How to Determine the Year of a Car?
2 Answers
Methods to determine the year of a car: 1. The manual provided by the manufacturer when purchasing the car contains parameters such as the manufacturing date, engine displacement, and power; 2. The production date is also indicated on the vehicle's nameplate, usually located below the passenger side door, which can be seen when the door is opened; 3. Directly inquire with the manufacturer or the 4S store. To check vehicle information, a simple method is to use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the car. The location of the VIN varies among cars—some are located below the passenger side door (visible when opened), while others are in the lower right front of the passenger seat. The VIN is a 17-character alphanumeric code, commonly known as the 17-digit code. Each vehicle has a unique VIN, which serves as the car's identification number, similar to a person's ID number.
When I bought my first car, I also pondered this question. The most straightforward method is to check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is usually located at the lower left corner of the windshield or on the door frame. The 10th character of the VIN indicates the production year: for example, W stands for 1998, Y for 2000, A for 2010, and so on. Additionally, new cars typically have a manufacturing label near the door hinge or under the hood that specifies the date. I remember when I bought a used car, misjudging the year affected the insurance cost and resale value, so don’t rely solely on the body design—those retro styles can be misleading. After checking a few times myself, I developed a habit of using VIN decoder websites to confirm the year by entering the VIN, ensuring I didn’t get a bad deal. This trick is simple, practical, and hassle-free, making it easy even for beginners to pick up quickly.
