How to identify your VW Beetle

Chassis number, type 11, 13 or 15, model year: learn how to identify your Volkswagen Beetle precisely and check that it matches the registration document.

23/03/2026

Harald

5 minutes read

Was your car first registered in July or August?

Please note: this article is for information only. Given the large number of requests, we can't identify the origin of your vehicles. This article aims to help you do it yourself.

Work out the model year by checking the chassis number of your VW Beetle.

The chassis number, the manufacturer's plate and the registration document must all match. If they don't, beware: your Beetle has been "modified".

Type number: on the registration document and on the manufacturer's plate under the front lid

The 3-digit number at the start of the serial number indicates the body type (first 2 digits) and the model year (3rd digit)

Examples:

116462102: Saloon, 1966 model year.

1342115015: Saloon, 1303, 1974 model year

1562735293: 1303 Convertible, 1976 model year

Date of first registration: on the registration document, but beware of vehicles registered around July / August.

Do not confuse the date of first registration with the date of manufacture. A car may have been delivered and then remained unsold at the dealership before finding a buyer in the following model year.

The true model year is given by the serial number.

Location of the numbers for Saloon and Convertible

● Chassis number: Stamped on the tunnel panel, under the rear seat.

● Engine number: see the engine types in detail on the engine page.

This number is stamped on the crankcase flange, under the dynamo bracket (below the inscription "Zündfolge1-4-3-2").

● Gearbox number : on the right-hand side of the casing, behind its mounting face, on the bodywork.

Chassis numbers, since 1948 (saloons)

The number indicates the start of the model year = from the number…

VW Beetle 1200 / 1300 / 1500

1948 1 091 921 1964 5 677 119

1949 1 138 554 1965 115 000 001

1950 1 220 471 1966 116 000 001

1951 1 313 839 1967 117 000 001

1952 1 397 023 1968 118 000 001

1953 1 454 951 1969 119 000 001

1954 1 575 415 1970 110 2000 001

1955 1 929 746 1971 111 2000 001

1956 1 060 931 1972 112 2000 001

1957 1 394 119 1973 113 2000 001

1958 1 774 680 1974 114 2000 001

1959 2 226 206 1975 115 2000 001

1960 2 528 668 1976 116 2000 001

1961 3 192 507 1977 117 2000 001

1962 4 010 995 1978 118 2000 001

1963 4 846 835

VW Beetle 1302 / 1303

1971 111 2000 001 1976 156 2000 001

1972 112 2000 001 1977 157 2000 001

1973 133 2000 001 1978 158 2000 001

1974 134 2000 001 1979 159 2000 001

1975 135 2000 001

Mexican VW Beetles

1978 118 2100 001 1984 11E 000 001

1979 119 2100 001 1985 11F 000 001

1980 11A 000 001 1986 11G 000 001

1981 11B 000 001 … ...

1982 11C 000 001 1997 11V 000 001

1983 11D 000 001

Vehicle and engine type: on the registration document

● Type 11 and 13 = Saloon

● Type 15 = Convertible

● Original vehicle and engine type (since 1965), shown by the identifying letter(s):

11 = 1200 or 1300 up to 1965 (no letter / sloping headlights)

11 D = 1200 from 1966 and 1967* (sloping headlights)

11 D 1 = 1200 from 1968 to 1973 (upright headlights, small tail lights and small bumpers)

11 D 11 = 1200 since 1974 (large round tail lights and large bumpers)

11 F = 1300 from 1966 and 1967* (sloping headlights)

11 F 1 = 1300 from 1968 to 1970 (upright headlights, large bumpers)

11 H 1 = 1500 from 1967* to 1970

11 AB 1 = 1300 from 1971 to 1973

11 AB 11 = 1302 from 1971 and 1972 (flat windscreen, spare wheel lying flat)

11 AD 1 = 1302 S from 1971 and 1972 (same as 1302 + front disc brakes, 1600)

13 AB 1 = 1303 from 1973 (curved panoramic windscreen, spare wheel lying flat)

13 AR 1 = 1303 from 1974 and 1975 (same as 1303 AB, 1300 engine with dual heating)

13 AS 1 = 1303 S (same as 1303 AB + front disc brakes and 1600 engine)

15 = 1200 convertible up to 1965

15 F = 1300 convertible since 1966

15 H = 1500 convertible from 1967 to 1970 (flat windscreen, upright spare wheel)

15 AB 1 = 1302 convertible from 1971 and 1972 (flat windscreen, spare wheel lying flat)

15 AB 11 = 1303 convertible from 1973 (curved windscreen, spare wheel lying flat)

15 AR 11 = 1303 convertible from 1974 and 1975 (1300 engine with dual heating)

15 AD 1 = 1302 S convertible from 1971 and 1972 (front disc brakes and 1600 engine)

15 AD 11 = 1303 S convertible from 1973 (front disc brakes and 1600 engine)

15 AS 11 = 1303 S convertible from 1974 to 1979 (front disc brakes and 1600 engine)

11 MOD = vehicle that has been through the Mines (French vehicle approval), "modified" type (Buggy, Bugster, fake convertible)

11 APP = "apparent" type, not determined (import, often with a date of first registration of 01/01/year)

* 1967 Europe: sloping headlights and small bumpers, 1967 USA: upright headlights, small bumpers

Harald

Le partage de la Passion, simplement.

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