How to decode a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle, including details such as the country of assembly, manufacturer name, and vehicle type. For the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, the relevant WMIs are ‘1G1’, ‘3G1’, and ‘4G1’, indicating that these vehicles were manufactured by General Motors LLC in Warren, Michigan, United States. These codes are vital for accurately tracing a vehicle’s origin and determining specifics related to regulation compliance, safety standards, and compatibility of parts. The 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier’s association with these WMIs highlights its production by an established American automotive manufacturer. Understanding a vehicle’s WMI is essential for both regulatory purposes and consumer information.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier

WMI: 1G1

Model Years Covered: 1983-1989, 1991-2005
Example VIN: 1G1JC1241WM102354
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States WMI: 3G1
Model Years Covered: 1996-2004
Example VIN: 3G1JC5240WS860743
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States WMI: 4G1
Model Years Covered: 1996-2000
Example VIN: 4G1JF3246WB902693
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 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier 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 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier:

Known VDS for a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
JC124	JF52T	JC524	JF12T	JF324	JF524	JF32T

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 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier 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 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
7	Lordstown	Ohio	United States	Na-Gm Corp	1G1JF52T2W7128367
B	Lansing - Craft Center	Michigan	United States	Na-Gm Corp	4G1JF3246WB902693
M	Lansing - North Plant	Michigan	United States	Na-Gm Corp	1G1JC1241WM102354
S	Ramos Arizpe		Mexico		3G1JC5240WS860743

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Chevrolet Cavalier’s VIN below:

How to find a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet Cavalier, where it meets the windshield. This is a common area to find the VIN.
Examine the driver’s side door frame for a sticker or plate on the Chevrolet Cavalier when the door is open, specifically around the area where the door latches shut.
Check under the hood of the Chevrolet Cavalier; the VIN might be located on a sticker or plate on the firewall of the engine compartment.
Peek into the trunk area of your Cavalier, as the VIN could be stamped on the body of the car where the spare tire is usually stored.
Review your Chevrolet Cavalier’s title, registration, or insurance paperwork, as the VIN is typically listed on all official vehicle documents.

What info can a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN reveal?

Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting that it may be a 1998 Cavalier. This information indicates the age and brand of the vehicle.
Engine Specifications: The VIN may provide details such as an in-line engine configuration, 2200 CC (134.25223700841 CI) displacement, and engine manufacturer LAN, which could point towards the vehicle’s potential performance capabilities.
Fuel System: The VIN information suggests that it uses Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI), which might highlight the fuel delivery system adopted for efficiency and performance.
Safety Features: With the presence of front airbags for both the driver and passenger in the first row, it may indicate critical safety features included in the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN categorizes the vehicle as a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, providing insights into the vehicle’s design and capacity.
Manufacturing Information: The assembly location in Lordstown, Ohio, United States, by NA-GM Corp, possibly reveals the geographic origin and potential manufacturing company behind the vehicle.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: Classified as Class 1, with a GVWR of 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less), the VIN data indicates the vehicle’s weight category and potential regulations affecting it.

Don’t have your 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	2400.0
Displacement (CI)	146.45698582735
Displacement (L)	2.4
Doors	4
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	LAN
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Cavalier
Model Year	1998
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Chev, Pont, Olds, Buick, Toyota
Plant City	Lordstown
Plant Company Name	NA-GM Corp
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Ohio
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Cavalier Sedan
Vehicle Descriptor	1G1JF52T*W7
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	1G1JF52T2W7128367