Mercedes-Benz VIN Location

Mercedes stamps the VIN in several places, which is useful when one is unreadable or when you are checking that a car has not been pieced together from two. The usual locations are the base of the windshield and the driver’s door jamb, and most models also carry it on the floor in front of the front passenger seat under a carpet flap. Some have it near the spare wheel well or behind the rear seat.

Where to find Mercedes-Benz VIN?

You may find the VIN using any method or location below:

Driver’s door jamb

You may also look above the door jamb to find the VIN.

Windshield

The lower side of the driver’s side windshield.

Vehicle identification plate

The vehicle identification plate is a label or plate on the door pillar (B pillar), visible when a front door is open. It shows the VIN along with weight ratings.

Trunk, Spare Wheel Well and Rear Seat

Within the vicinity of the car’s spare tire slot in the trunk, you can find the VIN.

You can remove the back seat to expose the VIN.

Under Front Passenger Seat

You can look below the passenger side seat or within the vicinity of the passenger footwell.

Reach under the front passenger seat at the center but the front section of the seat. You will need to lift the carpet or a black plastic cover.

Vehicle Body

You will also find Mercedes-Benz VIN in the engine bay on the firewall.

You will find the VIN on the strut tower in older Mercedes-Benz models.

In some models, you can find the VIN on the fenders.

Engine Control Module

Using a scanner that can read Mercedes VIN, you can easily get your VIN from the Engine Control Module (ECM).

Insurance Card / Registration

You may also find your VIN on your Insurance card or your registration.

Mercedes-Benz VIN Location by Model

• A-Class (W176) 
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • on the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped onto the vehicle body
  • on the floor in front of the right-hand front seat
• B-Class (W246)
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • on the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped onto the vehicle body
  • on the floor in front of the right-hand front seat
• C-Class (W204)
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • on the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped on the vehicle identification plate
  • stamped onto the vehicle body.
  • The floor in front of the right-hand front seat.
• E-Class (W212), (C207), and CLS (C218)
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • at the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped on the vehicle identification plate
  • stamped onto the vehicle body.
  • on the floor in front of the right-hand front seat
• SLK (R172)
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • on the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped on the vehicle identification plate
  • stamped onto the vehicle body
  • on the floor in front of the right-hand front seat
• M-Class (W166) and GL-Class (X166)
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • at the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped on the vehicle identification plate
  • stamped onto the vehicle body.
  • The lower part of the right-hand A-pillar
• S-Class (W221) and CL-Class (C216)
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • at the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped on the vehicle identification plate
  • stamped onto the vehicle body
  • under the trim behind the rear seat armrest.
• GLK-Class (X204)
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • on the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped onto the vehicle body
  • the floor in front of the right-hand front seat.
• R-Class (W251)
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • on the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped on the vehicle identification plate
  • stamped onto the vehicle body
  • the floor in front of the right-hand rear seat
• G-Class (463)
  • on the vehicle identification plate
  • on the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped onto the vehicle body.
  • Stamped onto the chassis on the right front wheel well.
• SLS-Class (C197)
  • on the vehicle identification plate On the right-hand door
  • on the lower edge of the windshield
  • stamped on the vehicle identification plate
  • stamped onto the vehicle body
  • the floor in front of the right-hand front seat

What is a Mercedes-Benz VIN?

The car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique identifier for a vehicle. It consists of 17 mixed characters of numbers and letters.

Coded within the VINs are the car’s unique features, specifications, and manufacturer.

The VIN can reference track recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts, and insurance coverage.

How to decode the VIN Number?

• The first character is a code where the vehicle was built.
• The second and third characters are code for the manufacturer.
• The fourth through eighth characters describe the vehicle itself: model line, body style, engine and restraint system.
• The ninth character is a check digit. It is calculated from the other sixteen characters, so a VIN with a single mistyped character will fail the check. This is how databases catch transcription errors.
• The tenth character is the model year of the car.
• The eleventh character indicates which plant assembled the vehicle.
• The last 6 characters pertain to the serial number of the vehicle.

The easiest way to decode a full Mercedes VIN is to enter it on this VIN decoder.

The chassis code matters more than the model name

When you order parts for a Mercedes, the model name on the trunk lid is rarely enough. Two cars both badged C-Class can be completely different vehicles underneath, which is why the chassis code shown in the list above, the W204 or W205 of a C-Class for example, is what parts suppliers and workshops actually work from. The VIN is what identifies which one you have.

Give the VIN rather than the year and model whenever you are buying anything electrical, anything related to the engine, or anything that changed partway through a production run. It costs nothing to supply and it eliminates the most common cause of a part arriving that does not fit.

When you will be asked for your VIN

Beyond parts ordering, the VIN is what you need for a recall check with the manufacturer or the national safety regulator, for an insurance claim or policy, for registration and title work, and for pulling the service history held against the car. It is also required for any key or immobilizer work, since locksmiths and specialists such as Module Medics need the VIN to match replacement keys and electronic ignition components to your specific vehicle.

Check that the VIN matches in more than one place before you buy a used Mercedes. The plate on the dashboard, the sticker in the door jamb and the number stamped on the body should all agree, and so should the VIN on the title and registration. A mismatch, a missing plate, or a sticker that looks like it has been disturbed is a reason to walk away rather than negotiate.

Conclusion

A vehicle VIN is one of the most important pieces of information you must have; aside from tracking recalls and warranty claims, it is also an important tool for law enforcement to verify if a vehicle is stolen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the paint code on a Mercedes?

On most models it is on the label in the driver’s door jamb or on the radiator support, and it is also listed on the vehicle data card. It is usually a three digit number, such as 197 for Obsidian Black.

What is the Mercedes data card?

It is a printout of the factory build data for your VIN, including option codes, paint and engine. A Mercedes dealer can print it, and some VIN decoders show the same information.

What do the first letters of a Mercedes VIN mean?

They identify the manufacturer and plant. WDD and WDB are common on German built cars, WDC on many SUVs, and 4JG on SUVs built in Alabama.

Related guides: YOUCANIC VIN Decoder

---

Related Products

---