How to Check if a Car is a Stock Vehicle?
2 Answers
Check the vehicle identification plate to determine if it's a stock vehicle. The vehicle identification plate is a label that indicates the basic characteristics of the vehicle, including the manufacturer, model, engine power, total weight, load capacity or passenger capacity, factory serial number, manufacturing date, and manufacturer name. Below are specific details about stock vehicles: 1. After a new car leaves the factory, various fluids, electronic components, batteries, rubber seals, and tires may deteriorate due to prolonged storage without periodic inspection and maintenance, leading to issues like moisture damage and aging. 2. Only a very few dealers perform periodic inspection and maintenance measures. The cost is actually not high, but it consumes manpower and time. Some 4S stores even have open-air parking lots, exposing new cars directly to intense sunlight, wind, and rain. 3. For vehicles stored for too long, without proper warehouse management, the aging of electronic components and rubber products is basically undetectable without professional testing equipment. Many vehicles stored for too long also suffer from oil and power shortages.
To determine if a car is a stock vehicle, I have my own method, often starting with the production date. The 10th digit of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) represents the year. For example, a car from 2023 might start with a C or D. If the code shows a date over a year old but the odometer displays very low mileage, say just 100 kilometers, that's suspicious. I carefully check the tread depth of the tires and look for tiny cracks on the sidewalls, as prolonged storage can age the rubber. Dust and oil stains accumulated under the hood are also clues, especially if the engine hasn't been started but is covered in cobwebs. The battery is another key point—stock cars often have drained batteries, and if the lights flicker or don't turn on when you insert the key, it's a giveaway. Related to this, dealers often discount stock vehicles, but before buying, you must test-drive and inspect the braking system to avoid purchasing a car with aging hazards—saving money but not peace of mind.
