Honda VIN Numbers: Decoding Every Honda and Acura VIN
Honda operates plants across North America and Japan. This guide covers every Honda and Acura WMI code, model year convention, and plant code.
Honda is one of the largest automakers in North America, with major assembly plants in Marysville, Ohio; Lincoln, Alabama; and Alliston, Ontario. Honda vehicles assembled in these plants carry different WMI codes from those built in Japan — and the VIN makes this distinction immediately visible.
Honda's WMI Codes
Common Honda and Acura WMI codes include:
- 1HG — Honda passenger cars, United States
- 19X — Honda compact cars, United States
- 5J6 — Honda SUVs (CR-V, Pilot, Passport), United States
- JHM — Honda passenger cars, Japan
- 2HG — Honda vehicles, Canada
- 19U — Acura passenger cars, United States
- JH4 — Acura vehicles, Japan
See the full Honda manufacturer page for the complete WMI list.
Honda Plant Codes
Honda's position 11 plant codes for US-assembled vehicles:
- M — Marysville, OH (Accord, Acura TLX)
- 2 — East Liberty, OH (CR-V, HR-V)
- A — Lincoln, AL (Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, Passport)
Honda's VDS Structure
In Honda VINs, position 4 typically encodes the restraint system type, position 5 the model series or body type, and positions 6–8 further specify trim and configuration. Honda changed its VDS encoding around 2003, so older and newer Hondas may decode slightly differently. The NHTSA vPIC database — which our decoder queries — handles both formats.
Identifying a Honda Hybrid
Honda's hybrid models (Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, Insight) use the same WMI structure as non-hybrid models. The hybrid powertrain is encoded in positions 6–8 of the VDS. Decoding the full VIN through NHTSA vPIC will identify the fuel type and powertrain type explicitly.
Model Year Verification
Check position 10 to verify the claimed model year. A 2024 Honda should show R at position 10. If a seller claims a 2024 model and the VIN shows a different character, verify the paperwork before proceeding.