diff --git a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/vertex_llm_base.py b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/vertex_llm_base.py
index 4d0dd8a75b8..6d118cc658a 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/vertex_llm_base.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/vertex_llm_base.py
@@ -135,15 +135,20 @@ class VertexBase:
 
         return google_auth.default(scopes=scopes)
 
+    def get_default_vertex_location(self) -> str:
+        return "us-central1"
+
     def get_api_base(
         self, api_base: Optional[str], vertex_location: Optional[str]
     ) -> str:
         if api_base:
             return api_base
-        elif vertex_location and vertex_location == "global":
+        elif vertex_location == "global":
             return "https://aiplatform.googleapis.com"
-        else:
+        elif vertex_location:
             return f"https://{vertex_location}-aiplatform.googleapis.com"
+        else:
+            return f"https://{self.get_default_vertex_location()}-aiplatform.googleapis.com"
 
     def refresh_auth(self, credentials: Any) -> None:
         from google.auth.transport.requests import (