Why Knowing Your Car’s Manufacturing Date Matters
When purchasing a new car, it’s natural to assume you’re getting a fresh-from-the-factory vehicle. But unless you verify the manufacturing date, there’s a risk you’re unknowingly buying a car that’s six months or even a year old. This can impact your resale value, warranty period, and even the car’s performance, especially in storage-sensitive models.
- Dealers may not always be upfront about this.
- Some vehicles might have been manufactured long before reaching the showroom.
Every car has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that reveals crucial information, including the Month and Year of production. Typically, this 17-character code is located in the engine bay, on the driver-side dashboard, or near the passenger footwell.
How to Decode a VIN for Your Car
Each manufacturer follows a specific format for encoding the month and year into the VIN. Here’s a look at how popular carmakers structure their VINs:
Tata Motors (Starts with MAT)
- 10th character: Year
- 12th character: Month
Example: A = 2010 (Year), G = July (Month)
Characters I, O, and Q are skipped.
Chevrolet (Starts with MA6)
Up to Jan 2011:
- 9th character: Month
- 10th character: Year
Post Feb 2011:
- 7th character: Month
- 9th character: Year
Trailblazer Variant:
- 4th character: Month
- 9th character: Year
- An additional placard may show two characters like GF (July 2015).
Honda (Starts with MAK)
- 9th character: Month
- 10th character: Year
Example: G = July, A = 2010
Mahindra (Starts with MAI)
- 10th character: Year
- 12th character: Month
Detailed VIN structure includes:
- Digit 1–3: Manufacturer & Country
- Digit 10: Year
- Digit 12: Month
Mitsubishi (Starts with MA7)
- 10th character: Year
- 11th character: Month
Example: A = 2010 (Year), G = July (Month)
Hyundai (Starts with MAL, 19 characters)
- 10th character: Year
- 19th character: Month
Fiat (Starts with MCA, 20 characters)
- 18th character: Month
- 19th & 20th: Year
Example: G = July, NZ = 2010
Skoda (Starts with TMB or MEX)
- 6th character: Month
- 10th character: Year
Volkswagen (Starts with WVW)
- 4th character: Month
- 5th & 6th: Year
- 10th character: Model Year
Toyota (Starts with MBJ, 22 characters)
- 19th & 20th: Month
- 21st & 22nd: Year
Maruti Suzuki (Starts with MA3)
Standard VIN (17 characters):
- 11th character: Month
- 10th character: Year
Extended VIN (19 characters):
- 18th character: Month
- 19th character: Year
Older Cars (21 characters):
- 20th character: Month
- 21st character: Year
Ford (Starts with MAJ)
- 11th character: Year
- 12th character: Month
Note: VIN pattern repeats every 4 years.
Nissan / Datsun (Starts with MDH)
- 10th character: Year
- 11th character: Month
Renault (Starts with MEE)
- 10th character: Year
- 11th character: Month
Kia (Starts with MZB, 19 characters)
- 10th character: Model Year
- 19th character: Month
Jeep (Starts with MCA, 20 characters)
- 20th character: Year
- 19th character: Month
MG Motor (Starts with MZ7)
- 10th character: Year
- 9th character: Month
How to Use This Information
- Locate the VIN – usually under the hood or near the driver’s side windshield.
- Match the characters – using the above guide.
- Cross-check with documentation – to ensure the dealer’s claim matches production details.
Final Thoughts
Decoding your car’s VIN is an essential step to ensure you’re not overpaying for an aged vehicle disguised as new. It empowers you to verify dealer claims, helps with warranty validation, and enhances your understanding of the car’s history. Always double-check your VIN before signing on the dotted line.
