How to Distinguish Between a New Car and a Stock Car?
4 Answers
Methods to distinguish whether a car is new or a stock car are: 1. Determine the car's production time by checking the nameplate near the car door, which indicates the production time. A new car is one that has been produced within the last three months. If the production time is longer, it is likely a stock car. 2. Check the "time symbols" on the car's glass, which are the small dot markings in the corners of the glass. These markings represent the production time of the glass. Check if the time on the left and right glass panels is consistent. If not, it indicates that one has been replaced. 3. Examine the wear and tear on the tires. New tires have a layer of "tire hairs" when they are first produced, which disappear after a few hundred kilometers of wear. When picking up a new car, carefully check if the tire hairs on all four tires are still present. 4. Inspect the wear on the car's foot pedals. Look for mud stains or signs of wear in the gaps of the pedals, and check if there is excessive wear on the floor mats under the pedals. 5. Check the dust level on various parts inside the engine compartment. A new car generally has no dust and feels brand new and shiny. In contrast, a high-mileage car will have dust accumulation in the engine compartment. The color of the engine oil in the compartment is also one of the indicators of a high-mileage car. 6. Examine the inner wall of the car's exhaust pipe by touching it with your finger to see if there is any black residue. Note: The mileage displayed on the car's odometer should not be used as the primary reference.
When I bought a car last year, I encountered the trap of a stock car. Later, I learned these practical tips: The production date is the most direct evidence. The manufacturing month and year are clearly marked on the nameplate on the co-pilot door frame or in the engine compartment. Be cautious if it exceeds 6 months. Also, pay special attention to the tires. The inner side of all four tires has a four-digit code starting with the letters DOT. The last two digits represent the production year, and the first two digits indicate the week of production. For example, 2321 means the tire was produced in the 21st week of 2023. The brake discs of stock cars are prone to deep rust, while new cars only have a thin layer of surface rust. Remember to lift the oil cap—the oil in a new car is a translucent light yellow, while in a car that has been parked for half a year, the oil will have oxidized and turned black. Finally, feel the inner wall of the exhaust pipe. A new car will only have a small amount of ash, while a stock car will leave obvious black carbon residue when wiped.
As a former salesperson with five years of experience at a 4S dealership, checking inventory cars requires focusing on key details. First, check the odometer reading—under 50 km is normal, while over 100 km may indicate a display car. Crouch down to inspect the chassis screws; new cars have factory-marked alignment lines, and any misalignment suggests tampering. Rubber components are also telltale signs—windshield wiper rubber on inventory cars tends to harden, and door seal rubber loses elasticity when pinched. Bring a flashlight to examine the engine bay; new cars have Vaseline-coated wiring connectors, while inventory cars' coatings dry out. Don’t rush to remove the seat covers—if the leather seats under the plastic film show noticeable indentations, it suggests prolonged static storage. Most importantly, avoid signing the PDI inspection form during the check, as it often hides fine-print clauses.
Bringing an experienced driver for car pickup is the most reliable! Last week, while helping a friend inspect a car, we uncovered some tricks: the numbers on the window glass labels of stock cars hide secrets. Check the codes in the corner of each glass—the numbers represent the year, and the small black dots indicate the month. For example, '22···' with seven dots next to the number means it was produced in July. The production dates of all glass pieces on the car should be consistent. If you find any glass with a later date than the car's manufacturing date, it has definitely been replaced. The battery terminals of a new car should be shiny with a blue film, while those of a stock car appear whitish. When you turn the key to power-on without self-check, all dashboard warning lights should illuminate—if some lights don't turn on, the car might have been reset.
