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 3655

  • 42021482 1974 Germany via Darmstadt
    April 24, 2024
  • 8032824 1968 USA via Los Angeles
    April 24, 2024
  • 92004935 1979 Germany via Frankfurt
    April 24, 2024
  • 9209074 1969 USA via Chicago
    April 22, 2024
  • 22077764 1972 The Netherlands
    April 21, 2024
  • 12226064 1971 United Kingdom via Ramsgate
    April 20, 2024
  • 22233009 1972 Panama
    April 19, 2024