Cadillac VIN Decoder — Free Character-by-Character Breakdown of Any Cadillac VIN.
Every Cadillac — CT4, CT5, CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade-V, and the new Lyriq and Escalade IQ EVs — leaves the factory with a 17-character VIN that encodes country, GM Cadillac manufacturer code, chassis, engine, model year, and plant. A Cadillac VIN decoder turns that string into plain English: WMI at 1-3 (1G6 US car, 1GY US SUV), vehicle attributes at 4-8, check digit at 9, model year at 10, plant at 11, and the six-digit serial at 12-17. Paste any Cadillac VIN below for an instant decode — and remember to also read the GM RPO code sticker in the glovebox for the factory option list.
Free Cadillac VIN Decoder — Break Down Any 17-Character Cadillac VIN
Enter a Cadillac VIN and we'll decode every position — WMI, GM plant, model year, engine, and drivetrain — instantly.
Free · No sign-up · Instant decode
Quick Answer
- How do I decode a Cadillac VIN?
- Split the 17-character Cadillac VIN into three blocks: the WMI at positions 1-3 (
1G6US-built Cadillac car — CT4, CT5, CT6;1GYUS-built Cadillac SUV — XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, Lyriq), the VDS at 4-8 (chassis, engine, restraint, check digit at 9), and the VIS at 10-17 (year at 10, plant at 11). - What does 1G6 mean on a Cadillac VIN?
1G6is the US-built General Motors Cadillac car WMI. 1 = United States, G = General Motors, 6 = Cadillac passenger car. Every US-built CT4, CT5, CT6, ATS, CTS, XTS, and older DTS/STS/Deville starts with 1G6. SUVs use 1GY (Escalade, XT4, XT5, XT6, Lyriq).- Where is the Cadillac RPO code sticker?
- Cadillac prints a Regular Production Option (RPO) sticker — also called the SPID (Service Parts Identification) label — in the glovebox or trunk (or under the spare-tire cover on Escalade). It lists every factory option as a three-character code. Read it alongside the decoded VIN for a complete factory build sheet.
What a Cadillac VIN Decodes
A Cadillac VIN decoder does not surface title brands or accident history — that is what a VIN lookup or VIN check does. Instead, a decoder translates the 17 characters into the factory-encoded facts about the Cadillac: what it is, where it was built, and when. Six things a Cadillac VIN decoder tells you from the string alone.
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
The first three characters identify country and GM Cadillac class. 1G6 is US-built Cadillac passenger car (CT4, CT5, CT6, and predecessors ATS, CTS, XTS, DTS, STS, DeVille). 1GY is US-built Cadillac SUV (Escalade, XT4, XT5, XT6, Lyriq EV). 2G6 is Canada-built (older DeVilles from Oshawa). 3G6 or 3GY is Mexico-built (some XT5 and XT6 from Ramos Arizpe).
Model year (position 10)
The 10th character of a Cadillac VIN encodes the model year per ISO 3779. R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026. The ISO alphabet skips letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the digit 0. Position 10 alone doesn't distinguish a 1985 Cadillac from a 2015 (both are F), but combined with the plant code, WMI, and body attributes, a decoder resolves the year unambiguously.
Plant of assembly (position 11)
Position 11 identifies the GM plant. L = Lansing Grand River Michigan (CT4, CT5, and their V-Series Blackwing performance variants — this is Cadillac's sedan plant). A = Arlington Texas (Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ — shared with GM's full-size SUV line). R = Ramos Arizpe Mexico (XT5, XT6). K = Spring Hill Tennessee (Lyriq — Cadillac's first Ultium electric-vehicle plant).
Engine and drivetrain (positions 4-8)
The VDS block encodes Cadillac powertrain: 2.0L LSY turbo four (base CT4/CT5, XT4), 3.0L LGY twin-turbo V6 (CT4-V, CT5-V, CT5-V Sport), 3.6L LGX V6 (XT5, XT6), 4.2L LTA twin-turbo Blackwing V8 (CT6-V, older CT6 Platinum), 6.2L LT4 supercharged V8 (CT5-V Blackwing, Escalade-V), or Ultium electric drive (Lyriq single-motor or Sport AWD, Escalade IQ). Also RWD, AWD, or dual-motor EV.
V-Series and Blackwing performance identification
Cadillac V-Series and Blackwing (CT4-V Blackwing, CT5-V Blackwing, Escalade-V) are encoded in the VDS block — the trim distinguisher is not one single character but a combination of engine code, chassis code, and body style. A Cadillac VIN decoder returns the trim identifier so you can confirm whether an ostensible CT5-V is actually the Blackwing.
