Where can I find the manufacturing date of a new car?
2 Answers
The manufacturing date of a car can be found below the B-pillar on the passenger side or on the certificate that comes with the new car. Specific details are as follows: Below the B-pillar on the passenger side: Open the door to see the nameplate, which only shows the year and month. The nameplate also includes the vehicle's VIN. Certificate that comes with the new car: Located in the upper right corner of the certificate, the production date here can be specified down to the year, month, and day. Note that not all vehicle models are applicable to the above two methods. When a new car arrives at the dealership, there will be a paper nameplate on the front windshield of the driver's seat. The paper nameplate shows the VIN and the official fuel consumption. If the bottom of the paper nameplate specifies the year, month, and day, it can be considered as the manufacturing date. If the nameplate only shows the year and month, it cannot be used as the manufacturing date.
As someone who frequently helps friends pick out new cars, I've found that the manufacturing date can be easily spotted in several places. Typically, the most straightforward is the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), located at the bottom left corner of the windshield. The 10th character of the VIN represents the year—for example, the letter 'A' stands for 2010. Additionally, the production date is often marked on the door frame's nameplate, specifically on the B-pillar when you open the driver's side door. When car shopping, I always make it a habit to check these details because the manufacturing date affects the warranty period and how long the car has been in inventory, helping avoid vehicles that have been sitting in storage for months. If you're unsure, simply ask the salesperson for a VIN decoding report—it only takes a few minutes and ensures you're getting the freshest car possible.
