How to decode a Buick Encore VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Buick Encore VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier, or WMI, is an integral part of a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and comprises the first three characters of the VIN. These characters specifically identify the manufacturer of the vehicle and sometimes its country and vehicle type. For the Buick Encore, the WMI is KL4 which indicates that the vehicle was produced by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically designed as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV). Another WMI used for the Buick Encore is LRB, which also signifies that the vehicle is a product of General Motors, with the same designation regarding its type and purpose. The WMI is a globally recognized standard that ensures each vehicle has a unique identifier and can be reliably traced back to its manufacturer.

List of WMI Codes for a Buick Encore

WMI: KL4

Model Years Covered: 2013-2022
Example VIN: KL4CJCSB0DB019579
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

WMI: LRB

Model Years Covered: 2019
Example VIN: LRBCJASB1KY003717
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Buick Encore 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 Encore:

Known VDS for a Buick Encore
CJCSB	CJDSB	CJFSB	CJGSB	CJBSB	CJASB	CJHSB	CJESB	CJ2SM	CJFSM
CJHSM	CJ1SM	CJDSM	CJGSM	CJ1SB	CJBSM	CJ3SB	CJ2SB	CJCSM	CJESM
CJASM

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 Encore 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 Encore VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
N	2022 Buick Encore
M	2021 Buick Encore
L	2020 Buick Encore
K	2019 Buick Encore
J	2018 Buick Encore
H	2017 Buick Encore
G	2016 Buick Encore
F	2015 Buick Encore
E	2014 Buick Encore
D	2013 Buick Encore

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

Known Buick Encore Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
B	Bupyeong		South Korea	Gm Korea	KL4CJCSB0DB019579
Y	Yantai	Shandong	China	Dong Yue South	LRBCJASB1KY003717

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Buick Encore

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

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How to find a Buick Encore’s VIN?

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

Look at the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your Buick Encore, where the VIN can commonly be found on a small metal plate visible through the glass.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb area on your Buick Encore, as there is often a sticker or plate with the VIN where the door latches.
Check the Buick Encore’s vehicle registration documents or insurance papers, where the VIN is typically listed.
Inspect the engine block of your Buick Encore, as the VIN is often stamped onto the engine itself.
Review the Buick Encore’s owner’s manual or service book, as the VIN is sometimes recorded in these documents.
Examine the rear wheel well above the tire on the driver’s side, because sometimes the VIN is placed in this less common location on your Buick Encore.
Look beneath the spare tire in the trunk or cargo area of your Buick Encore, as manufacturers sometimes place the VIN in this area.

What info can a Buick Encore VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2022, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
Body Class: The VIN can provide information about the body class of the Buick Encore, indicating that it is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Number of Seats: The VIN can indicate the number of seats in the Buick Encore, which is 5, offering insights into the passenger capacity of the vehicle.
Transmission Style: The VIN can reveal the transmission style, indicating whether it is automatic or manual, providing insights into the driving experience of the vehicle.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a Buick Encore

Vehicle Spec	Value
Active Safety System Note	Forward Collision Alert: Standard; Front and Rear Collision Alert: Standard
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)	Standard
Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs	Standard
Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) / Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN)	Standard
Axles	2
Backup Camera	Standard
Base Price ($)	30600
Blind Spot Warning (BSW)	Standard
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Brake System Type	Hydraulic
Curtain Air Bag Locations	All Rows
Daytime Running Light (DRL)	Standard
Displacement (CC)	1400.0
Displacement (CI)	85.43324173262
Displacement (L)	1.4
Doors	4
Drive Type	AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Dynamic Brake Support (DBS)	Standard
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	Standard
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	GMNA
Engine Model	LE2 - Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing, ALUM, GEN 1
Engine Number of Cylinders	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 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Keyless Ignition	Standard
Knee Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)	Standard
Model	Encore
Model Year	2018
Number of Seat Rows	2
Number of Seats	5
Number of Wheels	4
Plant City	Bupyeong
Plant Company Name	GM Korea
Plant Country	South Korea
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching	Standard
Series	Premium
Side Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Steering Location	Left-Hand Drive (LHD)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Top Speed (MPH)	120
Traction Control	Standard
Transmission Speeds	6
Transmission Style	Automatic
Turbo	Yes
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KL4CJHSM*JB
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Wheel Base (inches) From	100.6
Wheel Size Front (inches)	18
Wheel Size Rear (inches)	18
Sample_VIN	KL4CJHSM0JB549271