How to Check a Car's Production Date?
2 Answers
The production date of a car can be checked from the following two locations: Passenger Side: Below the B-pillar on the driver's side, open the door to see it. This nameplate only specifies the year and month. The nameplate also notes the vehicle's VIN. Certificate of Conformity: The certificate that comes with a new car is located in the upper right corner. The production date marked here can be precise down to the year, month, and day. Windshield: Not applicable to all models. When a new car arrives at the dealership, there is a paper nameplate on the windshield in front of the driver's seat. The paper nameplate shows the VIN and the MIIT fuel consumption. If the bottom of the paper nameplate specifies the year, month, and day, then the production date on the paper nameplate can be used as a reference. If the nameplate only specifies the year and month, then it cannot be used as the production date.
I've been buying cars for over a decade and always pay attention to the manufacturing date, as it determines many things whether it's a new or used car. The most common way to check the production date is by looking at the VIN code, that 17-character string on the vehicle body, usually found at the lower left corner of the windshield or on the door frame. The 10th digit of the VIN indicates the production year—for example, the letter A corresponds to 2010, B to 2011, and so on, with both numbers and letters following a standard. If the VIN is unclear, you can check the metal plate attached to the inside of the driver's door frame, which usually clearly states the production month and year. When picking up a new car, I always verify the date myself to avoid buying an overstocked vehicle, as it can affect the warranty and maintenance cycle. For used cars, it's even more critical to check carefully—older vehicles tend to have more worn tires, shorter battery life, and more potential hazards when driving. I've taught this trick to novice friends—it's simple, practical, and takes just a few minutes.
