Free Hyundai VIN Decoder
Hyundai VIN Decoder & Lookup Tool
A Hyundai VIN decoder translates the 17-character VIN into the vehicle's factory identity — year, model, trim, engine, transmission, drivetrain, body style, and assembly plant — using the official NHTSA vPIC database. CarWhere's Hyundai decoder is free with no account, and pairs every decode with verified buyer transaction prices for the same Hyundai, so you see both what the vehicle is and what people actually paid for it.
Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Last updated 2026-06-11
Try a sample: 5NPE34AF5FH123456Sample 2015 Hyundai Sonata SE built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.
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About Hyundai
Hyundai is South Korea's largest automaker, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Seoul. Hyundai operates one of the world's largest auto manufacturing facilities at Ulsan, Korea, and a major U.S. plant in Montgomery, Alabama. Hyundai VINs starting with KM are Korea-built; 5NP and 5NM prefixes indicate the Alabama plant. The new Metaplant America in Ellabell, Georgia (opened 2024) builds the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 EVs and is gaining its own WMI series.
CarWhere has 2 verified Hyundai buyer transactions with an average selling price of $48,736 and average discount of 8.3% off MSRP. Use the VIN decoder above to identify the exact Hyundai configuration, then compare it against real transaction prices.
What a Hyundai VIN Tells You
Every Hyundai VIN encodes 13 distinct vehicle attributes. Our decoder surfaces the ones that matter most for identifying, valuing, and researching a specific Hyundai:
Year
Model year — encoded in character 10 of the VIN
Model & Trim
Specific Hyundai model line and trim level
Engine
Displacement, cylinder count, and fuel type
Transmission
Automatic, manual, CVT, or DCT — and gear count
Drive Type
AWD, FWD, RWD, or 4WD configuration
Body Style
Sedan, SUV, truck, hatchback, coupe, convertible
Plant
Where this specific Hyundai was assembled
Country
Country of origin — derived from the WMI prefix
How a Hyundai VIN Is Structured
All modern Hyundai VINs follow ISO 3779 — the international 17-character VIN standard adopted in 1981. The 17 characters break into four fixed sections:
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
For Hyundai, the WMI is typically KMH, KMF, KM8, 5NP, or 5NM. KM-prefixed VINs identify Hyundai vehicles built in Korea. 5NP and 5NM identify Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama — the Sonata, Elantra, Santa Fe, and Tucson built there.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Encodes the Hyundai model line, body style, restraint system, and engine. Position 8 specifically identifies the engine — the most ambiguous character because the same digit can mean different engines on different Hyundai models.
Check Digit
A mathematical checksum derived from the other 16 characters. If a Hyundai VIN doesn't pass the check-digit test, it's either a typo or a forgery.
Model Year
A single character encoding the model year. Examples on a Hyundai: L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026.
Plant Code
Identifies the specific Hyundai assembly plant. Hyundai operates plants in Montgomery, Alabama (HMMA), Ellabell, Georgia (Metaplant America - 2025+), Ulsan, South Korea.
Sequential Production Number
The unique six-character serial number for that specific Hyundai unit. Two Hyundai vehicles with the same year, model, trim, and plant will differ only in this final segment.
Popular Hyundai Models
The most common Hyundai models by U.S. sales volume. Click any model to see verified buyer transactions and current pricing on CarWhere.
Where Hyundai Vehicles Are Built
The 11th character of a Hyundai VIN identifies the assembly plant. Hyundai operates the following facilities that supply U.S.-market vehicles:
- •Montgomery, Alabama (HMMA)
- •Ellabell, Georgia (Metaplant America - 2025+)
- •Ulsan, South Korea
- •Asan, South Korea
- •Nošovice, Czech Republic
- •Chennai, India
How to Decode a Hyundai VIN
Find the VIN on your Hyundai
Locate the 17-character VIN on the lower driver's-side corner of the windshield, the driver's door jamb, your registration, or your insurance card.
Enter the VIN
Type or paste the 17-character VIN into the decoder above. We strip spaces and dashes automatically and convert lowercase letters to uppercase. The tool rejects VINs containing I, O, or Q.
