If you are shopping a used Camaro in mid October 2026, the first decision is fifth gen (2010-2015, built in Oshawa, Ontario) or sixth gen (2016-2024, built in Lansing, Michigan). The sixth gen is the better car to drive and the fifth gen is the cheaper way into a V8 or a supercharged ZL1. After that, the trim matters less than three checks: decode the VIN so the engine matches the ad, clear the open recalls, and pull a title history, because a lot of these cars have been crashed, rebuilt, and resold with a fresh coat of wax.
On October 14, 2026 we ran pattern VINs through NHTSA's free vPIC decoder. Fifth-gen cars start with 2G1F and came back with an Oshawa plant: 2G1FB1EV decoded as a 2010 LT with the 3.6-liter LLT V6, 2G1FB1E3 as a 2012 LT with the LFX V6, 2G1FK1EJ as a 2010 2SS with the 6.2 L99, 2G1FK1EW as a 2SS with the 6.2 LS3, and 2G1FL1EP as a 2013 ZL1 with the supercharged LSA. Sixth-gen cars start with 1G1F and list Lansing Grand River: 1G1FB1RX was a 2016 1LT with the 2.0 turbo LTG, 1G1FB1RS the 3.6 LGX V6, 1G1FF1R7 a 1SS with the LT1, and 1G1FJ1R6 a 2018 ZL1 with the supercharged LT4. Our Chevrolet VIN decoder post covers what the other characters mean.
Trust the engine code, not the trim field
One of our test patterns is a good warning. A 2014 2G1FZ1EE pattern came back from vPIC with trim "ZL1" but a 7.0-liter LS7, and the ZL1 never had that engine. Car and Driver's Z/28 road test lists the 505-hp 7.0 LS7 as the Z/28's engine, so that pattern is a Z/28 with a mislabeled trim. Sellers copy whatever a free decoder says, so you will see ads with the wrong badge in good faith and in bad faith. The eighth character is the engine, and it is much harder to fake than a stripe kit. If an "SS" decodes to a V6, or a "ZL1" decodes to a plain LT1, you are looking at a clone, and you should price it as the car the VIN says it is.
Fifth gen vs sixth gen, honestly
MotorTrend says the sixth gen moved to GM's Alpha platform, shared with the Cadillac CT4 and CT5, and came in roughly 200 pounds lighter than the old Zeta-based car. Launch engines were a 275-hp 2.0 turbo, a 335-hp 3.6 V6, and a 455-hp LT1 in the SS. The 650-hp ZL1 arrived for 2017, a 10-speed automatic showed up on the 2019 SS and later replaced the eight-speed, and the cheaper V8 LT1 trim landed in 2019. MotorTrend also docked it for poor outward visibility, a cramped cabin, and a tiny trunk opening. Sit in one before you commit, because that last part is not a small thing if this is your only car.
The fifth gen is bigger, heavier, and older inside, but the fast ones are getting interesting. Hagerty put the 2015 ZL1 at 580 hp with about 1,200 built for that year, the 2015 Z/28 at 505 hp with roughly 1,200 built and a $72,305 sticker, and the 2015 SS 1LE at 426 hp with about 2,600 made. Low volume cuts both ways. A real Z/28 or 1LE holds value, which is exactly why clones and parts-car rebuilds exist. If you want a second opinion on the money, the GV Aspirated video 6th Gen SS vs. 5th Gen ZL1 walks through that exact $40k choice.
Recalls to clear by VIN before you pay
Start with the big fifth-gen one. Recall 14V-346 covers all 2010-2014 Camaros built December 3, 2008 to May 23, 2014, 464,712 cars, where your knee can bump the flip key out of run and shut the engine off. The fix is a dealer removing the blade from the flip key and handing over two new keys and rings. If the seller still has the original flip key with its blade, it is probably still open. On the sixth gen, the one we would check first is 25V-148. GM's filing lists 50,147 2020-2022 Camaros with the 10-speed automatic, built April 15, 2019 to June 28, 2022, where control valve wear can cause harsh shifting and, rarely, a momentary wheel lock-up. Dealers add monitoring software. A 10-speed car that shifts hard on a test drive needs that VIN checked before anything else.
There are smaller ones too. 19V-086 includes some 2017 Camaros whose electric power steering assist may fail; the remedy is a new steering gear. Run the full VIN on NHTSA's tool, not the last eight digits a seller texts you. Our NHTSA recall check by VIN guide shows how, and checking Chevy recalls by VIN covers GM's own lookup.
Title and salvage traps on a cheap V8 coupe
Rear-drive V8 coupes get crashed, and a ZL1 that looks $8,000 under market usually has a reason in its past. The usual tricks are a rebuilt title washed through another state, an airbag that was "fixed" with a resistor, or a salvage auction listing with photos the seller hopes you never find. Ask for the full 17-character VIN up front and match it to the dash plate, the door jamb label, and the title. CARFAX says its reports cover title, odometer, ownership, and accident records, which is where a brand or a rollback shows up. Our salvage title inspection checklist is worth a read before you look at any car with a past.
As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and the CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle runs about $6.75, against roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Confirm at checkout, since prices move. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and are not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. Cross-shopping the Ford? Our used Ford Mustang buying guide runs the same checks on the other side of the rivalry.
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