How to decode a 2012 Smart Fortwo VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2012 Smart Fortwo VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier, or WMI, is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle. The first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) comprise the WMI, indicating the vehicle’s manufacturer, vehicle type, and the country of manufacturing. For the 2012 smart fortwo, the WMI “WME” specifies that the vehicle was manufactured by Mercedes-Benz Cars in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. This code is essential for accurately identifying the vehicle’s origin and manufacturer, providing a standardized method for classification. The WMI is a critical part of the VIN, which is used globally to track and register vehicles.

List of WMI Codes for a 2012 Smart Fortwo

WMI: WME

Model Years Covered: 2005, 2008-2017
Example VIN: WMEEJ3BA0CK525662
Manufacturer Name: Mercedes-Benz Cars
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Stuttgart
State or Province: Baden-Württemberg
Country: Germany

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2012 Smart Fortwo VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 2012 Smart Fortwo:

Known VDS for a 2012 Smart Fortwo
EJ3BA	EK3BA

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 2012 Smart Fortwo VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 2012 Smart Fortwo VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
C	2012

11th Character in the 2012 Smart Fortwo VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2012 Smart Fortwo Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
K	Hambach		France	Hambach	WMEEJ3BA0CK525662

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2012 Smart Fortwo

The final 6 characters in a 2012 Smart Fortwo’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

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How to find a 2012 Smart Fortwo’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2012 Smart Fortwo is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the driver’s side dashboard of your 2012 Smart Fortwo, which is typically visible through the windshield.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb area for a sticker that often contains the VIN for your Smart Fortwo.
Inspect the engine bay. The VIN might also be located on the firewall of the engine compartment in your Smart Fortwo.
Check underneath the carpet of the driver’s side where it might be stamped on the frame or floor beneath.
Review your vehicle registration documents or insurance card, which should have your Smart Fortwo’s VIN listed.

What info can a 2012 Smart Fortwo VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year, being the year 2012, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN specifies the vehicle as having a Convertible/Cabriolet body class with 2 doors, giving insights into the car’s design and functionality.
Engine Type: The specifics include an engine with 1,000 CC displacement, configured in-line, and having 3 cylinders, which indicates the vehicle’s powertrain characteristics.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is gasoline, showing what kind of fuel the car is designed to use.
Safety Features: The VIN details include safety features such as front and side airbags for the first row (driver and passenger), along with Type 2 seat belts equipped with load limiters and pretensioners, highlighting the vehicle’s safety provisions.
Plant Information: Manufacturing details like the plant city being Hambach and the plant country France are given, indicating the vehicle’s production location.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type: It is specified that the vehicle comes with a Direct TPMS, outlining the type of system used to monitor tire pressure.

Don’t have your 2012 Smart Fortwo’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2012 Smart Fortwo

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Convertible/Cabriolet
Displacement (CC)	1000
Displacement (CI)	61.0237440947
Displacement (L)	1
Doors	2
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Number of Cylinders	3
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Model	Fortwo
Model Year	2012
Other Restraint System Info	Type 2 seat belts with load limiters and pretensioners for driver and front passenger., Load limiters and Pretensioners for driver and passenger
Plant City	Hambach
Plant Company Name	Hambach
Plant Country	France
Pretensioner	Yes
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Vehicle Descriptor	WMEEK3BA*CK
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	WMEEK3BA0CK521656