Decode instantly
Click "Decode VIN." Our server queries the NHTSA vPIC database and returns the full vehicle specification in under a second.
See what buyers paid for the same Hyundai
If we have verified buyer transactions for the decoded year/make/model, we surface the average selling price, average discount off MSRP, and total verified deal count — and link you to the full Hyundai model page.
Hyundai VIN year chart (10th character)
The 10th character of every Hyundai VIN encodes the model year under the federal VIN standard. Letters I, O, Q, U, and Z are never used; the cycle repeats every 30 years (so "A" means 2010 on modern vehicles, 1980 on classics).
Sources and limitations
CarWhere's Hyundai VIN decoder uses NHTSA vPIC, the U.S. government VIN-decoding platform built from manufacturer-submitted vehicle data (model years 1981 and newer). Recall status for a specific VIN can be confirmed at the official NHTSA recall lookup. Decode results may be limited for non-US-market vehicles, gray-market imports, or VIN patterns with incomplete manufacturer submissions. A VIN decode does not show accident, title, lien, mileage, or theft history.
Hyundai VIN Decoder FAQ
What does a Hyundai VIN decoder tell you?
A Hyundai VIN decoder reveals the model year, model name, trim level, engine type and displacement, transmission, drive type, body style, and assembly plant of any Hyundai vehicle. It uses NHTSA vPIC, the public VIN-decoding platform built from manufacturer-submitted data (model year 1981-forward); decode fields vary by model year and manufacturer submission. It does not show accident or ownership history.
What does a Hyundai VIN start with?
Hyundai VINs typically start with KMH, KMF, KM8, 5NP, or 5NM. KM-prefixed VINs identify Hyundai vehicles built in Korea. 5NP and 5NM identify Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama — the Sonata, Elantra, Santa Fe, and Tucson built there.
Where is the VIN on a Hyundai?
The easiest place to find the VIN on a Hyundai is the lower corner of the windshield on the driver's side dashboard, visible from outside the vehicle. It's also printed on the driver's door jamb sticker, the vehicle title, the registration card, and the insurance card. On older models the VIN may be stamped on the engine block or firewall.
How many characters is a Hyundai VIN?
Every Hyundai VIN is exactly 17 characters — a mix of letters and numbers. Like all modern VINs, Hyundai VINs never contain the letters I, O, or Q to avoid confusion with the digits 1, 0, and 9. A Hyundai VIN with fewer or more than 17 characters is either a partial reference or an error.
Is the Hyundai VIN decoder really free?
Yes. CarWhere's Hyundai VIN decoder is completely free with no signup, account, or credit card required. We use the NHTSA vPIC API — the official U.S. government VIN database that every U.S.-market Hyundai is filed against. We additionally cross-reference the decoded year, make, and model against verified buyer transactions in our deal database.
Where are Hyundai vehicles built?
Hyundai operates assembly plants in Montgomery, Alabama (HMMA), Ellabell, Georgia (Metaplant America - 2025+), Ulsan, South Korea, Asan, South Korea, plus additional facilities globally. The 11th character of a Hyundai VIN identifies the specific plant of manufacture, while the first three characters (the World Manufacturer Identifier) identify the country.
Can I check Hyundai recalls by VIN?
Yes — once you decode a Hyundai VIN here, you can cross-reference open recalls at the official NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Hyundai also operates an owner portal where logged-in owners can view recall status and schedule free repairs at any authorized Hyundai dealer.
Does a Hyundai VIN reveal accident history?
No. A VIN decode reveals factory specifications only — make, model, trim, engine, plant. To check accident history, salvage titles, or odometer rollback on a Hyundai, you need a vehicle history report from Carfax or AutoCheck, both of which use the VIN as the lookup key but pull from insurance and DMV records.
VIN Decoders for Other Makes
Decoded a Hyundai VIN? See what buyers paid.
CarWhere has verified buyer transactions for Hyundai vehicles nationwide — real prices from real deal sheets, not dealer ads or algorithm estimates.