Free Saturn VIN Decoder & Lookup

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5 min read

Saturn VIN Check: What is a Saturn VIN?

General Motors established Saturn Corporation in 1985 as an autonomous automotive manufacturing enterprise operating independently from Spring Hill, Tennessee assembly facilities, representing innovative corporate restructuring approaches within traditional American automotive industry frameworks. Corporate headquarters relocated to Detroit, Michigan, during the final operational years, serving primarily American and Canadian consumer markets through distinctive vehicle offerings that emphasized unique design philosophies and alternative manufacturing methodologies. Despite ambitious corporate initiatives and innovative product development strategies, Saturn consistently failed to achieve sustainable market penetration or establish adequate consumer loyalty, ultimately resulting in complete brand dissolution during 2010.

Professional vehicle authentication requires comprehensive identification analysis for Saturn ownership verification and detailed specification confirmation throughout the brand's 1985-2009 production timeline under General Motors Corporation oversight. Advanced identification technology utilizes standardized seventeen-character alphanumeric sequences containing essential manufacturing data and configuration details. Comprehensive Saturn VIN decoder analysis reveals crucial production information, factory specifications, and original equipment installations necessary for accurate vehicle authentication, parts identification, and historical documentation purposes.

List of Saturn Models

Saturn VIN Number Lookup

The Vehicle Identification Number is a unique code issued to every vehicle by the manufacturer. It consists of 17 characters, including numbers and letters. The first three characters tell you where the car was made, and the next five characters tell you what month it was built. The remaining characters are unique to that specific model and its matching parts. Our Saturn VIN lookup helps you verify information from the seller by telling you what each of these characters mean.

While our free Saturn VIN check will provide manufacturing information, a vehicle history report can tell you much more. With access to government and commercial databases, we can run a vehicle owner lookup and search for accident reports, title registrations, theft reports, liens, and other information tied to the car. We collect this information in an easy-to-read report that can tip you off about potential problems including legal issues and accident damage.

The Saturn VIN decoder offers several features that make it a useful tool for anyone who needs to know more about a Saturn vehicle, such as the vehicle specifications.

The VIN consists of 17 digits and conveys all the important information about a Saturn vehicle, including its accident history, engine type, production year, model, and matching parts. So, if you're shopping around and need to run a motorcycle VIN check or an RV/ATV check, we've got you covered.

Where to Search for the VIN?

Where can you find the VIN on a Saturn? The vehicle identification number is unique to each vehicle and can be found on a wide range of official documents, including the title, registration, and insurance policy. It's also added to several locations on the car. Here are the most common places where you'll find the VIN on a Saturn:

  • Dashboard - Look at the dashboard through the windshield to find a metal plate near the bottom corner of the glass.
  • Driver-Side Door - Check the driver-side door and look for a sticker between the sill and latch. The VIN is next to a barcode on older models. On newer models, look for a silver sticker with your VIN on it on the side of the B pillar between the front and rear doors.
  • Firewall or Inner Fenders - The VIN plate for older vehicles is located on the firewall. More recent models may have the VIN etched into the middle of the firewall, or on one of the inner fenders.
  • Engine or Transmission - On most models, Saturn stamped the VIN on the engine and transmission. It can be located on the rear of the engine or on the transmission bell housing. Some front-wheel drive manual transmissions have the VIN etched into the top center of the case; other engines also have it etched into the front of the block, but this is usually obscured by accessory belts and other components. Keep in mind that these numbers won't be correct if the engine or transmission were replaced.

If you don't have your vehicle identification number handy, we also offer license plate lookup, which finds and decodes the VIN for the vehicle currently registered to that plate.

Comprehensive VIN Decoder Guide

The Saturn VIN decoder works by analyzing the 17-character VIN code and breaking it down into different sections. Each section of the code represents different information about the car, such as the country of origin, the manufacturer, the model, the year of production, and the engine type. The Saturn VIN decoder then interprets the code and provides the decoded information in a clear and easy-to-read format.

Characters 1, 2, and 3: World Make Identifier

These characters identify the country where the vehicle was manufactured, the manufacturer, and the division.

1st – Country

CodeStandard

1

U.S.

5

U.S.

