Mercedes VIN Decoder

Use our Mercedes VIN decoder to confirm specs, colour, gears, engine details, MOT and tax status for free. Get a full car check to access previous keepers, outstanding finance, theft, written-off records, mileage,  MOT history, and more.

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What is a Mercedes VIN decoder?

A Mercedes VIN Decoder UK is a simple tool that breaks down the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of any Mercedes. It reveals key details like make, model, year, colour, engine type, gears, body style, and more.

This helps you confirm the car’s true identity, learn about its features, and check its history, making sure any UK-registered Mercedes you’re buying is genuine and matches the seller’s details.

How to Decode a Mercedes VIN Number

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A Mercedes 17-digit VIN carries special information about the car. It shows details like the manufacturer, model, and where it was built. VIN numbers don’t include the letters I, O, or Q to avoid confusion with numbers 1 and 0.

The structure of a Mercedes Benz VIN number is divided into three key sections:

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI): Characters 1 to 3

The first three characters of a Mercedes VIN reveal key details: the first shows the country of origin, the second identifies the manufacturer, and the third indicates the vehicle type, such as passenger, SUV, or commercial vehicle.

For example, “4JG” indicates a Mercedes manufactured in the United States, “J” is usually used for U.S. Mercedes vehicles while “G” represents a SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle)

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS): Characters 4 to 9

The fourth VIN character identifies the Mercedes model or series, while the fifth shows the body style or engine type. The sixth and seventh characters indicate the specific model within the series, and the eighth reveals factory-installed safety features like airbags and seat belts.

For example CB75E” represents a R-Class (R500), AWD, 4 Matic, V-8 5.0L engine, with front and side airbags.

And the ninth character is the VIN accuracy check digit, which verifies the authenticity of the VIN. It is a single number or letter, “X.”In the example, “3” is the check digit and It is calculated using a specific algorithm developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS): Characters 10 to 17

This tells you the model year. Each year is represented by either a letter or a number. ‘7,’ for example, signifies a Mercedes from the 2007 model year.

Below is the VIN-year chart table to help identify any vehicle’s model year:

Code/Year

  • A 1980
  • B 1981
  • C 1982
  • D 1983
  • E 1984
  • F 1985
  • G 1986
  • H 1987
  • J 1988
  • K  1989

Code/Year

  • L 1990
  • M 1991
  • N 1992
  • P 1993
  • R 1994
  • S 1995
  • T 1996
  • V 1997
  • W 1998
  • X 1999

Code/Year

  • Y 2000
  • 1 2001
  • 2 2002
  • 3 2003
  • 4 2004
  • 5 2005
  • 6 2006
  • 7 2007
  • 8 2008
  • 9 2009

Code/Year

  • A 2010
  • B 2011
  • C 2012
  • D 2013
  • E 2014
  • F 2015
  • G 2016
  • H 2017
  • J 2018
  • K 2019

Code/Year

  • L 2020
  • M 2021
  • N 2022
  • P 2023
  • R 2024
  • S 2025
  • T 2026
  • V 2027
  • W 2028
  • X 2029

Code/Year

  • A 1980
  • B 1981
  • C 1982
  • D 1983
  • E 1984
  • F 1985
  • G 1986
  • H 1987
  • J 1988
  • K  1989
  • L 1990
  • M 1991
  • N 1992
  • P 1993
  • R 1994
  • S 1995
  • T 1996
  • V 1997
  • W 1998
  • X 1999
  • Y 2000
  • 1 2001
  • 2 2002
  • 3 2003
  • 4 2004

Code/Year

  • 5 2005
  • 6 2006
  • 7 2007
  • 8 2008
  • 9 2009
  • A 2010
  • B 2011
  • C 2012
  • D 2013
  • E 2014
  • F 2015
  • G 2016
  • H 2017
  • J 2018
  • K 2019
  • L 2020
  • M 2021
  • N 2022
  • P 2023
  • R 2024
  • S 2025
  • T 2026
  • V 2027
  • W 2028
  • X 2029

11th Character: Assembly Plant

The eleventh character shows the vehicle’s assembly or manufacturing plant.  The character “A” represents Vance, Alabama, United States. Other locations are represented by these characters:

  • F-H: Bremen, Germany
  • J: Rastatt, Germany
  • M: Woking, England.

12th to 17th Characters: Serial Number

These characters make up the unique sequential number of the Mercedes, indicating the production number as the car rolled off the assembly line.

How to Get a Mercedes VIN Number Check?

Our free Mercedes VIN decoder makes it easy to decode any Mercedes chassis number. Follow these simple steps for a quick check:

Fact 1

Step 1: Enter the VIN

Type the 17-character VIN into the form above. Make sure all characters are entered correctly.

Fact 2

Step 2: Click “Decode VIN”

Click “Decode VIN” for a free VIN decoding, which reveals the vehicle’s details in seconds. These include the year, make, model, engine, colour, gears, MOT and tax status, and more.

