How to Determine Vehicle Year from Windshield Number?
2 Answers
For example: "8", the number 8 indicates the year, meaning it was produced in 2008. A black dot before the "8" indicates production in the first half of the year, while a black dot after the "8" indicates production in the second half of the year. Below are detailed explanations about the windshield number: Date Explanation: When comparing the windshield production date with the vehicle's nameplate production date (a small plate located on the left or right side above the front wheel when you open the hood), the windshield date must be earlier than the nameplate date. Additional Information: VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): The VIN, also known as the vehicle identification code, is a set of seventeen alphanumeric characters that serve as the car's unique identifier. Each vehicle has its own unique VIN. The letters and numbers in the VIN represent information such as the vehicle's production region, manufacturer, production year, model, etc.
I have over a decade of driving experience and have personally encountered situations where I needed to check a car's year. The windshield number mainly refers to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), located at the bottom left or right corner of the glass. Within that 17-digit code, the 10th letter represents the manufacturing year—for example, 'L' stands for 2021, and 'M' for 2022. Just jot it down in a notebook. Sometimes, there's a DOT code on the edge of the glass, which looks like small dots and numbers, such as '•23' indicating the first quarter of 2023. However, this only reflects the glass production date and may not perfectly match the car's year, as I've seen cases where used cars had their windshields replaced. The best approach is to use an online VIN decoder tool or a free mobile app to check—it's fast, accurate, and reveals more historical details about the car. I personally used this method when buying a car to avoid being misled about the manufacturing year, ensuring a hassle-free and safe purchase. Don’t rely solely on guessing based on the glass number.
