- Manufacturer Name: Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Alliston
- State or Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada
WMI: SHH
- Model Years Covered: 2002-2005, 2017-2021
- Example VIN: SHHEP33502U300649
- Manufacturer Name: Honda of the U.K. Mfg., Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Swindon
- State or Province: Wiltshire
- Country: United Kingdom
WMI: 19X
- Model Years Covered: 2009-2024
- Example VIN: 19XFA16609E003798
- Manufacturer Name: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Torrance
- State or Province: California
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Honda Civic VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Honda’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes trim level, engine type, body style, and restraint system in a way that’s relatively consistent across model years but uses alphanumeric combinations that aren’t intuitive without a reference. For the CR-V, for example, codes beginning with “RE” indicate the third-generation platform, while “RM” and “RW” codes correspond to later generations with different powertrain configurations. The engine character within the VDS will distinguish between Honda’s 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder, the 2.0L naturally aspirated, and hybrid variants — all of which affect insurance costs, parts availability, and maintenance schedules differently. If you’re comparing two Honda VINs that appear identical by year and trim, the VDS characters are where meaningful differences often hide.
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 Honda Civic 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 Honda Civic VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 2024 Honda Civic |
| P | 2023 Honda Civic |
| N | 2022 Honda Civic |
| M | 2021 Honda Civic |
| L | 2020 Honda Civic |
| K | 2019 Honda Civic |
| J | 2018 Honda Civic |
| H | 2017 Honda Civic |
| G | 2016 Honda Civic |
| F | 2015 Honda Civic |
| E | 2014 Honda Civic |
| D | 2013 Honda Civic |
| C | 2012 Honda Civic |
| B | 2011 Honda Civic |
| A | 2010 Honda Civic |
| 9 | 2009 Honda Civic |
| 8 | 2008 Honda Civic |
| 7 | 2007 Honda Civic |
| 6 | 2006 Honda Civic |
| 5 | 2005 Honda Civic |
| 4 | 2004 Honda Civic |
| 3 | 2003 Honda Civic |
| 2 | 2002 Honda Civic |
| 1 | 2001 Honda Civic |
| Y | 2000 Honda Civic |
| X | 1999 Honda Civic |
| W | 1998 Honda Civic |
| V | 1997 Honda Civic |
| T | 1996 Honda Civic |
| S | 1995 Honda Civic |
| R | 1994 Honda Civic |
| P | 1993 Honda Civic |
| N | 1992 Honda Civic |
| M | 1991 Honda Civic |
| L | 1990 Honda Civic |
| K | 1989 Honda Civic |
| J | 1988 Honda Civic |
| H | 1987 Honda Civic |
| G | 1986 Honda Civic |
| F | 1985 Honda Civic |
| D | 1983 Honda Civic |
| C | 1982 Honda Civic |
| B | 1981 Honda Civic |
11th Character in the Honda Civic VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Honda Civic Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Maryville | Ohio | United States | 1HGEC4637HA041917 | |
| B | Lincoln | Alabama | United States | 2HGFC1F32LBC30686 | |
| C | Saitama/Sayama | Japan | JHMAR652XGC002143 | ||
| E | Greensburg | Indiana | United States | 19XFA16609E003798 | |
| G | El Salto | Jalisco | Mexico | 2HGFG12619G115655 | |
| H | Ontario | Canada | 2HGED6454JH500146 | ||
| L | East Liberty | Ohio | United States | 1HGED3648LL013220 | |
| S | Suzuka | Mie | Japan | JHMST3431BS031303 | |
| U | Swindon | Wiltshire | United Kingdom | SHHEP33502U300649 | |
| X | Yorii | Saitama | Japan | JHMFC1F30JX000077 | |
| Y | Marysville | Ohio | United States | Pmc | SHHFK7H58HY253228 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Honda Civic
The final 6 characters in a Honda Civic’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 Honda Civic’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Honda Civic is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Honda Civic - the VIN is typically located there and visible through the windshield.
- Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Honda Civic; the VIN may be found on a label or sticker where the door latches.
- Examine the engine block of the Honda Civic, as the VIN is often stamped onto the engine itself.
- Review your Honda Civic’s insurance card or insurance policy documents; the VIN is usually listed in these documents.
- Check the rear wheel well of your Honda Civic; sometimes the VIN can be found stamped above the tire.
Don’t have your Honda Civic’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Honda Civic
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | Standard |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Standard |
| Base Price ($) | 28600 |
| Body Class | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Cooling Type | Water |
| Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) | Standard |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 1500.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 91.53561614209 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.5 |
| Doors | 5 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 180 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | Honda |
| Engine Model | L15BA |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Engine Stroke Cycles | 4 |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Standard |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Headlamp Light Source | LED |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Lane Centering Assistance | Standard |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Standard |
| Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) | Standard |
| Model | Civic |
| Model Year | 2021 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 2 |
| Number of Seats | 5 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Other Engine Info | Direct Fuel Injection |
| Other Restraint System Info | Seat Belt: Front & Rear / Rear: Side Curtain Air Bag (Outer positions) / Seat Belt (Center position) |
| Plant City | Swindon |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United Kingdom |
| Plant State | Wiltshire |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Indirect |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Speeds | 6 |
| Transmission Style | Manual/Standard |
| Trim | SPORT TOURING |
| Turbo | Yes |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | SHHFK7G9*MU |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 106.30 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 18 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 18 |
| Sample VIN | SHHFK7G90MU203560 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Honda Civic for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Honda Civic?
On most Honda 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 Honda Civic's history for free?
Enter the Honda Civic’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 Honda Civic VIN numbers start with?
Honda Civic VIN's start with JHM for vehicles manufactured by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Japan, 1HG and 19X for vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in United States, 2HG for vehicles manufactured by Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. in Canada, SHH for vehicles manufactured by Honda of the U.K. Mfg., Ltd. in United Kingdom. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Honda Civic.
Decode a Honda VIN
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