What does the first character of the VIN tell you?

It points to the manufacturer's country: 1, 4 and 5 stand for the United States, 2 for Canada and 3 for Mexico. That is a first filter rather than proof, so we additionally read the country and city of the assembly plant, because only those answer the condition for the zero rate.

Is the VIN check free?

Yes, checking origin by VIN costs nothing and needs no account. You type in the number and get the country and city of the assembly plant, plus whether that Mercedes-Benz meets the condition for the customs preference. Repeat it before every auction you enter.

Do you handle customs clearance?

Yes. We run the customs declaration, put together the proof of origin and deal with the customs agency. For a Mercedes-Benz that qualifies on its VIN we apply for the 0% rate, and the office decides on the basis of the documents submitted.

Does a damaged auction car also get zero duty?

The rate does not follow condition, only the country of final assembly. A damaged Mercedes-Benz from an American line clears exactly like an intact car from the same plant. What condition does affect is the purchase price, and through it the customs value.

Can two cars of one model clear differently?

Yes, and it happens often. Manufacturers run one nameplate on lines on different continents, so a Mercedes-Benz can qualify for 0% while its twin from the same model year pays 10%. That is exactly why every VIN is checked on its own.

Mercedes-Benz off American assembly lines

There is no single rate for the Mercedes-Benz badge. Duty follows the plant that built the individual car: an American line means 0%, a line outside the States means 10%. VAT at 23% is charged on the value with duty added, so the gap reaches further than one line of the bill. The VIN of a single car decides.

Which Mercedes-Benz models are assembled in the USA?

Across the Mercedes-Benz range we confirm American assembly for 12 models, while 34 have only ever reached us from plants outside the USA. The first group can enter the EU at 0%, the second pays 10%. Where a model lists two assembly countries, only the VIN gives an answer.

Model	Assembly countries	Status	Cars in our database
C	Brazil, Germany, South Africa, United States	Depends on the car	46,618
E	Austria, Germany, South Africa	No preference	33,204
GLE	United States	Can be 0%	15,044
GLC	Finland, Germany, India	No preference	14,302
M	United States	Can be 0%	12,442
CLA	Germany, Hungary	No preference	11,602
S	Austria, Germany	No preference	11,319
GL	Argentina, United States	Depends on the car	8,289
GLA	Germany	No preference	7,871
GLK	Germany	No preference	7,339
GLS	United States	Can be 0%	5,146
Sprinter	Argentina, Germany, United States	Depends on the car	4,054
CLS	Germany	No preference	3,512
GLB	Mexico	No preference	3,466
SL	Germany	No preference	3,157
CLK	Germany	No preference	2,866
A	Germany, Mexico	No preference	2,696
SLK	Germany	No preference	2,315
G	Austria	No preference	1,362
Metris	Spain	No preference	1,269
EQS	Germany, United States	Depends on the car	1,047
EQE	Germany, United States	Depends on the car	976
R	United States	Can be 0%	926
300	Germany, United States	Depends on the car	853
AMG GT	Finland, Germany	No preference	761
EQB	Hungary	No preference	743
CL	Germany	No preference	651
560	Germany	No preference	528
380	Germany	No preference	383
CLE	Germany	No preference	287
SLC	Germany	No preference	258
500	Germany	No preference	196
420	Germany	No preference	180
B	Germany	No preference	177
190	Germany	No preference	164
280	Germany, United States	Depends on the car	131
400	Germany	No preference	81
240 Series	Germany	No preference	59
260	Germany	No preference	38
240	United States	Can be 0%	37
250	Germany	No preference	33
200	Germany	No preference	26
350	Germany	No preference	22
SLS AMG	Germany	No preference	9
600	Germany	No preference	8
Maybach S	Germany	No preference	5

Models of “American” brands without zero duty

Some Mercedes-Benz families were never built in the States, and others moved abroad partway through a generation. Either way the car enters the EU at 10% rather than 0%. Model year and version can therefore give different answers under one and the same model name.

Model	Assembly countries	Status	Cars in our database
E	Austria, Germany, South Africa	No preference	33,204
GLC	Finland, Germany, India	No preference	14,302
CLA	Germany, Hungary	No preference	11,602
S	Austria, Germany	No preference	11,319
GLA	Germany	No preference	7,871
GLK	Germany	No preference	7,339
CLS	Germany	No preference	3,512
GLB	Mexico	No preference	3,466
SL	Germany	No preference	3,157
CLK	Germany	No preference	2,866
A	Germany, Mexico	No preference	2,696
SLK	Germany	No preference	2,315
G	Austria	No preference	1,362
Metris	Spain	No preference	1,269
AMG GT	Finland, Germany	No preference	761
EQB	Hungary	No preference	743
CL	Germany	No preference	651
560	Germany	No preference	528
380	Germany	No preference	383
CLE	Germany	No preference	287
SLC	Germany	No preference	258
500	Germany	No preference	196
420	Germany	No preference	180
B	Germany	No preference	177
190	Germany	No preference	164
400	Germany	No preference	81
240 Series	Germany	No preference	59
260	Germany	No preference	38
250	Germany	No preference	33
200	Germany	No preference	26
350	Germany	No preference	22
SLS AMG	Germany	No preference	9
600	Germany	No preference	8
Maybach S	Germany	No preference	5

Made in USA • Tax 0%

How do you check a specific car?

The VIN is the only thing that settles the rate for a Mercedes-Benz. Enter it before you bid rather than after: the gap between 0% and 10% moves the maximum figure worth chasing. The check is free and needs no account.

How much will you save?

The gap is 10% of customs value: that is what a car outside the preference pays, against nothing on a Mercedes-Benz assembled in the USA. The effect doubles up, because 23% VAT is charged on the value with duty added, so a zero rate also lowers the tax base. The calculator works it out on your car's figures.

Work out the import cost

Zero-duty paperwork — our job

Proof of origin and clearance are on us. For a Mercedes-Benz that the VIN places on an American line, we assemble the plant documentation and declare the car at the 0% rate. All we need from you is the car you picked and its VIN.

See current listings: Mercedes-Benz