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 3737

  • 32145813 1973 Not specified
    yesterday
  • 62037515 1976 Sweden, North
    Oct. 12, 2024
  • 62037514 1976 Sweden, North
    Oct. 12, 2024
  • 12169501 1971 USA via New York
    Oct. 11, 2024
  • 42123357 1974 Deutschland via Stuttgart
    Oct. 7, 2024
  • 8104486 1968 Not specified
    Oct. 4, 2024
  • 9072088 1969 Bolivia
    Oct. 1, 2024