How to decode a 2005 Kia Rio VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2005 Kia Rio VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter code at the beginning of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer, the type of vehicle it is, and the country of manufacture. For instance, the WMI for Kia Corporation, specifically for passenger cars like the 2005 Kia Rio, starts with the letters ‘KNA’. This code indicates that the car was manufactured by Kia Corporation, located in Seoul, Seocho-Gu, South Korea. The WMI plays a crucial role in providing essential information about the vehicle for registration, identification, and regulatory purposes. It serves as a global standard for classifying vehicles from all around the world.

List of WMI Codes for a 2005 Kia Rio

WMI: KNA

Model Years Covered: 2001-2017
Example VIN: KNADC125056361897
Manufacturer Name: Kia Corporation
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Seoul
State or Province: Seocho-Gu
Country: South Korea

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2005 Kia Rio 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 2005 Kia Rio:

Known VDS for a 2005 Kia Rio
DC125	DC165

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 2005 Kia Rio 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 2005 Kia Rio VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
5	2005

11th Character in the 2005 Kia Rio VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2005 Kia Rio Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
6	Sohari		South Korea	Kia Motors Corporation	KNADC125056361897

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2005 Kia Rio

The final 6 characters in a 2005 Kia Rio’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Kia Rio’s VIN below:

How to find a 2005 Kia Rio’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2005 Kia Rio is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Kia Rio. This is visible from outside the vehicle, through the windshield on the corner where the dashboard meets the glass.
Examine the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on the driver’s side door. Often, a sticker here will display the VIN.
Check under the hood to find the VIN on a plate or sticker, typically on the front engine block.
Inspect the trunk area for a VIN plate, which can sometimes be found on the floor or under the trunk lid.
Look at your vehicle’s registration documents, insurance papers, or the title (also called the pink slip); the VIN for your Kia Rio will be clearly listed.

What info can a 2005 Kia Rio VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly indicating the year 2005, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Vehicle Type and Body Style: It might specify the vehicle as a Passenger Car with a specific body class like Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Engine Specifications: Details about the engine, including a displacement of 1.6 L and the valve train design as Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC), might be encoded within the VIN.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle, such as Gasoline, can possibly be determined from the VIN.
Safety Features: Key safety features, such as the presence of front airbags for both the driver and passenger in the 1st row, may be inferred from the VIN.
Manufacturing Information: The VIN could provide insight into the vehicle’s manufacturing location, possibly indicating it was built in Sohari, South Korea by Kia Motors Corporation.
Vehicle Identification: Each VIN includes a unique vehicle descriptor (e.g., KNADC165*56) and a sample VIN number (e.g., KNADC165056250549), which identifies the specific make and model of the vehicle, in this instance, a Kia Rio.

Don’t have your 2005 Kia Rio’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2005 Kia Rio

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	1600.0
Displacement (CI)	97.63799055157
Displacement (L)	1.6
Doors	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Rio
Model Year	2005
Plant City	Sohari
Plant Company Name	Kia Motors Corporation
Plant Country	South Korea
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	F/L
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KNADC125*56
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	KNADC125056361897