Fact 3

Step 3: Get Full Car Check Report

Our Mercedes VIN decoder gives you instant access to all the essential vehicle details. You can also upgrade to get the full car history report, including mileage, finance, theft, MOT history, ownership records, and more, for complete peace of mind.

Mercedes VIN Number Location

You can find the Mercedes VIN number in several places for easy identification. The most common locations include:

  • Dashboard (Driver’s Side): Look through the windshield at the lower-left corner.
  • Driver’s Door Jamb: Check the label or plate inside the driver’s door edge.
  • Engine Bay: It may be stamped on the engine block or near the firewall.

Vehicle Documents: The VIN is also listed on the V5C logbook, insurance, or service papers.

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Why Run a Mercedes VIN Number Check?

A Mercedes VIN number check helps confirm the vehicle’s authenticity and reveals its full past and hidden records. Here are some reasons why it’s vital for anyone buying, selling, or verifying a used Mercedes:

Reveal Hidden History

A chassis number check reveals past and hidden details such as thefts, write-offs, or unpaid debts. These issues may not appear in basic checks, helping you avoid risky cars and make informed buying decisions.

Confirm If Vehicle is Original

A VIN number check confirms your Mercedes is genuine and not cloned or stolen. It verifies factory records and matches the car’s identity, protecting you from fraud and ensuring the vehicle’s details are 100% authentic.

Check Outstanding Finance

A Mercedes VIN check exposes any active finance agreement on the car. Buying a financed vehicle could result in repossession by the lender, so knowing this helps you avoid financial loss and future disputes.

Increase Buyer Confidence

Running a VIN check gives peace of mind by confirming the car’s specs, history and if it’s not cloned. It builds trust between buyers and sellers, ensures transparency, and helps make confident, secure and informed vehicle purchases.

Verify Mileage Accuracy

Mileage discrepancies can hide wear and tear and make the vehicle appear newer than it is. A full VIN check compares recorded mileage across MOTs and ownership records, revealing any clocking or tampering, so you can confirm the odometer reading is genuine and accurate

Confirm Technical Specifications

A Mercedes VIN number check provides the original factory specifications, including engine type, trim level, fuel type, and transmission. It ensures the vehicle matches what’s advertised and hasn’t been altered or misrepresented by sellers.

Free Mercedes VIN Decoding Vs. Full Car Check Report

Our tool lets you run both free VIN decoding and paid car check services. While the free Mercedes VIN decoder gives basic details, the paid version offers full access to in-depth vehicle reports.

Free VIN Decoding

This is the best place to begin your VIN decoding journey. By entering the 17-character VIN, you can view key information that helps confirm the vehicle’s specs and if it’s cloned or fake. Below are the records shown in our free car check service.

Year

Body style

Colour

Gears

Make

Trim level

Engine size

Fuel type

Model

Transmission

Engine cylinders

Displacement

Vehicle type

Vehicle class

Engine specs

Emission standard

Number of doors

Number of seats

Displacement

Emissions

Full Car Check Service

Our paid service provides detailed records about a vehicle’s full history and condition. You can choose between our Basic or Premium reports to access the following important vehicle records:

High-risk records

Written-off check

Stolen records

Outstanding finance

Mileage history

Scrapped records

Auction history

Plate change history

MOT history

Ownership records

Logbook checks

Colour change history

Tax Status

Imported checks

Exported checks

Vehicle Registration

Other Smart Car Check Tools

We provide a range of vehicle check tools to ensure complete and accurate information is delivered to you within seconds. You can explore our additional tools below:

Registration Number Check

Retrieve vehicle details using the registration number.

MOT History Check

Access past MOT records to evaluate the car’s condition.

Insurance Write-Off Check

Identify vehicles previously classified as total losses.

Tax Check

Confirm tax status and compliance.

Stolen Car Check

Verify if the car is flagged as stolen in databases.

MPG Check

Determine the fuel efficiency and performance of the car.

Motorcycle VIN Check

Get specific data and history for motorcycles.

Car Value Check

Estimate the current market value of the vehicle.

Car Outstanding Finance Check

Verify if a car has an outstanding finance or loans.

Get the Smart Car Check Mobile App

Looking for the best car history check in the UK? Download the Smart Car Check App today. With just a registration number, you can instantly detect hidden history, past problems, or issues the seller won’t mention. Make smarter, safer decisions before buying any vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mercedes VIN Decoder UK

Use our Mercedes VIN decoder UK to easily check any VIN number. See detailed car specifications like year, make, model, engine, colour and more. You can also get a full car check to confirm the car history for any records of finance, theft, write-off, logbook, mileage and more.

Yes,  simply use our stolen car check tool to detect if a car you’re considering has any theft records. You can check by entering the vehicle registration number (VRN) or run a full VIN check.

Yes, you can find out your vehicle’s specs by entering the VIN number into our free VIN decoder UK. This will provide you with the vehicle’s specifications such as the year, model, color, engine, transmission, gears and more.