Production serial + RPO code companion
The final six characters (12-17) are the sequential build number. Pair the VIN with the Cadillac RPO code sticker (in the glovebox or trunk — GM calls it the SPID label) for a complete factory build-sheet view: paint code (WA9260 Summit White vs. GEK Crystal White Tricoat), interior code, drivetrain package, sound system, driver-assist package. This is the same RPO system Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC use.
Cadillac VIN Character-by-Character Breakdown
This is the heart of any Cadillac VIN decoder — the seventeen positions and what each one encodes. Every 1981-and-later Cadillac uses the ISO 3779 17-character standard. Below is the position-by-position table with a Cadillac-specific example for each row, plus a mini table of model-year codes for the tenth character. Remember: the RPO sticker in the glovebox or trunk complements the VIN with option-level detail.
| Position | Generic meaning | Cadillac example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of origin | 1 = United States (1G6 car, 1GY SUV). 2 = Canada (2G6 car — older DeVilles built at Oshawa). 3 = Mexico (3G6 car, 3GY SUV — some XT4/XT5 built at Ramos Arizpe). |
| 2-3 | Manufacturer + vehicle class (WMI completes at 3) | G6 = GM Cadillac passenger car. GY = GM Cadillac SUV. The G is the marker character for all General Motors WMIs (matches Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC). The 6 (car) or Y (SUV) distinguishes Cadillac specifically. |
| 4-8 | Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) — model line, body style, engine, restraint system | Encodes model (CT4-V vs CT4-V Blackwing, CT5-V vs CT5-V Blackwing, XT4 vs XT5 vs XT6, Escalade vs Escalade ESV, Lyriq single-motor vs Sport AWD), engine (2.0L LSY turbo four, 3.0L LGY twin-turbo V6, 3.6L LGX V6, 4.2L LTA twin-turbo V8, 6.2L LT4 supercharged V8 Blackwing, Ultium electric drive), and drivetrain (RWD, AWD). |
| 9 | Check digit — a math-derived digit that validates the other 16 characters | Any typo in the Cadillac VIN will fail the ISO 3779 check-digit calculation. The decoder rejects invalid VINs before it runs. |
| 10 | Model year | M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026. See year-code mini-table below. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the digit 0 are skipped. |
| 11 | Assembly plant | L = Lansing Grand River MI (CT4, CT5, CT4-V/CT5-V Blackwing). A = Arlington Texas (Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ). R = Ramos Arizpe Mexico (XT5, XT6 — shared line with Blazer). K = Spring Hill Tennessee (Lyriq — Cadillac's first Ultium EV). Plant codes are model-specific within the WMI. |
| 12-17 | Production serial number — unique sequential build number | The last six characters count Cadillac production units off that line in that model year. Blackwing V-Series and Escalade-V variants often have distinct serial ranges from the base models — collectors track these. |
Position 10 model-year codes
Position 10 model-year codes (2015-2026). Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the digit 0 are excluded by ISO 3779.
FGHJKLMNPRSTCommon Cadillac WMIs at a glance
1G6US-built Cadillac car (CT4, CT5, CT6, ATS, CTS)1GYUS-built Cadillac SUV (XT4/5/6, Escalade, Lyriq)2G6Canada-built (older DeVilles from Oshawa)3G6 / 3GYMexico-built (Ramos Arizpe XT5/XT6)- Plant codes:L Lansing · A Arlington · R Ramos · K Spring Hill
Where to Find Your Cadillac VIN
Cadillac prints the VIN in at least five places on every modern vehicle — plus the companion RPO/SPID sticker in the glovebox, trunk, or spare-tire well that lists every factory option. Any one of the VIN locations is enough to run a Cadillac VIN decoder — and if any of them disagree, that mismatch is a strong signal the identity has been tampered with.
The fastest place to find a Cadillac VIN is the lower corner of the windshield on the driver's side — look through the glass from outside. The driver-side door jamb sticker is the second-easiest; it also lists tire pressure spec, GVWR, and the vehicle build date. The VIN also appears on the title document, the insurance card, and the state registration.
The GM RPO/SPID sticker deserves special mention on Cadillacs — GM prints it in the glovebox or trunk with three-character codes for every factory-installed option. For Escalade, it lives under the spare-tire cover; for CT4/CT5, it is in the glovebox. This is the closest thing GM has to a Mercedes Datenkarte, and it complements a Cadillac VIN decode with option-level detail: paint code, interior trim, drivetrain package, entertainment system. For the cleanest VIN read, copy from the door jamb sticker.
Five places the Cadillac VIN lives (plus RPO sticker)
- Lower driver-side windshield (visible from outside)
- Driver-side door jamb sticker (with tire pressure + GVWR)
- Cadillac title document
- Insurance ID card
- State registration document
- Bonus: RPO / SPID sticker in glovebox, trunk, or under spare-tire cover
Got the VIN? Drop the 17 characters into the form above for a free character-by-character Cadillac decode in seconds.
