Where is the VIN number in Mercedes-Benz CLA (C118/X118)?

This guide shows you where to find the VIN (chassis number) on the Mercedes-Benz CLA (C118/X118) produced between 2019–2021, including the most reliable “everyday” cabin locations and the hidden stamped chassis VIN.

Chassis Number Locations

Passenger-side B-Pillar Sticker (Manufacturer Plate)

• Where to look: Open the front passenger door and look on the lower section of the B-pillar (the pillar between front and rear doors). The VIN is printed on a black sticker near the door striker/lock area, often alongside paint code and weight ratings.
• Access: Easy reading and scanning—flat surface, high contrast (white text on black), usually clean.
• Note: For LHD (EU/US) cars, this is typically on the right side of the vehicle (passenger side). On some markets/trims, label placement can vary slightly—still stay on the B-pillar area.
• Tip: Because it’s crisp and flat, you can usually scan it directly with your phone instead of typing the VIN character-by-character.

Under Front Passenger Seat (Stamped Chassis VIN Under Carpet Flap)

• Where to look: In the front footwell area under/near the front passenger seat rails, locate a pre-cut flap in the carpet/floor mat. Lift the carpet flap, then unclip/lift the secondary plastic cover underneath to expose the VIN stamped into the metal floor cross-member.
• Access: Medium difficulty. You must lift the carpet flap and remove/unclip a plastic cover. It can be dark down there, and you’ll be aiming the camera downward into the footwell.
• Note: This stamped floor VIN is commonly found in the front footwell floor (commonly on the passenger side for LHD vehicles, but check the driver side footwell if not found)—do not assume it’s always on the driver’s side.
• Tip: Since shadows hide the stamping, use your phone light and scan it with flashlight + OCR so you don’t have to twist yourself into an awkward position and hand-write it.

Windshield VIN (Dashboard Corner)

• Where to look: From outside the car, look through the windshield at the lower corner of the dashboard on the driver’s side (for LHD vehicles, that’s the left side of the vehicle).
• Access: Easy to see when lighting is right, but glare/reflections can make photos unreadable.
• Note: If sun glare blocks it, try changing your viewing angle, shading the glass with your hand, or checking indoors.
• Tip: When reflections make characters hard to transcribe, capture it cleanly with the VIN scanner to avoid mixing up similar characters like 5/S and 0/O.

Engine Bay (Passenger-side Inner Fender/Strut Area) — Secondary/Trim-Dependent

• Where to look: On some trims, there may be a stamped VIN visible on the passenger-side inner fender/strut area, near coolant/hoses and engine bay bracing.
• Access: Variable. This area is often crowded with covers and hoses, and the stamping may not be obvious depending on engine/trim and cleanliness.
• Note: Treat this as a secondary check—your primary verification points on this generation are typically the B-pillar label and the floor stamped VIN.
• Tip: If the stamp is faint or partially obscured, wipe the area and use High Contrast scanning to pull the characters out without guessing.

Video Guide

Video Tutorial: MERCEDES BENZ CLA200 2019 (WDD118) CHASSIS NUMBER & ENGINE NUMBER LOCATION

▶ Watch Mercedes-Benz CLA VIN Location Guide

• Silent walkthrough: shows the cabin floor VIN under the passenger seat carpet flap (including the plastic cover), then the B-pillar VIN sticker.

Common Problems & Troubleshooting

• “I lifted the carpet flap but there’s no VIN.” On this CLA generation there’s often a second plastic cover under the carpet flap—you must unclip/lift it to see the metal stamping.
• “My camera can’t read the stamped VIN.” The footwell area can be dark with harsh shadows; use a flashlight and shoot straight down, then rescan.
• Sticker warning: The B-pillar sticker is convenient, but for serious verification (imports/theft checks) always cross-check it with the stamped chassis VIN—labels can be damaged or replaced.

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