How to decode a 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer, the country of production, vehicle type, and other characteristics. For instance, Chevrolet Monte-Carlo models produced in 1998 have a WMI indicating they were manufactured by General Motors LLC, a detail signaling General Motors as the parent company. These vehicles are designated as passenger cars, a classification that is part of the information encoded in the VIN. The specific WMI for these models points to Warren, Michigan, United States, as the location of manufacturing. This system of identification is crucial for tracking, regulation, and recall purposes, ensuring each vehicle is uniquely identified by its VIN.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

WMI: 2G1

Model Years Covered: 1981, 1995-2007
Example VIN: 2G1WW12M0W9241577
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 Monte Carlo 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 Monte Carlo:

Known VDS for a 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
WW12M	WX12K

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 Monte Carlo 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 Monte Carlo VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

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

Known 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
9	Oshawa #1	Ontario	Canada	Na-Gm Corp	2G1WW12M0W9241577

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

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

Check your Chevrolet Monte Carlo’s VIN below:

How to find a 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo’s VIN?

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

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. It’s typically visible through the windshield.
Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door jamb. The VIN might be located on a sticker or plate where the door latches.
Examine the engine block for the VIN - on the 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, it might be stamped directly into the metal of the engine.
Check your vehicle’s title, registration, or insurance paperwork; the VIN for your Monte Carlo will be printed there.
Some cars have the VIN etched into the frame or chassis; look underneath the car for a small plaque or stamping.
If your Monte Carlo still has its owners manual or maintenance book, the VIN is often recorded in these documents.

What info can a 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, potentially indicating the year 1998 and providing insights into the age and market value of the vehicle.
Engine Details: The VIN may provide information about the engine, possibly specifying a 3.8-liter displacement and a V-shaped six-cylinder configuration, which could be indicative of the vehicle’s power and performance characteristics.
Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, such as a Coupe with 2 doors, offering a clear picture of the vehicle’s size and style.
Fuel Delivery System: It can describe the vehicle’s fuel delivery system as Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI), which may give clues about the efficiency and performance of the engine.
Safety Features: The presence of airbags in the 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) can be discerned from the VIN, pointing towards potential safety provisions in the vehicle.
Manufacturing Details: Information on the manufacturing, such as the Plant City of Oshawa #1 in Ontario, Canada, may offer insights into the vehicle’s origin and potentially its build quality.
Vehicle Specifics: The VIN decodes specific details such as the make being a Monte Carlo and the series SS, potentially helping identify the exact model and trim level.

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

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

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 Number of Cylinders	6
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	Monte Carlo
Model Year	1998
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Chev, Pont, Olds, Buick
Plant City	Oshawa #1
Plant Company Name	NA-GM Corp
Plant Country	Canada
Plant State	Ontario
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	SS
Vehicle Descriptor	2G1WX12K*W9
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	2G1WX12K0W9208154