Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder
Enter a Mercedes-Benz VIN to see the model, year, engine, factory and open safety recalls. Free, with official NHTSA data.
About Mercedes-Benz VINs
Mercedes-Benz changed its codes over time. Older German-built cars start with WDB or WDD, newer ones with W1K, and SUVs with WDC or W1N. SUVs built in Vance, Alabama start with 4JG. Sprinter vans have their own codes.
Mercedes-Benz is part of Mercedes-Benz Group.
Good to know
- Positions 4 to 9 hold the model series (for example W205 for a C-Class generation) and body code.
- Factory options are printed on the data card and as codes in the service records.
- The VIN is on the windshield, on the B-pillar label and often under the passenger-side front carpet.
Mercedes-Benz manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 27 codes for Mercedes-Benz. The first character shows the region where the vehicle was built (1, 4, 5 USA; 2 Canada; 3 Mexico; J Japan; K Korea; W Germany; Z Italy).
| Code | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type | Also used by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1MB | Mercedes-Benz Truck Company Inc | United States (USA) | Truck | – |
| 4JG | Mercedes-Benz Of North America, Inc. | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 55S | Mercedes-Benz Cars | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | – |
| 8BN | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Sprinter) | Argentina | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 8BR | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Sprinter) | Argentina | Bus | – |
| 8BT | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Sprinter) | Argentina | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 8BU | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Sprinter) | Argentina | Truck | – |
| 9DB | Mercedes-Benz Truck Company Inc | Brazil | Truck | – |
| W1A | Mercedes-Benz, AG | – | Passenger Car | – |
| W1K | Mercedes-Benz Cars | Germany | Passenger Car | – |
| W1L | Mercedes-Benz, AG | – | Passenger Car | – |
| W1M | Mercedes-Benz, AG | – | Passenger Car | – |
| W1N | Mercedes-Benz, AG | Germany | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| W1P | Mercedes-Benz, AG | – | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| W1R | Mercedes-Benz, AG | – | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| W1W | Mercedes-Benz, AG | Germany | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| W1X | Mercedes-Benz, AG | Germany | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| W1Y | Mercedes-Benz, AG | Germany | Truck | – |
| W1Z | Mercedes-Benz, AG | Germany | Bus | – |
| WD3 | Mercedes-Benz, AG | Germany | Truck | – |
| WD4 | Mercedes-Benz, AG | Germany | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Freightliner |
| WDA | Mercedes-Benz, AG | Germany | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| WDB | Mercedes-Benz Cars | Germany | Passenger Car | Maybach |
| WDC | Mercedes-Benz Cars | Germany | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| WDD | Mercedes-Benz Cars | Germany | Passenger Car | – |
| WDZ | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Sprinter) | Germany | Bus | – |
| WEB | Daimler Buses GmbH | Germany | Bus | Evobus |
Some codes are shared by several brands of the same group. The full decode shows the brand.
How to read a Mercedes-Benz VIN
| Position | Meaning | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Manufacturer code (WMI) | Maker, brand and country, as in the table above. |
| 4-8 | Vehicle descriptor | Model, body, engine and safety equipment. Each maker sets its own layout here. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that catches typing errors and fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the year (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory code, set by the maker. |
| 12-17 | Serial number | The production number of that vehicle. |
Model year codes
The 10th character of a Mercedes-Benz VIN is the model year. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used. The codes repeat every 30 years.
Mercedes-Benz models in the NHTSA database
NHTSA lists 62 model names under Mercedes-Benz. Decode a VIN to see which one yours is, with its exact trim and engine.
- 190
- 240
- 260
- 280
- 300
- 350
- 380
- 400
- 420
- 500
- 560
- 600
- A-Class
- AMG GT
- B-Class
- C-Class
- CL-Class
- CLA-Class
- CLE
- CLK-Class
- CLS-Class
- E-Class
- EQB-Class
- EQC-Class
- EQE-Class Sedan
- EQE-Class SUV
- EQS-Class Sedan
- EQS-Class SUV
- eSprinter
- G-Class
- GL-Class
- GLA-Class
- GLB-Class
- GLC-Class
- GLE-Class
- GLK-Class
- GLS-Class
- L1013
- L1113
- L1116
- L1117
- L1316
- L1317
- L1319
- L1418
- L1419
- LP1219
- LP1419
- LPS1525
- M-Class
- Metris
- ML-Class
- R-Class
- S-Class
- SL-Class
- SLC-Class
- SLK-Class
- SLR McLaren
- SLS-Class
- Sprinter
Show all 62 models
- Tourrider Business
- Tourrider Premium
Vehicle types NHTSA lists for Mercedes-Benz
Bus, Incomplete Vehicle, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), Passenger Car, Truck
Where to find the VIN on a Mercedes-Benz
Windshield
At the bottom of the windshield on the driver side, readable from outside.
Driver door frame
On the label on the door pillar, with tire pressures and weights.
Papers
On the title, registration and insurance card.
Mercedes-Benz recalls by VIN
Every decoded Mercedes-Benz VIN on VinGear shows the safety recalls NHTSA lists for that model and year. To know whether the repair was already done on your vehicle, ask a Mercedes-Benz dealer or use Mercedes-Benz's own recall lookup with the VIN.
Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder questions
How do I decode a Mercedes-Benz VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN in the box at the top of this page and press Decode VIN. You get the model, year, engine, factory and safety recalls from NHTSA, free.
Is this Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding and recall checks are free with no sign-up. The data comes from NHTSA, the US vehicle safety agency.
What do the first three characters of a Mercedes-Benz VIN mean?
They are the manufacturer code (WMI): maker, brand and country of manufacture. NHTSA lists 27 codes for Mercedes-Benz; the table on this page shows them.
Does a Mercedes-Benz VIN show options or the owner?
No. The VIN codes the model, body, engine and factory, not options or colour. It never shows the owner, and VinGear does not look up owners.