How to decode a Buick Riviera VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Buick Riviera VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier, commonly known as the WMI, is a unique three-letter code that forms the beginning of every Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle, as well as the country and region of its production. For the Buick Riviera, the WMI is 1G4, indicating that General Motors LLC in the United States is the manufacturer. Specifically, this WMI tells us that the vehicle is a passenger car produced by GM’s Buick division. The presence of 1G4 at the start of the Riviera’s VIN assures you that your vehicle is genuine and provides a key reference for identifying the vehicle and accessing its history and specifications.

List of WMI Codes for a Buick Riviera

WMI: 1G4

Model Years Covered: 1981-1985, 1987, 1989-1993, 1995-1999
Example VIN: 1G4AZ57N0BE431643
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 Riviera 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 Riviera:

Known VDS for a Buick Riviera
AZ57N	AZ57Y	AZ574	AZ67Y	AY578	AY579	AZ674	EZ57Y	EZ679	EZ67Y
EY579	EZ113	EZ11C	EZ13C	EZ13L	GD121	GD221	GD22K

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 Riviera 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 Riviera VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
X	1999 Buick Riviera
W	1998 Buick Riviera
V	1997 Buick Riviera
T	1996 Buick Riviera
S	1995 Buick Riviera
P	1993 Buick Riviera
N	1992 Buick Riviera
M	1991 Buick Riviera
L	1990 Buick Riviera
K	1989 Buick Riviera
H	1987 Buick Riviera
F	1985 Buick Riviera
E	1984 Buick Riviera
D	1983 Buick Riviera
C	1982 Buick Riviera
B	1981 Buick Riviera

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

Known Buick Riviera Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
4	Orion	Michigan	United States	Na-Gm Corp	1G4GD1216S4700529
E	Linden	New Jersey	United States		1G4AZ57N0BE431643
U	Hamtramck	Michigan	United States	Na-Clcd	1G4EZ1138HU412838

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Buick Riviera

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

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How to find a Buick Riviera’s VIN?

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

Look at the driver’s side dashboard of your Buick Riviera, which typically can be seen by peering through the windshield.
Examine the driver’s side door post of your Buick Riviera; when you open the door, you might find the VIN on a sticker or a plate on the area where the door latches.
Check your Buick Riviera’s engine block; the VIN is often stamped onto a part of the engine.
Review your Buick Riviera’s vehicle registration documents or insurance papers, which always list the VIN along with other important details.
Inspect the rear wheel well above the tire; in some models, the VIN may be found in this location.
Look beneath the spare tire in the trunk area of your Buick Riviera; sometimes the VIN is placed there.
Examine the vehicle’s firewall within the engine bay; the VIN might be stamped onto a metal plate in this region.

What info can a Buick Riviera VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting it could be a 1999 Buick Riviera, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
Manufacturing Location: The VIN provides information about the manufacturing location of the Buick Riviera, including the plant city and state, giving a glimpse into where the vehicle was assembled.
Vehicle Type: The VIN indicates that the Buick Riviera is classified as a passenger car, offering insight into its intended use.
Body Class: The VIN specifies that the Buick Riviera is a coupe, giving details about its body style and design.
Engine Specifications: The VIN includes details about the engine of the Buick Riviera, such as the number of cylinders, displacement, and fuel injection type, providing some insights into its performance and powertrain characteristics.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a Buick Riviera

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Coupe
Displacement (CC)	3800.0
Displacement (CI)	231.89022755998
Displacement (L)	3.8
Doors	2
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	FLT
Engine Model	L67
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Model	Riviera
Model Year	1996
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Pont, Olds, Buick
Plant City	Orion
Plant Company Name	NA-GM Corp
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Michigan
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Vehicle Descriptor	1G4GD221*T4
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	1G4GD2210T4711842