Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN codes)/Mercedes-Benz/VIN Codes

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
• 930 - Actros Rigids
• 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