How to Distinguish Whether a Car is a Stock Vehicle?
2 Answers
Methods to distinguish whether a car is a stock vehicle: 1. Check the manufacturing date of the car. Each car has a nameplate near the door that clearly indicates the manufacturing date. If the car was manufactured within the last three months, it is considered new; otherwise, it is likely a stock vehicle. 2. Look at the time symbols on the car windows. The markings represent the manufacturing date of the glass. If they are inconsistent, it means one piece has been replaced. 3. Check the wear level of the tires. New tires have a layer of tread hairs when they leave the factory, which wear off easily. You can check if all four tires still have these tread hairs. 4. Use your finger to feel the inside of the exhaust pipe. If there is obvious black residue, it indicates the car has been driven for some time. If the color is light, there is no issue.
I think the most straightforward way to identify a stock car is to check the vehicle's production date, which is usually indicated on a nameplate below the B-pillar on the passenger side or in the engine compartment. If the car has been in stock for more than six months without being sold, it's considered a stock car, especially for less popular models where this situation is quite common. You can crouch down and check the tires—cars stored for a long time often have flat spots on the tires, and the rubber may show fine cracks. Also, remember to bring a wet wipe to clean the screws in the engine compartment, as poorly maintained stock cars tend to accumulate thick dust, and you might even find rodent droppings. The most crucial thing is to check the battery condition—long-term storage leads to low battery voltage, and you can feel a delay when starting the engine. I once encountered a dealer who disconnected the dashboard wires to show zero kilometers, but upon checking the maintenance records, the car had already passed its first service interval.
