Maintenance and repairs will benefit from knowing your vehicle’s history. While the model year provides a general idea, understanding the exact manufacturing and building dates provides even more detailed information, particularly when searching for specific replacement parts.
In this article, we examine the differences between these dates and explore how to locate this information.
Differences between the Manufacturing Date and the Production Date
While they may seem like the same thing, the manufacturing date and production date on your vehicle may actually be different. Here are the differences between the two dates:
- Manufacturing Date: This refers to the specific date of a part’s manufacture – for every individual part that goes into making your car. Finding a car’s manufacturing date is very crucial.
- Production Date: This refers to when your car was fully assembled and ready. Finding a car’s production date gives you an opportunity to know exactly when your car was completed.
For instance, if your vehicle model year is 2023, that does not guarantee it was made the same year. In fact, there’s a good chance it was assembled in 2022.
How to Find Your Car’s Manufacturing & Production Date
Checking the sticker on the door jamb: The first place this would be found is on the label at the door sill, driver’s side, when the door opens. This sticker has information related to car weight besides the month and year of manufacturing. This is an easy technique of finding a car’s production date.
Decode the VIN: If the door jamb sticker is either missing or its number is faded or unreadable, then a car’s production date can be stated with the help of the Vehicle Identification Number. It is normally found near the base of the windscreen, on the registration sticker on your car, or on your insurance documents. Online VIN decoder tools will help decipher this information. This is a way for finding a car’s manufacturing date.
Why Does This Information Matter?
Finding replacement components, especially used auto parts, requires knowing your car’s creation date. Since manufacturers make major modifications to components throughout any given year in the same model, knowing the manufacturing date helps you find parts that fit your car.
If you require new headlights for your 2018 SUV, referring to the car’s manufacturing date can assist you in obtaining the precise model. Otherwise, you might receive a headlight assembly for a slightly different version of the same model, which could lead to issues with fitment or malfunction.
Knowing your vehicles’ manufacturing date is a good way to save yourself from headaches, money, and time spent towards car repairs and maintenance would be to find out the date of manufacture or production of your car.
Find Quality Used Auto Parts for Your Vehicle
If you’re looking for used auto parts in Massachusetts, we encourage you to visit our salvage yard in Lancaster, or browse our website for the latest used auto parts available for sale online – we ship parts directly to your address, nationwide.