How to decode a 2020 Buick Encore VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2020 Buick Encore VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that is assigned to every vehicle manufacturer around the globe, acting as the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This code not only reveals the manufacturer’s identity but also provides specific information, such as the vehicle type and the manufacturing facility. For example, the 2020 Buick Encore, produced by General Motors LLC in Warren, Michigan, United States, is assigned the WMI “KL4”, indicating it is a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle manufactured in the USA. This identifier is crucial for vehicle registration, identification, and tracking purposes. Understanding a vehicle’s WMI is essential for automotive professionals, enthusiasts, and consumers alike, offering insight into the vehicle’s origin and basic characteristics.

List of WMI Codes for a 2020 Buick Encore

WMI: KL4

Model Years Covered: 2013-2022
Example VIN: KL4CJ2SB0LB000863
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 2020 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 2020 Buick Encore:

Known VDS for a 2020 Buick Encore
CJ2SB	CJ1SB	CJCSB	CJASB	CJGSB	CJ3SB	CJESB

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 2020 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 2020 Buick Encore VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
L	2020

11th Character in the 2020 Buick Encore VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2020 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	KL4CJ2SB0LB000863

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2020 Buick Encore

The final 6 characters in a 2020 Buick Encore’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Buick Encore’s VIN below:

How to find a 2020 Buick Encore’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2020 Buick Encore is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2020 Buick Encore. This is typically visible through the windshield.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb for a sticker that would contain the VIN for your Buick Encore.
Inspect the engine block, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto a part of the engine in your 2020 Buick Encore.
Look in the rear wheel well above the tire. With the car safely elevated, you might find the VIN located there on your Encore.
Check the vehicle’s title documents or insurance papers, where the VIN of your Buick Encore should be listed.
If your 2020 Buick Encore has a spare tire, it might be worth checking the area where the spare tire is stored for a VIN sticker.

What info can a 2020 Buick Encore VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2020, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Drive Type: The VIN provides insight into the vehicle’s body class, identifying it as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) as its drive type, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and handling characteristics.
Engine Specifications: Details such as the engine’s displacement, which in this case is 1.4 liters, its manufacturer (GME), and additional specifics like the engine model being LUV with features including Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI) and compatibility with E85 fuel, are encoded within the VIN, shedding light on the vehicle’s power and fuel options.
Safety Features: A range of safety features can be confirmed through the VIN, including standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Backup Camera, Curtain Air Bags available in all rows, as well as other advanced optional features such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW), contributing to the vehicle’s safety profile.
Fuel Type and Efficiency: The primary fuel type, which is Gasoline for the aforementioned model, along with details regarding the vehicle’s efficiency and fuel delivery system, are aspects that can typically be extracted from a comprehensive VIN decode, providing insights into the vehicle’s fuel economy.
Manufacturing Details: Insight into the vehicle’s place of assembly, evident from details naming Bupyeong in South Korea as the plant city and GM Korea as the plant company name, showcases the global nature of automobile manufacturing, offering details about the vehicle’s production origins.
Advanced Technology Features: The presence of technically advanced features like Keyless Ignition, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) type are also discernible, highlighting the vehicle’s modern features and technology.

Don’t have your 2020 Buick Encore’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2020 Buick Encore

Vehicle Spec	Value
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)	Standard
Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs	Standard
Axles	2
Backup Camera	Standard
Base Price ($)	24195.00
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	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Dynamic Brake Support (DBS)	Standard
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	Standard
Engine Manufacturer	GME
Engine Model	LUV: MFI, Variable Valve Timing, ALUM, E85 MAX
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)	Optional
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Headlamp Light Source	LED
Keyless Ignition	Standard
Knee Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)	Optional
Model	Encore
Model Year	2020
Number of Seat Rows	2
Number of Seats	5
Number of Wheels	4
Parking Assist	Optional
Plant City	Bupyeong
Plant Company Name	GM Korea
Plant Country	South Korea
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching	Standard
Series	Essence
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	6
Transmission Style	Automatic
Turbo	Yes
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KL4CJCSB*LB
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Wheel Base (inches) From	100.60
Wheel Size Front (inches)	18
Wheel Size Rear (inches)	18
Sample_VIN	KL4CJCSB0LB028927