Decode Your Cadillac VIN Right Now
Got a Cadillac VIN in front of you — CT4, CT5, CT5-V Blackwing, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, or Lyriq? Break it down character-by-character, free, in seconds. No sign-up.
Common Cadillac Issues Revealed by VIN
A Cadillac VIN decoder does not itself list recalls — a recall check does. But once you have decoded the VIN and know the exact model year, plant, and engine family, you know which Cadillac-specific issue campaigns to look for. Three of the most common Cadillac issues that trace back to VIN-decoded attributes.
Escalade 6.2L L86 AFM lifter failure
2015-2020 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV VINs (WMI 1GY, plant code A for Arlington Texas) with the 6.2L L86 V8 and Active Fuel Management have documented AFM lifter failures — same issue as the Silverado/Tahoe 5.3L. Decoding the VIN confirms plant, engine, and year.
CT6 / CTS Super Cruise camera calibration
Early 2018-2020 CT6 VINs (WMI 1G6, plant code B for Detroit-Hamtramck — the former CT6 plant) with the first-generation Super Cruise hands-free driving system have received camera and radar calibration TSBs. Decoding the VIN isolates the pre-facelift build range.
Lyriq Ultium battery / EV software
Early 2023-2024 Cadillac Lyriq VINs (WMI 1GY, plant code K for Spring Hill Tennessee — GM's first Ultium plant) have received OTA and dealer-flash software updates for Ultium battery management and infotainment. Decoding position 10 confirms model year and cross-references the Ultium production ranges.
Buying a used Cadillac? Pair this Cadillac VIN decoder with a focused recall check and a Cadillac VIN check for title-brand and salvage records — the two together give you a complete picture before you buy.
Cadillac VIN Decoder vs myCadillac Portal / RPO Sticker
GM's official Cadillac owner portal — myCadillac (via GM Owner Center) — lets registered Cadillac owners log in and see build data, service history, warranty status, and open recalls for their VIN. GM also embeds the RPO/SPID sticker in the glovebox, trunk, or spare-tire well of every Cadillac; it lists every factory-installed option as three-character codes. Between the owner portal and the RPO sticker, GM gives Cadillac owners deep build data — but neither is available to a used-car buyer before purchase.
A free Cadillac VIN decoder is the answer for that pre-purchase moment. It reads the ISO 3779 structure directly — WMI, VDS, VIS, check digit — and returns the same core factory-encoded facts (year, plant, chassis, engine) without any login. For a Cadillac VIN check with title brands and salvage records added on, or for a full VIN history report with dated line items, follow the decode with the paid check.
The right call depends on where you are in the buying journey. If you already own the Cadillac, register at myCadillac for the full owner-portal view and read the RPO sticker in the glovebox for the factory option list. If you are shopping, run the decoder here first, then add a lookup or history check.
Cadillac decode checklist
- Confirm the VIN is exactly 17 characters (no I, O, or Q)
- Verify the WMI (1G6 car / 1GY SUV) matches the vehicle class
- Read position 10 for model year and cross-check the title
- Read position 11 for GM plant — Lansing, Arlington, Ramos Arizpe, or Spring Hill
- Match decoded engine (positions 4-8) to the underhood or trunk label
- Read the RPO / SPID sticker in the glovebox or trunk for option codes
- Follow with a VIN check for title, salvage, and recall status
Run the decoder first — paste the Cadillac VIN here:
Related VIN Tools for Cadillac Owners
A Cadillac VIN decoder is the entry point. These focused tools dig into specific records once you know the year, plant, and chassis.
Always check the VIN before you buy
Our free report reveals accidents, title brands, odometer rollback, theft records, and open recalls in seconds.
Cadillac VIN Decoder — Frequently Asked Questions
The questions Cadillac owners and used-Cadillac buyers ask most when they need to decode a Cadillac VIN character-by-character.
How do I decode a Cadillac VIN?+
To decode a Cadillac VIN, split the 17 characters into three blocks. Positions 1-3 are the WMI — the World Manufacturer Identifier — and identify country and GM Cadillac class (1G6 = US-built Cadillac car, 1GY = US-built Cadillac SUV, 2G6 = Canada-built car, 3G6/3GY = Mexico-built). Positions 4-8 are the VDS — encoding model line (CT4, CT5, CT6, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, Lyriq), body style, engine family, and restraint system. Position 9 is a math-derived check digit. Position 10 is the model year (M = 2021, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026). Position 11 is the assembly plant (L = Lansing Grand River CT4/CT5, A = Arlington Texas Escalade, R = Ramos Arizpe Mexico XT5/XT6, K = Spring Hill Tennessee Lyriq). Positions 12-17 are the sequential production serial. A Cadillac VIN decoder does all this in one pass — paste the VIN into the form above.
