diff --git a/opendbc/safety/ignition.h b/opendbc/safety/ignition.h
index 7ac8f008..ae00c729 100644
--- a/opendbc/safety/ignition.h
+++ b/opendbc/safety/ignition.h
@@ -53,6 +53,19 @@ void ignition_can_hook(const CANPacket_t *msg) {
       ignition_can = (msg->data[0] >> 5) == 0x6U;
       ignition_can_cnt = 0U;
     }
+
+    // Volkswagen MEB exception
+    if ((msg->addr == 0x3C0U) && (len == 4)) {
+      int counter = msg->data[1] & 0xFU;
+
+      static int prev_counter_vw_meb = -1;
+      if ((counter == ((prev_counter_vw_meb + 1) % 16)) && (prev_counter_vw_meb != -1)) {
+        // Klemmen_Status_01->ZAS_Kl_15
+        ignition_can = ((msg->data[2] >> 1) & 1U) != 0U;
+        ignition_can_cnt = 0U;
+      }
+      prev_counter_vw_meb = counter;
+    }
   }
 
   // TODO: this is too loose, Teslas have 0x222
diff --git a/opendbc/safety/tests/test_volkswagen_meb.py b/opendbc/safety/tests/test_volkswagen_meb.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4fc349a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/opendbc/safety/tests/test_volkswagen_meb.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import unittest
+
+from opendbc.safety.tests.libsafety import libsafety_py
+from opendbc.safety.tests.common import CANPackerSafety
+
+
+class TestVolkswagenMebIgnition(unittest.TestCase):
+  TX_MSGS: list = []
+
+  def setUp(self):
+    self.safety = libsafety_py.libsafety
+    self.safety.init_tests()
+    self.packer = CANPackerSafety("vw_meb")
+
+  def _msg(self, counter, ign):
+    return self.packer.make_can_msg_safety("Klemmen_Status_01", 0,
+                                           {"Klemmen_Status_01_BZ": counter,
+                                            "ZAS_Kl_15": ign})
+
+  # ZAS_Kl_15=1
+  def test_ignition_on(self):
+    for i in range(16):
+      self.safety.init_tests()
+      self.safety.ignition_can_hook(self._msg(i, 1))
+      self.assertFalse(self.safety.get_ignition_can())
+      self.safety.ignition_can_hook(self._msg((i + 1) % 16, 1))
+      self.assertTrue(self.safety.get_ignition_can())
+
+  def test_ignition_off(self):
+    self.safety.ignition_can_hook(self._msg(0, 1))
+    self.safety.ignition_can_hook(self._msg(1, 1))
+    self.assertTrue(self.safety.get_ignition_can())
+    self.safety.ignition_can_hook(self._msg(2, 0))
+    self.safety.ignition_can_hook(self._msg(3, 0))
+    self.assertFalse(self.safety.get_ignition_can())
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+  unittest.main()