How to Determine Vehicle Age from Seat Belt?
2 Answers
Here are the specific methods to check a vehicle's age from the seat belt: 1. Fully extend the seat belt and look for an attached label at the base, which displays the vehicle's manufacturing year. 2. If 'meddate' is followed by a combination of letters and numbers, it indicates the use of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The 10th digit of the VIN represents the production date, cycling every 30 years. Below is extended information on reasons why seat belts may fail to retract: (1) The upper slider of the seat belt is too close to the B-pillar, causing misalignment between the belt in the slider and the belt in the retractor box, leading to jamming during automatic retraction. (2) The lower roller fails to return to position immediately, causing buckling. (3) Debris is present at the friction point between the B-pillar seat belt lock and the belt. (4) The seat belt buckle is damaged.
The small tag on the seatbelt can help you estimate a car's age. I've been driving for over 20 years and often use this method. Lift the base or backside of the seatbelt to find a small tag with a date like '23-06,' which likely means it was manufactured in June 2023. This usually aligns closely with the vehicle's production year since manufacturers install them together. However, this method isn't very precise—if the seatbelt has been replaced or the tag is worn, it won't be accurate. I remember once checking a used car where the tag showed 2018, but the actual VIN indicated a 2017 model year, possibly due to inventory delays. It's better to cross-check with the vehicle registration or the VIN for reliability. Safety first—older seatbelts degrade faster, so early checks ensure safety features remain intact. Don’t rely solely on this; other clues like seatbelt design changes over the years can also hint at the car's age.
