- What you'll get from Buick Electra VIN check?
- Characters 1-3 of a Buick Electra VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Buick Electra
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Buick Electra VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Buick Electra VIN.
- 10th Character in the Buick Electra VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Buick Electra VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Buick Electra Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Buick Electra
- How to find a Buick Electra's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Buick Electra
What you’ll get from Buick Electra VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the Buick Electra.
- Manufacturer Name: The VIN identifies the manufacturer of the Buick Electra as General Motors LLC, confirming its origin.
- Plant City: The VIN indicates the city where the Buick Electra was assembled, offering insight into its production location.
- Vehicle Type: The VIN specifies that the Buick Electra is classified as a passenger car, revealing its intended use.
- Fuel Type: The VIN indicates the primary fuel type for the Buick Electra, providing information on its fuel efficiency and compatibility.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Buick Electra VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Buick Electra VIN
The World Manufacturer Identifier, or WMI, is the initial sequence of three alphanumeric characters found in the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that uniquely identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle. For Buick Electra models, this portion of the VIN starts with 1G4, signifying that the vehicle was manufactured by General Motors LLC, which is the parent company of Buick. This identifier not only confirms that the vehicle is a part of the Buick family, but also pinpoints the brand under GM that produced the car. The WMI is crucial for obtaining vehicle information, including country of assembly, as it sets the stage for the rest of the VIN which contains more specific details about the car such as the model year, the plant where it was manufactured, and the vehicle’s unique serial number.
List of WMI Codes for a Buick Electra
WMI: 1G4
- Model Years Covered: 1982-1984, 1986-1990
- Example VIN: 1G4AW69Y8CH469370
- 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 Buick Electra 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 Buick Electra:
| Known VDS for a Buick Electra | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AW69Y | AX37Y | AV35Y | AX69Y | AU69Y | CW69B | CW513 | BV81Y | CW51C | CW54C |
| CX54C | CU54C | ||||||||
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 Buick Electra 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 Buick Electra VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| L | 1990 Buick Electra |
| K | 1989 Buick Electra |
| J | 1988 Buick Electra |
| H | 1987 Buick Electra |
| G | 1986 Buick Electra |
| E | 1984 Buick Electra |
| D | 1983 Buick Electra |
| C | 1982 Buick Electra |
11th Character in the Buick Electra VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Buick Electra Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wentzville | Missouri | United States | Wentzville Assembly | 1G4CW69B2G1452308 |
| A | Lakewood Heights | Georgia | United States | Lakewood Assembly | 1G4BV81Y7JA404952 |
| H | Flint | Michigan | United States | 1G4AW69Y8CH469370 | |
| X | Kansas City | Kansas | United States | Fairfax Assembly | 1G4AV35Y1DX475123 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Buick Electra
The final 6 characters in a Buick Electra’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 Buick Electra’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Buick Electra is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Buick Electra, where it meets the windshield. This is a common place to find the VIN displayed on a plate visible from outside the vehicle.
- Look at the driver’s side door frame on your Buick Electra. The VIN is frequently located here on a label or sticker where the door latches when closed.
- Check for a VIN plate under the hood of your Buick Electra. It may be mounted on the engine block or on other components like the firewall or the radiator support.
- Examine the vehicle registration documents or the insurance card of your Buick Electra, as the VIN is typically mentioned there.
- Review the title or loan papers for your Buick Electra, where the VIN is commonly listed.
- If your Buick Electra was manufactured after 1981, you could find the VIN etched on the vehicle’s frame, which may require you to look underneath the car.
- Consult the owner’s manual of your Buick Electra, as it may provide information on additional locations where the VIN can be found.
Don’t have your Buick Electra’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Buick Electra
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 3800.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 231.89022755998 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.8 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | BOCF |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Electra |
| Model Year | 1989 |
| Plant City | Wentzville |
| Plant Company Name | Wentzville assembly |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Missouri |
| Seat Belt Type | Automatic |
| Trim | Limited |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1G4CX54C*K1 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample VIN | 1G4CX54C3K1630436 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Buick Electra for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Buick Electra?
On most Buick 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 Buick Electra's history for free?
Enter the Buick Electra’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 Buick Electra VIN numbers start with?
Buick Electra VIN's start with 1G4 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 Buick Electra.
Decode a Buick VIN
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