Mercedes VIN decoder
Enter a Mercedes-Benz VIN to see the model year, model, engine and the plant it was built in, from NHTSA’s database.
Find yours on the driver’s side of the dashboard, through the windshield, or on the door jamb sticker.
Mercedes-Benz manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and, usually, the kind of vehicle. These are the codes NHTSA lists for Mercedes-Benz; codes marked shared also appear on sister brands’ vehicles.
| VIN starts with | Built in | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|
| 1MB | United States | Truck |
| 4JG | United States | SUV / MPV |
| 55S | United States | Passenger Car |
| 8BT | Argentina | SUV / MPV |
| 8BU | Argentina | Truck |
| 9DB | Brazil | Truck |
| W1A | – | Passenger Car |
| W1K | Germany | Passenger Car |
| W1L | – | Passenger Car |
| W1M | – | Passenger Car |
| W1N | Germany | SUV / MPV |
| W1P | – | SUV / MPV |
| W1R | – | SUV / MPV |
| W1W | Germany | SUV / MPV |
| W1Y | Germany | Truck |
| WD3 | Germany | Truck |
| WD4 (shared) | Germany | SUV / MPV |
| WDB (shared) | Germany | Passenger Car |
| WDC | Germany | SUV / MPV |
| WDD | Germany | Passenger Car |
How to read a Mercedes VIN
- 1–3: the manufacturer code from the table above.
- 4–8: Mercedes-Benz’s own codes for the model line, body, engine and safety restraints. The decoder reads these from NHTSA’s data.
- 9: the check digit, which catches typos.
- 10: the model year, for example R for 2024, S for 2025 and T for 2026.
- 11: the assembly plant.
- 12–17: the serial number.
See the full VIN year chart and what every position means on the main VIN decoder page.
Other VIN decoders
- Ford VIN decoder
- BMW VIN decoder
- Chevy VIN decoder
- Honda VIN decoder
- GMC VIN decoder
- Dodge VIN decoder
- Jeep VIN decoder
- Tesla VIN decoder
- Ram VIN decoder
- Nissan VIN decoder
- Toyota VIN decoder
- Hyundai VIN decoder
- Kia VIN decoder
- Subaru VIN decoder
- Volkswagen VIN decoder
Questions
What does a Mercedes-Benz VIN start with?
Mercedes-Benz VINs begin with a three-character manufacturer code (WMI). Codes on file with NHTSA include 1MB, 4JG, 55S, 8BT, 8BU, 9DB, W1A and W1K, among others. The first character shows the country: W for Germany, W for Other and 1 for United States.
How do I find the year of my Mercedes from the VIN?
Read the 10th character. For a modern Mercedes, a letter in the 7th position means 2010 or later: N is 2022, P 2023, R 2024, S 2025, T 2026. The decoder above works it out for you.
Is this Mercedes VIN decoder free?
Yes. It uses NHTSA’s public vPIC database, which Mercedes-Benz reports its VIN codes to, so there’s nothing to pay or sign up for.
Where is the VIN on a Mercedes?
At the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side, and on the sticker in the driver’s door jamb. It’s also on the title, registration and insurance card.
