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 1823

  • 52072198 1975 USA via Baltimore, Philadelphia
    yesterday
  • 72114854 1977 USA via Washington D.C.
    yesterday
  • 72023693 1977 Unknown (928)
    yesterday
  • 22205439 1972 Austria via Salzburg
    yesterday
  • 82072672 1978 USA via Jacksonville, Honolulu
    yesterday
  • 9007627 1969 The Netherlands
    yesterday
  • 8180936 1968 USA via Los Angeles
    May 28, 2020