Decode a Mercedes-Benz VIN
How to read a Mercedes-Benz VIN (position by position)
Every Mercedes-Benz built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 27 WMIs used on Mercedes-Benz vehicles, such as 1MB, 4JG and 55S.
| Position | Part | On a Mercedes-Benz VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, W (the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Germany) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 1MB, 4JG, 55S, 8BN, 8BR, 8BT and 21 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Mercedes-Benz's own codes for model, body, engine and restraints |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | G (2016) to S (2025) for current Mercedes-Benz models |
| 11 | Plant | Mercedes-Benz plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Mercedes-Benz's production sequence |
Mercedes-Benz WMI codes
Mercedes-Benz WMIs point to 4 countries of manufacture: the United States (1MB, 4JG, 55S), Argentina (8BN, 8BR, 8BT, 8BU), Brazil (9DB) and Germany (W1K, W1N, W1W, W1X…). 3 of them are shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers Mercedes-Benz WMIs for truck, suv / mpv, passenger car, incomplete vehicle and bus vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (also Freightliner) | GERMANY | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| WDA | MERCEDES-BENZ, AG | GERMANY | Incomplete Vehicle |
| WDB | MERCEDES-BENZ CARS (also Maybach) | GERMANY | Passenger Car |
| 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 (also Evobus) | GERMANY | Bus |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Mercedes-Benz itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Mercedes-Benz VIN.
Mercedes-Benz model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter carries S, a 2025 Mercedes-Benz Tourrider Business carries S and a 2025 Mercedes-Benz Tourrider Premium carries S. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Mercedes-Benz
- On the dashboard, at the base of the windshield on the driver side (read it from outside).
- On the label in the driver-side door jamb.
- On the title, registration and insurance card.
- Often stamped on the engine bay firewall or the frame.
Mercedes-Benz recalls
NHTSA lists 935 Mercedes-Benz vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2019 model year has the most, with 132; 2020–2024 models account for 379.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 38 |
| 2023 | 61 |
| 2022 | 70 |
| 2021 | 92 |
| 2020 | 118 |
| 2019 | 132 |
| 2018 | 81 |
| 2017 | 80 |
| 2016 | 82 |
| 2015 | 51 |
| 2014 | 32 |
| 2013 | 24 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2008 | 6 |
Mercedes-Benz models in vPIC
vPIC lists 32 Mercedes-Benz models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- A-Class 2019–2022
- AMG GT 2016–2025
- B-Class 2016–2022
- C-Class 2016–2025
- CLA-Class 2016–2025
- CLE 2024–2025
- CLS-Class 2016–2023
- E-Class 2016–2025
- EQB-Class 2022–2025
- EQE-Class Sedan 2023–2025
- EQE-Class SUV 2023–2025
- EQS-Class Sedan 2022–2025
- EQS-Class SUV 2023–2025
- eSprinter 2024–2025
- G-Class 2016–2025
- GL-Class 2016
- GLA-Class 2016–2025
- GLB-Class 2020–2025
- GLC-Class 2016–2025
- GLE-Class 2016–2025
- GLK-Class 2016–2020
- GLS-Class 2016–2025
- M-Class 2016–2019
- Metris 2016–2023
- S-Class 2016–2025
- SL-Class 2016–2025
- SLC-Class 2017–2020
- SLK-Class 2016
- SLS-Class 2016–2022
- Sprinter 2016–2025
- Tourrider Business 2025
- Tourrider Premium 2025
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Mercedes-Benz by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Mercedes-Benz models from 2016 to 2025 it runs from G to S (L = 2020, R = 2024). The same letters were used 30 years earlier.
What does a Mercedes-Benz VIN tell you?
The maker and country (characters 1–3), model, body and engine (4–8), a check digit (9), the model year (10), the plant (11) and the serial number (12–17). It does not record color, options or accident history.
Can I find a Mercedes-Benz paint code from the VIN?
Usually not: the paint code isn't part of the VIN. It's printed on the vehicle's information label, often in the driver's door jamb, and a Mercedes-Benz dealer can look it up from the VIN.