How to decode a 2004 Honda Insight VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2004 Honda Insight VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique sequence of characters assigned to every vehicle manufacturer for identification purposes. In the case of the 2004 Honda Insight, the WMI is “JHM,” indicating that Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan, is the manufacturer. This vehicle falls into the passenger car category, denoting its primary use. The specified region of manufacturing is Musashi, within the broader locale of Tokyo, Japan, highlighting the vehicle’s origins from a renowned automobile producing country. This information provides a clear link between the vehicle and its manufacturer, offering insights into the vehicle’s quality, standards, and geographical manufacturing origins.

List of WMI Codes for a 2004 Honda Insight

WMI: JHM

Model Years Covered: 2000-2006, 2010-2014
Example VIN: JHMZE13714T000101
Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Tokyo
State or Province: Musashi
Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2004 Honda Insight 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 2004 Honda Insight:

Known VDS for a 2004 Honda Insight
ZE137	ZE147

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 2004 Honda Insight 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 2004 Honda Insight VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
4	2004

11th Character in the 2004 Honda Insight VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2004 Honda Insight Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
T	Takanezawa	Tochigi	Japan		JHMZE13714T000101

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2004 Honda Insight

The final 6 characters in a 2004 Honda Insight’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Honda Insight’s VIN below:

How to find a 2004 Honda Insight’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2004 Honda Insight is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

The VIN for a 2004 Honda Insight can usually be seen through the windshield on the driver’s side where the dashboard meets the glass.
Look at the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on the driver’s side; the VIN can often be found on a sticker or plate in this location on your Honda Insight.
Check the front of the engine block, as VINs are sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
Examine the front of the car frame, near the container that holds windshield washer fluid; the VIN may be located there on the Honda Insight.
Sometimes the VIN is also located in the trunk under the spare tire, which can be an additional place to check in your 2004 Honda Insight.
If you still have trouble finding the VIN, look in the vehicle’s service or owner’s manual as it will typically list the VIN for your Honda Insight.

What info can a 2004 Honda Insight VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating it was manufactured around 2004, providing insights into the vehicle’s age and potential market value.
Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN might indicate that the vehicle is a Passenger Car with a body type such as Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback, offering some clues to its design and potential use.
Engine Type and Performance: The VIN possibly provides details about the engine, suggesting it may be an In-Line configuration with approximately 3 cylinders and a displacement of around 1 L, hinting at the vehicle’s performance abilities. It also possibly specifies the engine model as ECA1 and mentions a potential engine brake horsepower of 67, showcasing the engine’s capability.
Fuel Efficiency and Electrification Level: It may offer information on the vehicle’s hybrid electric nature, potentially combining gasoline as its primary fuel type with electric as a secondary source, highlighting its potential efficiency and environmental consideration.
Safety Features: The VIN may specify the presence of front airbags for both the driver and passenger in the 1st row, potentially emphasizing the vehicle’s safety features.
Transmission and Drivetrain: The VIN might disclose a 5-speed manual/standard transmission, providing potential insights into the vehicle’s operational mode and driver engagement.
Manufacturing Information: It could contain detailed information such as the plant city of Takanezawa, plant country Japan, and the plant state of Tochigi, potentially offering a glimpse into the vehicle’s origin and production location.

Don’t have your 2004 Honda Insight’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2004 Honda Insight

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Displacement (CC)	999.610904
Displacement (CI)	61
Displacement (L)	0.999610904
Doors	3
Electrification Level	HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) - Level Unknown
Engine Brake (hp) From	67
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Model	ECA1
Engine Number of Cylinders	3
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Fuel Type - Secondary	Electric
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1A: 3,000 lb or less (1,360 kg or less)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Insight
Model Year	2004
Plant City	Takanezawa
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Japan
Plant State	Tochigi
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Transmission Speeds	5
Transmission Style	Manual/Standard
Trim	DX
Valve Train Design	Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	JHMZE137*4T
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	JHMZE13714T000101