How to Determine a Car's Manufacturing Date?
2 Answers
Methods to determine a car's manufacturing date include: 1. Judging the car's production date based on the body paint data, where the vehicle identification code, manufacturing date, total vehicle weight, engine model, and rated power are usually found on the side of the body; 2. Determining the car's production date by the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), where the 10th character (letter or number) indicates the manufacturing date; 3. Checking the production date via the information on the engine compartment's nameplate, which typically includes the car model, engine model, engine displacement, and production date; 4. The car's manufacturing date is also specified in the vehicle's user manual.
I was also quite curious about the manufacturing date when I bought a used car last time. It turned out there was a small metal plate near the door hinge with the specific year and month marked. Additionally, there's a 17-digit VIN code at the bottom left of the windshield—the 10th letter or digit can indicate the year (e.g., T stands for 1996), but you'll need to check an online decoding table to confirm. Actually, the production date is also printed in the vehicle registration book, which is especially handy for verification during ownership transfers. Knowing the manufacturing date is crucial for maintenance and resale value—new car warranties often start from this date, and older parts are more prone to aging issues. Lastly, a reminder: if the metal plate is missing or worn, try contacting the 4S store to check their records. It's free and quick. I once helped a friend with this and saved a lot of hassle.
