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 3902

  • 32019179 1973 USA via Los Angeles
    Sept. 13, 2025
  • 72036041 1977 Austria via Salzburg
    Sept. 9, 2025
  • 82103671 1978 Deutschland via Ratingen-Lintorf
    Sept. 9, 2025
  • 02241643 1970 USA via San Francisco
    Sept. 9, 2025
  • 02107745 1970 Sweden, South
    Sept. 7, 2025
  • 02117601 1970 United Kingdom via Ramsgate
    Sept. 6, 2025
  • 32232359 1973 France
    Sept. 4, 2025