Buick Verano VIN Decoder

Decode any Buick Verano VIN free: model year, plant, body and engine codes, read from 22 real Verano VINs.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 2012–2016 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

A Buick Verano VIN opens with 1G4 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, reads 4; a 2017 Verano carries H in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 11 recall campaigns and 407 owner complaints from NHTSA.

How to read a Buick Verano VIN

Here is a real 2016 Buick Verano VIN from our database, split into its parts:

1–3 · WMI1G4
4–8 · VDSP15SK
9 · Check8
10 · YearG
11 · Plant4
12–17 · Serial157135

VIN 1G4P15SK8G4157135 — decoded free on its own report page.

FIG.01·Buick Verano VIN structure
PositionSectionWhat it tells you
1–3WMIWorld Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type.
4–8VDSVehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series.
9Check digitA calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN.
10Model yearOne character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z.
11PlantThe assembly plant that built the car.
12–17SerialSequential production number of this exact vehicle.
ROWS 6·SOURCE ISO 3779 / NHTSA vPIC

Where Buick Verano VINs say the car was built

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 22 Buick Verano VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:

FIG.02·Buick Verano assembly by VIN prefix
WMIBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on fileShare
1G4United States—22100%
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC · ForCar decoded VINs

Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.

Model-year codes for the Buick Verano

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Buick Verano has not yet outlived: its 6 years still map one-to-one. All 6 model years of the Buick Verano, 2012 to 2017, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Buick Verano VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
2017H—
2016G—
2015F—
2014E—
2013D—
2012C—
ROWS 6·SOURCE ISO 3779

Body and engine characters we see on Buick Verano VINs

Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 22 VINs the Buick Verano uses 8 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:

FIG.04·Buick Verano VIN body and engine characters
PositionCharacters seen on real VINsVariety
4 — bodyP (100%)1 distinct
5 — seriesP (41%) · R (23%) · S (14%) · N (9%) · W (9%) · 1 (5%)6 distinct
8 — engineK (100%)1 distinct
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar decoded VINs

What a decoded Buick Verano VIN gets you

Behind a Buick Verano VIN: 407 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:

FIG.05·Buick Verano data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns11 campaignsNHTSA
Owner complaints407 filedNHTSA
Fuel economy24 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Crash-test ratings5 rated model yearsNHTSA
Model years covered6 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Buick Verano

A Buick Verano VIN normally opens with 1G4; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.

FIG.06·Buick Verano VIN locations
WhereHow to see itWhy it matters
Dashboard, driver sideThrough the windshield, bottom cornerEasiest to check before you touch anything
Driver door jambOpen the door, sticker on the pillarAlso lists tire pressures and build date
Under the hoodFirewall or strut tower plateSurvives a windshield replacement
Title and insurancePaper documentsMust match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel
ROWS 4·SOURCE ForCar
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Frequently asked questions

Is this Buick Verano VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 11 recall campaigns and 407 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Buick Verano.

What year is my Verano by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 2017 Verano carries H, a 2016 Verano carries G, a 2015 Verano carries F.

Where was my Verano built?

Position 11 names the plant. Across 407 dated Buick Verano VINs it reads 4 99%.

What does position 4 mean on a Buick Verano VIN?

It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 22 Buick Verano VINs here, P is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 22 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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