diff --git a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/vertex_ai_partner_models/count_tokens/handler.py b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/vertex_ai_partner_models/count_tokens/handler.py
index 079a691395a..ceb924b9b0f 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/vertex_ai_partner_models/count_tokens/handler.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/vertex_ai_partner_models/count_tokens/handler.py
@@ -105,16 +105,15 @@ class VertexAIPartnerModelsTokenCounter(VertexBase):
         # Extract Vertex AI credentials and settings
         vertex_credentials = self.get_vertex_ai_credentials(litellm_params)
         vertex_project = self.get_vertex_ai_project(litellm_params)
-        vertex_location = (
-            litellm_params.get("vertex_count_tokens_location")
-            or self.get_vertex_ai_location(litellm_params)
-        )
+        vertex_location_raw = self.get_vertex_ai_location(litellm_params)
 
         # Default Claude models to us-east5 for count-tokens endpoint when no location is set
         # Supported regions: us-east5, europe-west1, asia-southeast1
         # https://docs.cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/partner-models/claude/count-tokens
-        if not vertex_location and "claude" in model.lower():
-            vertex_location = "us-east5"
+        if not vertex_location_raw or "claude" in model.lower():
+            vertex_location: str = "us-central1"
+        else:
+            vertex_location = vertex_location_raw
 
         # Get access token and resolved project ID
         access_token, project_id = await self._ensure_access_token_async(
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/llms/fireworks_ai/chat/test_fireworks_ai_chat_transformation.py b/tests/test_litellm/llms/fireworks_ai/chat/test_fireworks_ai_chat_transformation.py
index 2b71b88356b..29265bb4b42 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/llms/fireworks_ai/chat/test_fireworks_ai_chat_transformation.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/llms/fireworks_ai/chat/test_fireworks_ai_chat_transformation.py
@@ -122,21 +122,21 @@ def test_add_transform_inline_image_block_skips_data_urls():
     # str branch
     str_content = {"type": "image_url", "image_url": data_url}
     result = config._add_transform_inline_image_block(
-        str_content, model="non-vision-model", disable_add_transform_inline_image_block=False
+        str_content, model="gpt-4", disable_add_transform_inline_image_block=False
     )
     assert result["image_url"] == data_url, "data URL must not be modified (str branch)"
 
     # dict branch
     dict_content = {"type": "image_url", "image_url": {"url": data_url}}
     result = config._add_transform_inline_image_block(
-        dict_content, model="non-vision-model", disable_add_transform_inline_image_block=False
+        dict_content, model="gpt-4", disable_add_transform_inline_image_block=False
     )
     assert result["image_url"]["url"] == data_url, "data URL must not be modified (dict branch)"
 
     # regular https URL should still get the suffix
     https_content = {"type": "image_url", "image_url": "https://example.com/image.jpg"}
     result = config._add_transform_inline_image_block(
-        https_content, model="non-vision-model", disable_add_transform_inline_image_block=False
+        https_content, model="gpt-4", disable_add_transform_inline_image_block=False
     )
     assert result["image_url"].endswith("#transform=inline"), "https URL should get #transform=inline"
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(