How to decode a 2009 Hyundai Elantra VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2009 Hyundai Elantra VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle. For example, Hyundai Motor Co., based in Seoul, South Korea, uses WMI “KMH” for its passenger cars. This identifier is essential for specifying the vehicle’s manufacturing location and company. When looking at a Hyundai Elantra from 2009, the WMI “KMH” indicates it was produced by Hyundai, specifically pointing out its origin from South Korea and categorizing it as a passenger car. This is part of an international system that ensures each vehicle has a unique identifier across the globe.

List of WMI Codes for a 2009 Hyundai Elantra

WMI: KMH

Model Years Covered: 1996, 1998-2024
Example VIN: KMHDU45DX9U540126
Manufacturer Name: Hyundai Motor Co.
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Seoul Korea
State or Province:
Country: South Korea

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2009 Hyundai Elantra 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 2009 Hyundai Elantra:

Known VDS for a 2009 Hyundai Elantra
DU45D	DC86E	DU46D	DT46D

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 2009 Hyundai Elantra 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 2009 Hyundai Elantra VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
9	2009

11th Character in the 2009 Hyundai Elantra VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2009 Hyundai Elantra Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
U	Ulsan		South Korea	Hyundai Motor Company	KMHDU45DX9U540126

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2009 Hyundai Elantra

The final 6 characters in a 2009 Hyundai Elantra’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Hyundai Elantra’s VIN below:

How to find a 2009 Hyundai Elantra’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2009 Hyundai Elantra is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2009 Hyundai Elantra, where it meets the windshield. The VIN can typically be found on a metal plate visible from outside the vehicle.
Look inside the driver’s side door jamb on your Hyundai Elantra for a sticker that should display the VIN where the door latches when closed.
Check under the hood of the Elantra; the VIN might also be located on a plaque or sticker affixed to the engine bay.
Inspect the trunk area, where spare tires are often kept. The VIN may be located on the trunk’s floor or on the area where the trunk latch closes.
The vehicle registration or insurance card for your 2009 Hyundai Elantra will also list the VIN. These documents are usually kept in the glove compartment or with your personal records.

What info can a 2009 Hyundai Elantra VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly indicating the year 2009 for the Elantra, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Manufacturing Details: The VIN may include the place of manufacturing, including city and country, possibly indicating that this particular Elantra was manufactured in Ulsan, South Korea by the Hyundai Motor Company.
Vehicle Specifications: The body class of a vehicle, such as Sedan/Saloon, along with engine displacement details, which in this example specifies a 2.0-liter engine, are potential insights a VIN might provide.
Safety Features: Safety equipment, including airbag locations such as 1st Row (Driver and Passenger), and specific restraint systems like advanced airbags or depowered airbags with suppression, could possibly be deduced from the VIN.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type a vehicle is designed to utilize, which in this example is gasoline, can generally be identified through a VIN decode report.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): A VIN may possibly indicate the weight class of the vehicle, with this example potentially falling within Class 1, which may be 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less).
Vehicle Type and Series: Information about the broader classification of the vehicle as a Passenger Car and the specific series it belongs to, in this example, the HD series, are details commonly found in a VIN report.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2009 Hyundai Elantra

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	2000.0
Displacement (CI)	122.04748818946
Displacement (L)	2.0
Doors	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
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	Elantra
Model Year	2009
Other Restraint System Info	Advanced air bag or Depowered airbag with suppression
Plant City	Ulsan
Plant Company Name	Hyundai Motor Company
Plant Country	South Korea
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	HD
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KMHDT46D*9U
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	KMHDT46D29U735686