Mercedes-Benz VIN structure
Mercedes VINs start with WDB/WDD/WDF for German-built cars and vans, W1K for Mercedes-Benz AG, 4JG for Vance, Alabama (US plant), and 55S for South Africa. The datacard (full option list) is a separate document from the VIN decode.
WMI — the first three characters
| WMI | Manufacturer / region |
|---|---|
| WDB | Mercedes-Benz Germany (classic) |
| WDD | Mercedes-Benz Germany (passenger) |
| WDF | Mercedes-Benz Vans Germany |
| W1K | Mercedes-Benz AG |
| 4JG | Mercedes-Benz US Intl. — Vance, AL |
| 55S | Mercedes-Benz South Africa |
Major assembly plants
| Plant | Models built |
|---|---|
| Sindelfingen (Germany) | S-Class, E-Class, AMG |
| Bremen (Germany) | C-Class, GLC |
| Vance, AL (USA) | GLE, GLS, C-Class |
| Kecskemét (Hungary) | Compact models |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL (USA) | SUV line-up |
| East London (South Africa) | C-Class |
Model year — the 10th character
10th digit = model year; note US cars are titled by model year while EU cars are usually described by production date — the same car can be a "2023" in the US and a "2023/24" in Germany. See the full VIN year chart.
Options and packages
The Mercedes datacard lists every option code (the three-digit SA codes such as 877 ambient lighting). The VIN decode gives you the base car only; the datacard is what buyers actually want, and no free decoder reproduces it fully for newer cars.
Build sheet channels for Mercedes-Benz
| Channel | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| lastvin.com | Free | Community default for datacards, but the underlying EPC data stops around 2018 — newer cars decode stale |
| mb.vin | Free (rate-limited) | Modern format datacard lookup; limited daily lookups |
| Mercedes-Benz EPC (official) | ~$75/year | Dealer-grade parts and option data subscription |
| ISPPI | ~$79/year | Third-party VIN data service; serious buyers are told to subscribe |
| Monroney label reproduction | ~$10 per label | US window sticker by VIN |
Full comparison across all brands: build sheet channels & prices.
Known decode traps
- Free datacard tools have stale post-2018 data — a "not found" option does not mean the car lacks it.
- VIN-swap fraud exists (stolen cars re-stamped): verify the VIN stamp in the windshield matches the door jamb plate and the paperwork.
- US package codes (P01/P03) map loosely to EU option lists; no decoder resolves the mapping reliably.
Recalls and this brand
Mercedes recall lookups via NHTSA cover US-market safety recalls; EU-market cars should also be checked on the official Mercedes recall site.