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Kia VIN decoder
A Kia VIN has 17 characters, and Kia VINs commonly start with KNA, KNE and U5Y, which identify the manufacturer and where the car was built. North-American-market Kia VINs always encode the model year in position 10. European-market VINs from this maker may not, so RevalVIN asks for the model year when it matters. The Free VIN preview identifies a Kia VIN at no charge, a full VIN decode costs €0.10 per successful result, and RevalVIN adds stolen, mileage, valuation and ownership-cost checks on top.
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Kia VIN prefixes
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI).
| VIN starts with | Meaning |
|---|---|
KNA | Kia (South Korea) |
KNE | Kia export (South Korea) |
U5Y | Kia (Slovakia) |
Common prefixes, not an exhaustive list.
Does a Kia VIN show the model year?
North-American-market Kia VINs always encode the model year in position 10. European-market VINs from this maker may not, so RevalVIN asks for the model year when it matters.
RevalVIN never guesses the model year from a registration date. If a recorded first-registration date is earlier than the manufacture year, it shows the manufacture year instead. The model year code table explains each character.
Where to find the VIN on a Kia
- At the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, readable from outside the car
- On a label in the driver's door frame
- On the registration document, such as the V5C in the UK or the Zulassungsbescheinigung in Germany
- In the service book and on insurance documents
Compare the VIN in at least two places before buying.
What is free and what is paid
The Free VIN preview identifies a Kia VIN at no charge, straight from public registers. A full VIN decode costs €0.10 per successful result and adds the specifications the preview leaves out.
Free, and unlimited
- The make and the manufacturer that built the car
- The group that owns the marque
- Plant city and country of manufacture
- Manufacture year, when the VIN encodes it
- Model generation, or the model range the type code covers
€0.10 with a full VIN decode
- Fuel and transmission
- Engine power
- Body style and drivetrain
- Factory colour
- First registration
- Factory features, grouped by safety, assistance, security and interior
The free preview needs a free account, but never a wallet balance or a card. See the Free VIN preview, the VIN decode and full pricing.
What you can check for a Kia
| Check | Coverage | Wallet price |
|---|---|---|
| Free VIN preview | Any Kia VIN, free and unlimited | Free |
| VIN decode | Any Kia VIN | €0.10 |
| Stolen vehicle check | 5 national police databases | €0.20 |
| Mileage history | Where odometer records exist | €0.20 |
| Vehicle photos | Where photos were published | €0.20 |
| Market valuation | 24 markets | €0.30 |
| Time to sell | 13 markets, where enough listings exist | €0.30 |
| Cost of ownership | 4 countries | €0.30 |
| Market listings | Current market listings | €0.10 |
| Safety recalls | Vehicles sold in the United States | €0.10 |
Commonly checked Kia models: Sportage, Ceed, Niro and Picanto. Get them all at once in the Complete report.
Individual vehicle records, not a comprehensive accident, title or ownership report. Missing records do not prove a clean history.
Frequently asked questions
What do Kia VINs start with?
Common Kia VIN prefixes include KNA (Kia (South Korea)), KNE (Kia export (South Korea)), U5Y (Kia (Slovakia)). This is not an exhaustive list.
Does a Kia VIN show the model year?
North-American-market Kia VINs always encode the model year in position 10. European-market VINs from this maker may not, so RevalVIN asks for the model year when it matters.
Is there a free Kia VIN decoder?
Yes. The Free VIN preview reads any Kia VIN at no charge and returns the marque, the manufacturer and owning group, the plant, the manufacture year and the model generation. It needs a free account but no wallet balance and no card. Fuel, transmission, engine power, body, drivetrain, colour and factory features come from the paid VIN decode.
How much does a Kia VIN check cost?
The Free VIN preview is free: it identifies the Kia marque, plant, manufacture year and model generation at no charge. A full VIN decode, which adds fuel, transmission, power, body, drivetrain, colour and factory features, costs €0.10 per successful result from a RevalVIN wallet. The Complete report, with history, value and ownership-cost sections, costs up to €0.99 from a wallet or €3.99 by card.
Where is the VIN on a Kia?
Usually at the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, on a label in the driver's door frame, and on the registration document.
Check a Kia before you buy
Create a free account, run the free preview on the VIN, then add the full decode, history and value checks you need.