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 3563

  • 9117929 1969 USA via St. Louis
    Nov. 27, 2023
  • 8007735 1968 Austria via Salzburg
    Nov. 26, 2023
  • 62142762 1976 Deutschland via Münster
    Nov. 23, 2023
  • 72013608 1977 Deutschland via Ratingen-Lintorf
    Nov. 22, 2023
  • 42099675 1974 USA
    Nov. 21, 2023
  • 9106348 1969 USA via Washington D.C.
    Nov. 19, 2023
  • 02160480 1970 Unknown (H0)
    Nov. 18, 2023