What does 1G6 mean on a Cadillac VIN?+
1G6 is the US-built General Motors Cadillac passenger-car WMI. Character 1 (1) means United States. Character 2 (G) means General Motors. Character 3 (6) means Cadillac passenger car specifically (distinguishing Cadillac cars from Chevrolet's 1G1, Buick's 1G4, and GMC/Chevy trucks). Every US-built CT4, CT5, CT6, ATS, CTS, XTS, DTS, STS, and older DeVille and Fleetwood VIN starts with 1G6. Cadillac SUVs (Escalade, XT4, XT5, XT6, Lyriq) use 1GY (Y = SUV class). Canada-built Cadillacs — historically some DeVilles from the Oshawa plant — used 2G6.
What does 1GY mean on a Cadillac VIN?+
1GY is the US-built General Motors Cadillac SUV WMI. Character 1 (1) means United States. Character 2 (G) means General Motors. Character 3 (Y) means Cadillac SUV class. Every US-built Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade-V, Escalade IQ (EV), XT4, XT5, XT6, and Lyriq VIN starts with 1GY. The plant code at position 11 then narrows the assembly location — A for Arlington Texas (Escalade and Escalade IQ share the line with Chevy Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon), K for Spring Hill Tennessee (Lyriq at GM's Ultium EV plant), R for Ramos Arizpe Mexico (XT5 and XT6 share the line with Chevy Blazer).
What is the 10th character of a Cadillac VIN?+
The 10th character of a Cadillac VIN is the model year, encoded per ISO 3779. The alphabet skips letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the digit 0. For modern Cadillacs: F = 2015, G = 2016, H = 2017, J = 2018, K = 2019, L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026. The cycle repeats every 30 years, so an F could also mean 1985 — but combined with the plant code, WMI, and body attributes decoded from positions 4-8, a Cadillac VIN decoder resolves the year unambiguously. Note that a Cadillac 'model year' is not identical to the calendar year of build — a Lyriq built in October 2024 typically carries the S (2025) model-year code.
Where is the Cadillac RPO / SPID sticker?+
GM's Regular Production Option (RPO) sticker — also called the Service Parts Identification (SPID) label — lives inside the glovebox on Cadillac sedans (CT4, CT5, CT6, ATS, CTS, XTS) and inside the trunk lid, spare tire well, or under the driver's seat on Cadillac SUVs (XT4, XT5, XT6). On Escalade and Escalade ESV, GM typically places it under the third-row spare-tire cover or on the underside of the rear-cargo access panel. On the Lyriq EV, look inside the frunk (front trunk) area or under the rear cargo mat. The sticker lists every factory-installed option as a three-character code — paint code (e.g., GEK Crystal White Tricoat), interior code, drivetrain package (Y-Series, Sport), Super Cruise (UFT), entertainment package. Pair the RPO codes with a Cadillac VIN decode for a complete factory build sheet.
Is the Cadillac VIN decoder free?+
Yes. The Cadillac VIN decoder on this page is free, with no sign-up, no credit card, and no hidden charges. You enter the 17-character Cadillac VIN and we break it down position-by-position — WMI, VDS, check digit, model year, plant, and serial — in plain English. Free Cadillac VIN decoders are possible because the ISO 3779 structure and the GM WMI assignments are public. If you need title brands, salvage records, and recall status added on top, use a Cadillac VIN check or a full history report; those pull NMVTIS and NHTSA data. But the decode itself is public and free.
Does this decoder work for the Cadillac Lyriq EV?+
Yes. The Cadillac Lyriq — GM's first Ultium-platform EV, built at Spring Hill Tennessee — uses the same 17-character ISO 3779 VIN structure as every other modern Cadillac. Lyriq VINs start with 1GY (Cadillac SUV class) and have K as the plant code at position 11. Positions 4-8 encode the Ultium battery pack and drive-motor configuration (single-motor RWD vs Sport AWD dual-motor) instead of the internal combustion engine and transmission a CT5 or XT5 VIN encodes. The Cadillac VIN decoder returns the same core attributes — year, plant, model, drivetrain — for both ICE and EV Cadillacs. The upcoming Escalade IQ (EV) will use the same VIN structure with plant code A (Arlington).
Ready to Decode a Cadillac VIN?
Enter any 17-character Cadillac VIN to break it down character-by-character — WMI, model year, GM plant, engine, and RPO cross-reference — free, instantly.
Related VIN Checks
More tools to verify any vehicle's history