The M-plate is one of the identification plates found on VW busses. Short for Mehraustattung (optional extras in German), it contains production codes with information about equipment, manufacturing date, destination, specs and more.

Find it

Model years 68-76

Image modified from The Samba forum and album

Before model year 1977: the M-plate is located on the metal partition behind the driver's seat (passenger's seat for RHD vehicles).

Model years 77-79

Image modified from The Samba forum

Model year 1977 and after: the M-plate is located under the dashboard, on top of the metal fresh air pipe.

Decode it

M-plate decoder

image/svg+xml CC CCC CCC M01 M01 M01 M01 M01 PPPPII DD D M02 M02 M02 M02 UUUU TTTT AA E XX X

Use the automatic decoder to find out more about the original configuration, equipment and extras for a Type 2 bus. Simply choose the model year and fill in the M-plate fields.

Decode an M-plate»

M-plate submissions 3778

  • 22182953 1972 USA via Seattle
    Dec. 16, 2024
  • 12073240 1971 Not specified
    Dec. 16, 2024
  • 22000256 1972 Not specified
    Dec. 15, 2024
  • 62085160 1976 USA via San Francisco
    Dec. 12, 2024
  • 82152498 1978 USA via Los Angeles
    Dec. 12, 2024
  • 42018558 1974 Austria via Salzburg
    Dec. 8, 2024
  • 9073372 1969 Not specified
    Dec. 8, 2024