How to Identify the Production Year of Car Glass?

[DeTalia]

Methods to identify the production year of car glass: 1. The glass year is composed of black dots and numbers. If small black dots precede the number, it indicates production in the first half of the year, with the month calculated by subtracting the number of dots from 7. If the number precedes the small black dots, it indicates production in the second half of the year, with the month calculated by subtracting the number of dots from 13. 2. The glass year may also consist of black dots, a number, and asterisk-shaped black dots. The number represents the last digit of the year, the count of small black dots indicates the quarter, and the number of asterisks following represents the specific month within that quarter. The production date of the glass should predate the vehicle's production date. Knowing how to read the glass production date helps determine if the glass has been replaced. If the glass production date is later than the vehicle's production date, it means the glass was replaced afterward. The vehicle's production date is usually found on the vehicle's nameplate located on the B-pillar.

[VonAlivia]

I recently researched how to identify the production year of car glass, and actually, there's a string of codes in the corner of each piece of glass. The key is to look at the combination of numbers and dots: the number represents the last digit of the year, for example, 9 could mean 2019 or 2009. The position of the dots determines the month—if the dots are on the left side of the number, subtract the number of dots from 7, so two dots would mean May; if the dots are on the right side, subtract from 13, so three dots would mean October. Last time I helped my dad check his car, I noticed his windshield had an 8 followed by two small dots, which calculated to August 2028 production. Remember to compare it with the vehicle's manufacturing date to avoid mixing up the decades. Additionally, some glass may also have a combination of black dots indicating the production week, but for us car owners, understanding the year and month is sufficient.

[StJake]

I've replaced my windshield twice and figured out the quickest way to identify the production year. First, crouch down and look for a small string of characters like *8... in the corner of the glass. Remember this trick: A standalone digit represents the last digit of the year. If there are black dots after the number, subtract their quantity from 13 to get the month - for example, three dots mean October. If there's a black dot before the number, subtract it from 7. Last time, my glass had a small black dot to the left of 6, indicating June 2026 production. Some windshields also have manufacturer logos near the year code - Fuyao is marked as FY. Just a heads-up: sunroof glass markings are particularly hidden and require opening the sunroof to see them.

[KingstonRose]

As someone who frequently helps friends inspect used cars, the first thing I check is the glass production date. I usually look for the dotted code in the lower right corner of the glass. The number represents the last digit of the year, and the dot position determines the month: dots on the left mean month = 7 minus the number of black dots; dots on the right mean month = 13 minus the number of black dots. Once, I found a left window marked with '7' and two dots on the right, indicating November 2017, while the whole car was a 2019 model - clearly the glass had been replaced. Remember to bring a flashlight, as markings on tinted glass can be hard to see. This method is much faster than checking maintenance records - you can spot issues in just three seconds.

[Maximus]

Last week while washing the car, I carefully checked the glass date code - it's actually not difficult. There are small characters like '9..' engraved at the bottom corner of the windshield. The number 9 represents 2029 or 2019, and the two dots after it mean November (13 minus 2). Different positions follow different rules: if dots are on the left side of the number, subtract the dot count from 7; if on the right, subtract from 13. American cars often use numbers within squares to indicate production weeks - for example, '9' in a square means it was produced in the 9th week. I recommend checking markings in cold weather for better visibility, as glass reflections in hot weather can make it hard to see. Knowing the production date helps better assess the overall component condition when combined with tire age information.

[McBlakely]

I learned to read the year markings only after a rear-end collision that required a windshield replacement. Those tiny characters along the edge of the glass hide the production date: the key is to find the central number and the surrounding dots. The number represents the last digit of the year, while the dot positions determine the month. For example, seeing a '5' with three dots on its left means April 2025 (7 minus 3). If there are two dots on the right, it indicates November (13 minus 2). German cars often add brand symbols like the Audi four rings next to these markings. Here's a handy tip to remember: more dots on the right point toward year-end, while more on the left suggest mid-year or earlier. Now, whenever I ride in a friend's car, I instinctively glance at the glass corner to check if it's an original factory part.