Honda VIN Decoder – Free VIN Lookup, Specs & Recalls

Q: Why do some Honda VINs start with 19X, 5FN or 2HG?

These are Honda’s North American WMI codes. 19X is a Civic built in Indiana, 5FN an SUV or minivan built in Alabama and 2HG a car built in Canada. Japanese-built Hondas start with J.

Q: Which character shows the Honda model year?

The 10th character. L stands for 2020, P for 2023 and S for 2025.

What our free Honda VIN decoder shows

One VIN, the key facts about any Honda. When you enter a Honda VIN, the decoder reads the codes built into those 17 characters and matches them to records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In a few seconds you see:

Model and trim: which Honda model it is, and the trim when it is encoded.
Model year: taken from the 10th character of the VIN.
Engine and powertrain: engine size, fuel type and transmission when available.
Body style: sedan, coupe, SUV, minivan, van or pickup.
Assembly plant: the factory that built the vehicle.
Open safety recalls: any recall on record with NHTSA for that exact VIN.

This helps when you are checking a used Honda for sale, ordering the right parts, comparing a listing to the real vehicle or getting an insurance quote.

How to look up a Honda VIN

Find the 17-character VIN on the vehicle or its paperwork (see where to find it below).
Type it into the box at the top of this page. Letters are not case-sensitive.
Select Decode VIN.
Compare the results with the seller’s listing: model, year, engine and drivetrain should all match.

A valid VIN never contains the letters I, O or Q, because they look too much like 1 and 0. If the decoder rejects a VIN, check for those letters first.

How to read a Honda VIN

Every Honda built since 1981 has a 17-character VIN that follows the same international standard. Here is an example:

1HG CV1F3 1 L A 123456

Characters	In this VIN	What it tells you
1–3 · WMI	`1HG`	The manufacturer and country. `1HG` is a Honda passenger car built in the United States.
4–8 · Vehicle descriptor	`CV1F3`	Model line (here, Accord), body, engine and trim. Honda often encodes the trim level here.
9 · Check digit	`1`	A calculated number that confirms the VIN is valid.
10 · Model year	`L`	The model year: `L` is 2020.
11 · Plant code	`A`	The assembly plant.
12–17 · Serial number	`123456`	The unique production number of that vehicle.

Honda WMI codes

Most Hondas sold in the US are built in North America. These are the codes you will see most often:

WMI	Built in	Typical vehicles
`1HG`	United States	Cars built in Ohio, such as Accord and Civic
`19X`	United States	Civic built in Indiana
`5J6`	United States	SUVs such as CR-V
`5FN`	United States	SUVs and minivans built in Alabama, such as Pilot, Passport and Odyssey
`5FP`	United States	Ridgeline pickup
`2HG / 2HK`	Canada	Civic (2HG) and CR-V (2HK) built in Ontario
`3CZ`	Mexico	HR-V
`JHM`	Japan	Cars such as Fit and some Civic models

Source: NHTSA vPIC.

Honda model year codes

The 10th character shows the model year. The letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used for the year.

Code	Year	Code	Year	Code	Year
`G`	2016	`K`	2019	`P`	2023
`H`	2017	`L`	2020	`R`	2024
`J`	2018	`M`	2021	`S`	2025
		`N`	2022	`T`	2026

Where to find the VIN on a Honda

Where to find the VIN on a vehicle: on the dashboard by the windshield and on the label inside the driver’s door jamb — The VIN is usually on the dashboard (seen through the windshield) and on the label inside the driver’s door.

Dashboard: on the lower corner of the dashboard on the driver’s side. Look through the windshield from outside the vehicle.
Driver’s door jamb: on the label on the door pillar, visible when the door is open.
Documents: the title, registration and insurance card all list the VIN.

Make sure the VIN on the vehicle matches the VIN on the title. If they are different, do not buy until you know why: it can be a sign of a stolen or rebuilt vehicle.

Popular Honda models

Pick a model to decode its VIN and see recalls by model year:

Honda Civic: the compact car, sold as a sedan and hatchback, including Si and Type R.
Honda Accord: the midsize sedan, with gas and hybrid versions.
Honda CR-V: the compact SUV and one of the most popular used SUVs in the US.
Honda Pilot: the three-row midsize SUV.
Honda Odyssey: the minivan.
Honda HR-V: the subcompact SUV.
Honda Ridgeline: the midsize pickup with a unibody design.
Honda Passport: the two-row midsize SUV, back since the 2019 model year.
Honda Fit: the subcompact hatchback, sold in the US until the 2020 model year.

Honda recalls and how to check them

NHTSA lists 289 recall campaigns for the Honda models on this page. Recalls are issued for specific VINs, so two vehicles of the same model and year can have different results. The repair for a safety recall is free at any Honda dealer, even if you are not the first owner.

To check a Honda for recalls, enter its VIN above. If a recall is open, contact a Honda dealer to book the repair, and ask the seller of a used vehicle for proof that past recalls were completed.

Free VIN decoder vs full vehicle history report

The decoder tells you what the vehicle is. A history report tells you what happened to it.

Information	Free decoder	Full history report
Model, year, engine, plant	Yes	Yes
Open safety recalls	Yes	Yes
Title brands (salvage, flood, rebuilt)	No	Yes
Odometer readings	No	Yes
Accident and damage records	No	Yes
Sales and ownership history	No	Yes

If you are about to buy a used Honda, run a full vehicle history check or see a sample report first.

Buying a used Honda: what to check

The VIN on the dashboard, door jamb and title all match.
No open safety recalls, or proof that they were repaired.
No salvage, flood or rebuilt title brand.
Odometer readings that go up steadily over the years.
On models with a CVT automatic, ask for transmission fluid service records.
On 1.5L turbo models, ask how often the oil was changed.
A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.

Honda VIN FAQs

How do I decode a Honda VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN into the box at the top of this page and select Decode VIN. We read the manufacturer, model, engine and year codes and match them to NHTSA data.

Is the Honda VIN decoder free?

Yes. Decoding the specs and checking for open recalls is free and does not require an account. A full vehicle history report is a separate paid option.

Why do some Honda VINs start with 19X, 5FN or 2HG?

These are Honda’s North American WMI codes. 19X is a Civic built in Indiana, 5FN an SUV or minivan built in Alabama and 2HG a car built in Canada. Japanese-built Hondas start with J.

Which character shows the Honda model year?

The 10th character. L stands for 2020, P for 2023 and S for 2025.

Does a Honda VIN show recalls?

Yes. Safety recalls are issued by VIN, so checking the exact VIN tells you whether a recall applies to that vehicle and whether it is still open.

Can a Honda VIN show the trim level?

Often, yes. Honda usually encodes the trim (for example LX, EX or Touring) in the vehicle descriptor section, so the decoder can tell trims apart.

VIN decoder for other makes

Choose another brand to decode its VIN and see recalls by model.

Source: NHTSA public data, updated October 8, 2026. HistoryByVIN is not affiliated with Honda. Honda and the Honda logo are trademarks of their owner.

Free Honda VIN Decoder