How to decode a 2005 Buick Century VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2005 Buick Century VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter or digit code used globally to identify the maker of a vehicle, providing insight into the vehicle’s manufacturing location, type, and brand. For the 2005 Buick Century, the WMI “2G4” specifies that the vehicle was produced by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This identifier is part of the vehicle identification number (VIN), allowing for the tracking and registration of the vehicle. The WMI is crucial for various stakeholders, including manufacturers, authorities, and consumers, offering a standardized method to recognize a vehicle’s origin and manufacturer. For this specific Buick model, “2G4” confirms it as a passenger car crafted under the General Motors umbrella, echoing its American manufacturing heritage.

List of WMI Codes for a 2005 Buick Century

WMI: 2G4

Model Years Covered: 1997-2005
Example VIN: 2G4WS55J051107737
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 2005 Buick Century 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 2005 Buick Century:

Known VDS for a 2005 Buick Century
WS55J	WS52J

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 2005 Buick Century 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 2005 Buick Century VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
5	2005

11th Character in the 2005 Buick Century VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2005 Buick Century Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
1	Oshawa #2	Ontario	Canada		2G4WS55J051107737

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2005 Buick Century

The final 6 characters in a 2005 Buick Century’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Buick Century’s VIN below:

How to find a 2005 Buick Century’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2005 Buick Century is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2005 Buick Century, as the VIN is usually visible through the windshield on a small metal or plastic placard.
Look at the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on the driver’s side of your Buick Century. The VIN can often be found here on a sticker or plate.
Open the hood of the Buick Century and inspect the front of the engine block; the VIN might be stamped onto the engine itself.
Check inside the driver’s side wheel well, especially easy to view when the front wheel is turned outward.
Look at the rear wheel well directly above the tire; in some models, the VIN can be found in this location.
Inspect the trunk area under the spare tire, as VIN stickers are sometimes placed there.

What info can a 2005 Buick Century VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as the year 2005, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Size: The VIN may indicate that it is a Sedan/Saloon, providing insights into the vehicle’s size and configuration.
Engine Type: Information about the engine being V-shaped with a 3.1-liter displacement and six cylinders is encoded within the VIN, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s powerplant capabilities.
Safety Features: The VIN may indicate the presence of front airbags for both the driver and passenger, as well as a side airbag for the driver seat only, highlighting key safety features of the vehicle.
Fuel System: The VIN may specify the type of fuel system the vehicle uses, such as Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI), indicating a modern and potentially efficient fuel delivery mechanism.
Plant Information: Details regarding the manufacturing location, including the plant city (Oshawa #2) and country (Canada), can be discerned, offering context about where the vehicle was produced.
Vehicle Type and Specifications: Basic model information, including the make (Buick Century), series (Custom), and specific attributes like the number of doors (4) and windows (4), is typically encoded within the VIN, allowing for a comprehensive overview of the vehicle’s specifications.

Don’t have your 2005 Buick Century’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2005 Buick Century

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	3100.0
Displacement (CI)	189.17360669367
Displacement (L)	3.1
Doors	4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Model	LG8
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI)
Model	Century
Model Year	2005
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Buick
Plant City	Oshawa #2
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Canada
Plant State	Ontario
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Custom
Side Air Bag Locations	Driver Seat Only
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Indirect
Vehicle Descriptor	2G4WS55J*51
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	2G4WS55J051107737