How to decode a 2011 Honda Insight VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2011 Honda Insight VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial sequence of characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), specifying the manufacturer, vehicle type, and the country of manufacture. Specifically, for the 2011 Honda Insight, the WMI “JHM” reveals that this passenger car is manufactured by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. located in Tokyo, Japan, in the Musashi province. This information is pivotal for identifying the vehicle’s origin, brand, and specific attributes related to its manufacturing location. WMIs are standardized globally, ensuring that every vehicle can be uniquely identified based on its VIN.

List of WMI Codes for a 2011 Honda Insight

WMI: JHM

Model Years Covered: 2000-2006, 2010-2014
Example VIN: JHMZE2H70BS000107
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 2011 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 2011 Honda Insight:

Known VDS for a 2011 Honda Insight
ZE2H7	ZE2H5	ZE2H3

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 2011 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 2011 Honda Insight VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
B	2011

11th Character in the 2011 Honda Insight VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2011 Honda Insight Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
S	Suzuka	Mie	Japan		JHMZE2H70BS000107

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2011 Honda Insight

The final 6 characters in a 2011 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 2011 Honda Insight’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2011 Honda Insight is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Honda Insight. The VIN can usually be seen through the windshield.
Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door jamb area. The VIN might be found on a sticker or plate where the door latches.
Examine the engine block of your Honda Insight, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
Check the vehicle’s registration documents, insurance cards, or title (often listed as the pink slip), as these documents should contain the VIN of your 2011 Honda Insight.
Look for the VIN on the car’s firewall, inside the engine bay.
Inspect the spare tire well; sometimes the VIN is located there as well.

What info can a 2011 Honda Insight VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, being the year 2011, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Manufacturing Location: The VIN specifies the vehicle was manufactured in Suzuka, Japan, highlighting how VINs can pinpoint both the production year and specific manufacturing locations internationally.
Vehicle Type and Specifications: The VIN reveals the vehicle as a Honda Insight with a 1.343 liter (82 CI) in-line 4-cylinder engine, employing a hybrid electric system combining gasoline and electric power sources.
Transmission and Drivetrain Details: The vehicle is equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), allowing for smoother and more efficient power delivery compared to traditional transmissions.
Safety Features: Safety features include front and curtain airbags located in the 1st and 2nd rows, alongside a direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), highlighting the vehicle’s commitment to passenger safety.
Body Type and Capacity: The VIN defines the body class as a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback with a 5-door configuration, and its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ranges from Class 1B to Class 1, indicating its ability to handle a substantial cargo and passenger load within its compact frame.
Fuel Efficiency and Environmental Consideration: The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) designation with primary fuel type gasoline and secondary fuel electric showcases the vehicle’s design for improved fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
Luxury and Comfort Features: The presence of a manual seat belt system and specific airbag configurations such as rear side curtain airbags implies a focus on basic comfort combined with safety measures, reflecting the vehicle’s balanced approach to practicality and passenger protection.

Don’t have your 2011 Honda Insight’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2011 Honda Insight

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Displacement (CC)	1343.739248
Displacement (CI)	82
Displacement (L)	1.343739248
Doors	5
Electrification Level	HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) - Level Unknown
Engine Brake (hp) From	88
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Model	LDA3
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Fuel Type - Secondary	Electric
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Insight
Model Year	2011
Other Restraint System Info	Rear Side Curtain Air bag (Rr outer positions). Rear Seat Belt (Rr center position).
Plant City	Suzuka
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Japan
Plant State	Mie
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Transmission Style	Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Trim	LX
Valve Train Design	Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	JHMZE2H5*BS
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	JHMZE2H50BS002745