Free VIN decoder
Kia VIN decoder
Decode a Kia VIN character by character: KNA, KND and the Slovak U5Y explained, the year table, and a free check of what the registries hold on the exact car.
Updated 8 September 2026
Example: Free preview included
- Cars
- Motorcycles
- Vans
- Trucks
How the free check works
Enter a Kia VIN in the box above and we check it against official registries and manufacturer build data, with a free preview of what exists for the exact car. The opening code splits Korea from the Slovak plant that builds the European volume models, and the year code follows the industry table.
Kia WMI codes (characters 1 to 3)
The code names the plant:
| Code | What they say |
|---|---|
KNA | Kia, South Korea (passenger cars) |
KND | Kia, South Korea (SUVs and MPVs) |
U5Y | Kia Slovakia, Zilina (Ceed, Sportage, Venga) |
U6Y | Kia Slovakia, Zilina (second code of the same plant) |
Model year codes (character 10)
This make follows the industry standard year code at position 10, in a 30 year cycle. The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the digit 0 are never used:
| Code | First cycle | Current cycle |
|---|---|---|
A | 1980 | 2010 |
B | 1981 | 2011 |
C | 1982 | 2012 |
D | 1983 | 2013 |
E | 1984 | 2014 |
F | 1985 | 2015 |
G | 1986 | 2016 |
H | 1987 | 2017 |
J | 1988 | 2018 |
K | 1989 | 2019 |
L | 1990 | 2020 |
M | 1991 | 2021 |
N | 1992 | 2022 |
P | 1993 | 2023 |
R | 1994 | 2024 |
S | 1995 | 2025 |
T | 1996 | 2026 |
V | 1997 | 2027 |
W | 1998 | 2028 |
X | 1999 | 2029 |
Y | 2000 | 2030 |
1 | 2001 | 2031 |
2 | 2002 | 2032 |
3 | 2003 | 2033 |
4 | 2004 | 2034 |
5 | 2005 | 2035 |
6 | 2006 | 2036 |
7 | 2007 | 2037 |
8 | 2008 | 2038 |
9 | 2009 | 2039 |
A car built late in the year often carries the next year's code, and first registration can lag build by months. A one year gap between the advert and the VIN is normal; a bigger gap is a question for the seller.
What the free check adds
The VIN describes the car as built. The check above adds what happened since: odometer readings recorded at inspections and services across 30+ European countries, damage and theft records, the import trail, and the manufacturer build data where it is available for the make.
The preview of what exists for the exact car is free, and only the full history report is paid. If the preview looks empty, you have lost nothing.
Where to find the VIN on the car
Check at least two locations and make sure they agree with each other and with the documents. A VIN that differs between locations is a walk away flag on its own.
- Windscreen base visible from outside through the glass on the driver side.
- Door jamb sticker on the driver side B pillar on most cars.
- Body stamp under the bonnet, under a floor flap, or in the boot, depending on the make.
- Documents the registration certificate and the service book both carry it, and both must match the metal.
Works for every Kia
The check reads the VIN, not the badge, so every model is covered. The ones buyers look up most:
The same decoding sits behind our partner API: send a VIN, get the identity and the recorded history back as JSON. Dealers, marketplaces and fleets use it to check cars before listing them.
Read the VIN decoder API reference →
Decode your VIN now
See what the registries hold on the exact car: recorded mileage, damage, imports and the factory build. The preview of the findings is free.
Example: WVWZZZ1JZ3W386752Free preview included
Not ready yet? See a full sample report
Frequently asked questions
Can I decode a Kia VIN for free?
Yes. The tables on this page decode the structure by hand, and the check box runs the VIN against official registries and manufacturer build data with a free preview of what exists for the exact car. Only the full history report is paid.
What does U5Y at the start of a Kia VIN mean?
Kia's Slovak plant at Zilina, which builds the Ceed and Sportage for Europe, U6Y is the same plant's second code. KNA and KND open the Korean built cars and SUVs.
Does a Kia VIN show the model year?
Yes, at position 10 against the industry table on this page: L is 2020, K is 2019. Model year runs ahead of the calendar, so an autumn build usually carries the next year's code.
What can a VIN check tell me that the VIN itself cannot?
Everything that happened after the factory: odometer readings recorded at inspections and services, damage and theft records, the import trail across countries, and the factory specification to compare against the advert. The preview of those findings is free at MrVIN.
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MrVIN is operated by VERIFY SIA and is independent of the maker of Kia vehicles. Kia and the model names on this page are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify the vehicles this page is about.