2nd – Manufacturer 

CodeManufacturer

G

General Motors

3rd – Make

CodeMake

8

Saturn

Z

Saturn

Character 4 and 5: Platform and Series

CodePlatform

A

lon

AF

lon 1 (Std Trans)

AG/ AJ

Ion 2 (Auto Trans)

AK

lon 3 (Std Trans)

AL

lon 3 (Auto Trans)

AZ

lon 2 (Std Trans)

JR

LS (Std Trans)

JS

LS (Auto Trans)

JT

LS1 (Std Trans)

JU

LS1 (Auto Trans), LW1 (Auto Trans)

JW

LS2/LWS (Auto Trans), L300/LW300

ZE

SC1 (Std Trans)

ZF

SC1 (Auto Trans), SL (Std Trans)

ZG

SC2 (Std Trans), SL1 (Std Trans), SW1 (Std Trans)

ZH

SC2 (Auto Trans), SL1 (Auto Trans),SW1 (Auto Trans, LHD)

ZJ

SL2 (Std Trans), SW2 (Std Trans)

ZJK

L Series

ZK

SL2 (Auto Trans), SW2 (Auto Trans, 1993-99)

ZM

SW1 (Auto Trans, RHD)

ZN

SC1 (Std Trans), SW2 (Std Trans, 2000-01)

ZP

SC1 (Auto Trans)

ZR

SC2 (Std Trans)

ZY

SC2 (Auto Trans)

 

Character 6 – Body Type

CodeBody Type

1

2dr coupe 

1

3dr coupe 

1

4dr coupe

5

4dr sedan 

5

4dr coupe 

8

5dr S/W

 

Character 7 – Restraint System

CodeRestraint System

2

Manual Belts (Dual Front)

4

Automatic Belts (91-96)

4

Manual Belts (w/Driver/Pass-Front/Side)

5

Automatic Belts (w/Drive)

5

Manual Belts (w/Driver/Pass-Front/Side)



Character 8 - Engine Type Year Manufactured Model

The VIN is a unique serial number used to identify the engine of your vehicle. Some characters in the VIN are reused for different engines; so, it’s hard to decode directly. Our search tools do this work for you.

Character 9 – Check Digits

It is generated by a formula using all North American VINs. When entering data, this helps to catch errors.

Character 10 – Model Year

There are alternate letters and numbers in this character, like 0-9. There is no use of letters that can be confused with numbers, such as "O" and "Q". 

Character 11 – Factory

It identifies where the vehicle was built at its final assembly plant. You'll commonly see these Saturn factory codes:

CodePlant

S

Spring Hill, Tennessee

Y

Wilmington, Delaware

Z

Spring Hill, Tennessee

Remaining Characters – Serial Number

Serial numbers were assigned sequentially to each product line by Saturn. It is possible for two cars to have the same serial number, but they will not have the same VIN.

Saturn VIN Samples

Saturn recalls by VIN is a tool that can help you check your Saturn vehicle history. The VIN number consists of 17 digits and conveys all the important information about a Saturn vehicle, including accident history, engine type, production year, model, and matching parts. If you want to buy a new or second-hand Saturn vehicle, always use a VIN decoder before signing papers to avoid buying a stolen or damaged vehicle. Here are some samples of Saturn VIN:

1G8AF52F15Z108321

1G8AF52F73Z178791

1G8AF52F85Z141171

Frequently Asked Questions

Reputable decoders use public or NMVTIS-approved facts, as well as insurance records, auction photos, and other legal details. Always avoid suspicious sites that require early payment without explaining all further operations.

Free VIN checks cross-reference national stolen vehicle databases to indicate if the sequence is associated with theft or cloning. Drivers are aware of whether sequences are cloned or vehicles are stolen.

Cars built before 1981 feature abbreviated identification numbers of 11-13 characters that need expert interpretation. Certain state DMVs mandate police officer verification for these vintage vehicle registrations.

Vehicle identification numbers enable warranty verification through manufacturer and independent service platforms. These systems reveal original service dates, mileage restrictions, and current powertrain protection status.

Yes. Some tools let drivers enter sequences to pull the factory Monroney label. This includes MSRP and option codes.

Generally, yes. The sequence is visible through the windshield anyway. However, never post documents that link to personal or sensitive data, as this could expose you to identity theft or fraud.

Yes. Look for “commercial, fleet, taxi, or rental use” markers. Check the ownership history section of the comprehensive reports.

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