Free Chevrolet P - Series VIN Decoder — P - Series VIN Lookup

What you'll get from Chevrolet P - Series VIN check?
Chevrolet P - Series Vehicle History Risk Factors
Characters 1-3 of a Chevrolet P - Series VIN
List of WMI Codes for a Chevrolet P - Series
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Chevrolet P - Series VIN
Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Chevrolet P - Series VIN.
10th Character in the Chevrolet P - Series VIN — Year Code
11th Character in the Chevrolet P - Series VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Chevrolet P - Series Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Chevrolet P - Series
How to find a Chevrolet P - Series's VIN?
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Chevrolet P - Series

What you’ll get from Chevrolet P - Series VIN check?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1991, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
Body Class: The vehicle is categorized as a Step Van / Walk-in Van, outlining its primary design and intended use.
Engine Details: The engine is noted to have a V-Shaped configuration with a displacement of 5.7L (5700 CC or 347.835 CI), manufactured by CPC, and runs on gasoline. It features an eight-cylinder design and employs a Throttle Body Fuel Injection system. Additionally, there’s a possibility of LPG conversion for the engine.
Drive Type and Brake System: The VIN suggests that it is equipped with a 4x2 drive type and a Hydraulic brake system, offering insights into its drive mechanism and braking capabilities.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, indicating what kind of fuel the engine is designed to use.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The vehicle falls under Class 2H, suggesting a gross vehicle weight rating ranging from 9,001 to 10,000 lb (4,082 - 4,536 kg), which can inform on its load-carrying capacity.
Manufacturing Information: The truck was manufactured in Detroit, Michigan, United States, by the NA-Truck Platform company, providing context on its production origin.

Chevrolet P - Series Vehicle History Risk Factors

Chevrolet’s reliability is model-dependent — the Silverado and Suburban are among the most durable vehicles in their segments, while some car-based models have more checkered histories. A Bumper check on a used Chevrolet is particularly valuable for the following:

AFM/DoD lifter failures on 5.3L V8 engines (2007–2021 Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban). GM’s Active Fuel Management system, which deactivates cylinders at highway speeds, caused widespread lifter and camshaft failures in this engine generation. The repair cost ($2,000–$5,000) makes this one of the most expensive used-vehicle surprises in any segment. Service records showing lifter replacement or an AFM delete kit are significant items to verify before purchase.

Ignition switch recall (2005–2014 multiple models). GM’s ignition switch recall — one of the most significant safety-related recalls in automotive history — affected Malibus, Cobalts, and several other models. Affected switches could move out of the “run” position while driving, cutting power to safety systems including airbags. Verify recall compliance on any Chevrolet from this era.

Transmission shudder on 8-speed automatic (2015–2019 Silverado, Colorado). GM’s 8L90 and 8L45 eight-speed automatics generated extensive owner complaints and TSBs related to torque converter shudder, especially at low speeds. This is well-documented and frequently appears in service records.

Rust on older Silverado and Colorado frames. Like other full-size trucks, older Chevrolet pickups from rust-belt states can have significant frame deterioration. A registration and ownership history in the Bumper report is your first indicator — a truck that’s spent decades in Minnesota or Michigan is a different proposition than one from Arizona.

A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.

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How to decode a Chevrolet P - Series VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Chevrolet P - Series VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle, indicating the brand, country of manufacture, and vehicle type. Specifically, the WMI ‘1GC’ signifies vehicles produced by General Motors LLC, located in Warren, Michigan, United States. This particular identifier is associated with trucks, including models from various years such as 1981, 1983-1988, 1990-1991, and 1993. The presence of this WMI in a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is indicative of its manufacturing origins and can be crucial for identification, recall purposes, and historical records. The Chevrolet P-series trucks are one such example of vehicles bearing the ‘1GC’ WMI, showcasing their American General Motors heritage.

List of WMI Codes for a Chevrolet P - Series

WMI: 1GC

Model Years Covered: 1981, 1983-1988, 1990-1991, 1993
Example VIN: 1GCHP32T3B3307655
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Truck
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Chevrolet P - Series VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Chevrolet’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes body style, restraint system, engine type, and series level across its Silverado, Equinox, Malibu, and Tahoe lineups. On Silverados, the VDS is particularly useful for confirming cab style (regular, double, or crew cab), bed length, and engine variant — important because a 5.3L V8 Silverado and a 4.3L V6 from the same model year can look identical from the exterior. For the Equinox and Traverse, the VDS distinguishes between engine variants that differ significantly in fuel economy, towing capacity, and long-term reliability profiles. When comparing two Chevrolets with similar prices, always cross-reference VDS characters to confirm you’re comparing equivalent specifications.

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 Chevrolet P - Series 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 Chevrolet P - Series VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
P	1993 Chevrolet P - Series
M	1991 Chevrolet P - Series
L	1990 Chevrolet P - Series
J	1988 Chevrolet P - Series
H	1987 Chevrolet P - Series
G	1986 Chevrolet P - Series
F	1985 Chevrolet P - Series
E	1984 Chevrolet P - Series
D	1983 Chevrolet P - Series
B	1981 Chevrolet P - Series

11th Character in the Chevrolet P - Series VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Chevrolet P - Series Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
3	Detroit	Michigan	United States	Na-Truck Platform	1GCHP32T3B3307655

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Chevrolet P - Series

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

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How to find a Chevrolet P - Series’s VIN?

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

Look for the VIN on the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet P - Series. It’s commonly found on a small plate, visible through the windshield.
Examine the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet P - Series. The VIN is often located on a label or sticker where the door latches when closed.
Check under the hood. The VIN can also be found on a plate or sticker located on the engine block or firewall of your Chevrolet P - Series.
Inspect the vehicle’s registration documents or insurance papers. The VIN of your Chevrolet P - Series will be listed among the vehicle details.
If applicable, review the rear frame. Some Chevrolet P - Series models have the VIN stamped on the chassis or the rear frame section.
Consult the owner’s manual. Sometimes, the VIN location for a Chevrolet P - Series is listed in the vehicle’s handbook along with other essential identifiers.

Don’t have your Chevrolet P - Series’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a Chevrolet P - Series

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Step Van / Walk-in Van
Brake System Type	Hydraulic
Displacement (CC)	5700.0
Displacement (CI)	347.83534133997
Displacement (L)	5.7
Drive Type	4x2
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	CPC
Engine Number of Cylinders	8
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Throttle Body Fuel Injection (TBI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 2H: 9,001 - 10,000 lb (4,082 - 4,536 kg)
Model	P - Series
Model Year	1991
Other Engine Info	LPG conversion can be accomplished on the engine.
Plant City	Detroit
Plant Company Name	NA-Truck Platform
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Michigan
Series	Forward Control
Trim2	1 ton nominal
Vehicle Descriptor	1GCHP32K*M3
Vehicle Type	Truck
Sample VIN	1GCHP32K7M3303750

Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.

Check any Chevrolet P - Series for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the VIN on a Chevrolet P - Series?

On most Chevrolet vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.

How do I check a Chevrolet P - Series's history for free?

Enter the Chevrolet P - Series’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.

What do Chevrolet P - Series VIN numbers start with?

Chevrolet P - Series VIN's start with 1GC for vehicles manufactured by General Motors LLC in United States. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Chevrolet P - Series.