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 3796

  • 72086388 1977 USA via San Francisco
    today
  • 82112325 1978 Deutschland via Frankfurt
    Feb. 6, 2025
  • 82141364 1978 Germany via Frankfurt
    Feb. 4, 2025
  • 32205007 1973 USA via Portland
    Feb. 4, 2025
  • 82089603 1978 France
    Jan. 30, 2025
  • 12165486 1971 USA via New York
    Jan. 29, 2025
  • 82068040 1978 USA via New York
    Jan. 21, 2025