How to Check the Production Year of a Car?
2 Answers
Methods to check the production year of a car include: 1. The nameplate in the engine compartment; 2. The small nameplate around the door seam; 3. The vehicle identification number (VIN) located below the windshield, where the tenth digit represents the production year; 4. The car manual. The significance of knowing the car's production date includes: 1. It can be used for depreciation valuation when purchasing auto damage insurance; 2. It helps determine if the car is a stock vehicle when buying; 3. In case of safety or quality issues requiring a recall, the production date is used to determine if the car falls within the recall range; 4. It helps identify the model year, as different model years have different configurations and part numbers for installed components.
The most accurate method is to check the vehicle's VIN code, that 17-digit number is equivalent to the car's ID card. Pay special attention to the 10th character: for 2001-2009 it corresponds to numbers 1 through 9, starting from 2010 the letter A represents 2010, B is 2011, and by 2025 it will cycle back to using numbers. For example, if my car's VIN has M as the 10th character, checking the table reveals it was manufactured in 2021. This code can be found in the lower left corner of the windshield, on the door frame, or under the passenger side carpet. When buying a car, it's best to verify that the production date on the nameplate matches the VIN year to avoid purchasing stock vehicles or those with altered labels.
