Mercedes-Benz uses the following VIN codes and formats:
(Note) This chart is not applicable to Mercedes-Benz products produced outside USA or made for markets other than North America. European/World market cars use a different system for encoding VIN numbers.
1960-1983
Position 1-3 – model 450 sl
Position 4-6 – chassis type & engine size designation 107 4520cc
Position 7 – 1=LH Drive (made in Germany), 2=RH Drive (made in Germany), 5=LH Drive CKD, 6=RH Drive CKD (Complete Knocked Down, assembled outside Germany)1
Position 8 – 0=Manual transmission ,1=Hydraulic clutch ,2= Automatic transmission 2
Position 9-14 – Construction serial number 10704312006193
August 1983-present
Positions 1-3, World Manufacturer Identifier:
- WDB Daimler-Benz (Daimler-Chrysler after 1999)
- WDC Daimler-Chrysler
- WDD Daimler AG
Position 4, model or series:
- A W123
- B W102 (also W107, SL class)
- D W201
- C W126 S-Class
- E W124 E-Class
- F R129 SL-Class
- K R170 SLK-Class
- G W140 S-Class
- H W202 C-Class
- J W210 E-Class
- N W220 S-Class
- P W215 CL-Class
- R W203 C-Class
- S R230 SL-Class
- U W211 E-Class
- W R171 SLK-Class
w221 s-klass w222 s-klass
Position 5, body style:
- A = Roadster (at least for the W107)
- B = Long Body
- F = Sedan
- G = Sedan Long WB
- H = Wagon
- J = Coupe
- K = Cabriolet/Roadster
- N = ? (found on 2003 C230K Coupe)
- M = AMG
- R = Uncertain, but applies to the W463
On older models, this indicated the engine type, through much of the 1990’s:
- A = Gasoline
- B = Diesel
- D = 4Matic Gasoline
Positions 6-7, model within the series:
Position 8, safety restraint system:
- C seat belt + emergency pretensioners
- D seat belt + emergency pretensioners, driver front air bags
- E seat belt + emergency pretensioners, driver and passenger front air bags
- F seat belt + emergency pretensioners, driver and passenger front and side air bags
Position 9, check digit
Position 10, model year:
- Model Year Encoding
Position 11, production plant:
- A-E Sindelfingen
- F-H Bremen
- J Rastatt
- X Graz
- T Karmann
- M Woking, England (SLR)
Positions 12-17, chassis number
Commercial Vehicles
Position 1-3 WDB – Daimler Benz (WDF for V Class)
Position 4-6, Model
- 638 – Mark 1 Vito
- 639 – Mark 2 Vito
- 670 – Vario
- 901 – Sprinter
- 902 – Sprinter
- 903 – Sprinter
- 904 – Sprinter
- 905 – Sprinter
- 906 – Sprinter
- 930 – Actros Rigids
- 933 – Actros MP2 concrete mixer
- 934 – Actros MP2 tractor
- 944 – Axor Tractor
- 950 – Axor Rigids / Actros Mk1 Rigids
- 954 – Actros Mk1 Tractor
- 957 – Econic
- 963 – NEW ACTROS MP4 (Common-Rail engine)
- 964 – NEW ACTROS MP4 (Common-Rail engine)
- 970 – Atego
- 976 – Atego Fire
Position 7-9, Weight and Length code
Position 10, Drive indicator
- 1 Left hand drive
- 2 Right hand drive
Position 11, Plant code
Position 12-17, Serial Number
Position 18, Check Digit