How to Check the Production Date of a New Car's Glass?
3 Answers
To check the production date of a new car's glass, look for a code located at the bottom left or right corner of the window glass. The last or second-to-last row of this code contains a number and several small black dots, which indicate the glass's production date. The number represents the last digit of the production year. For example, if the car's manufacturing date is in 2007 or 2008, the number '8' on the glass would indicate 2008. The glass and the car's production dates should not differ by more than 10 years. The small black dots indicate the production month. If the dots are before the number, subtract the number of dots from 7 to get the month. If the dots are after the number, subtract the number of dots from 13 to determine the month.
Checking the production date of new car glass is actually quite simple, and I often teach this to friends when helping them buy cars. There's a small imprint in the corner of the windshield or side windows, usually consisting of numbers and dots, like '•3' or '23 •'. The dots represent the year - for example, one dot means 2023, while the numbers indicate the month, with 03 meaning March. The glass production date should be 1-2 months earlier than the vehicle's manufacturing date; otherwise, it might indicate replacement with non-original glass. This check is very practical when buying a car - it can reveal if the vehicle has accident repair history and helps avoid being overcharged. I usually bring a magnifying glass and flashlight to inspect carefully at the dealership, taking my time to verify before payment. Remember, the glass date should match the vehicle's production date shown on the manufacturer's plate to be reliable.
I recently learned an interesting method to check the manufacturing date of a new car's glass. There are often symbols like '3•' or '•2' printed on the edge of the glass. Fewer dots indicate a shorter year suffix, while more dots represent a longer year suffix, and the number stands for the manufacturing month. The windshield is the easiest place to find these markings, usually written in small print at the corners of the black borders. Generally, the glass date should be earlier than the car's overall manufacturing date—if the gap is too large, it might indicate repairs. Paying attention to this can also help prevent fraud when inspecting used cars. Now, every time I see a new car, I can't help but take a quick look to practice my observation skills. Once you get familiar with it, it only takes a few seconds—you don't even need to use your phone's flashlight.
