As we've mentioned before on ActualidadMotor, the manufacturing date of a car and its registration date can vary considerably. Normally, at least a month passes between the car's construction date and its first registration, but for some cars, this period can be much longer.
Determining a car's manufacturing date is easy when it arrives at the dealership. The delivery note itself shows the date the vehicle left the assembly plant. The problem arises once the car is ready for delivery to the customer, as the manufacturing date can only be determined by checking the date of manufacture of certain components, such as the windows or seat belts.
In new cars, most of the time we're interested in knowing the manufacturing date out of mere curiosity, but in the case of second-hand vehicles, knowing the manufacturing date can be useful to detect possible accidents the car may have had.
Checking the dates on the seatbelts will show if they have been replaced. If they are different, it could mean the car was in a major accident and the seatbelts were replaced afterward. The windows will also indicate the date of manufacture (of the glass itself).
Know the date of manufacture of a moon
Most windshields have the manufacturing dates engraved on them , indicating the month and year. The year is indicated by a single number, from 0 to 9, while the month is indicated by a certain number of dots on either side of the number. There's no way to differentiate between decades; if the glass is from the 80s or 90s, it's easily deduced by looking at the car model. Let's look at an example with a windshield from 2005.
Contrast data
When buying a used car, it's important to check the dates on the windows . For example, if you look at the rear left quarter window and the tailgate window of an acquaintance's Renault Scenic, you'll see that they have different dates than the rest of the car. In this case, it's because a truck hit the car, and it had to be repaired, including being machined. In the case of my car, the windshield has a different date because it had to be replaced after being broken by a stone chip. The windows can give us a clue, so we should be aware that something might have happened there.
Even with a new car, it's always a good idea to check the date , as a window could have been broken during transport or at the dealership. The date can also help you determine if you've been sold a stock car without being told, or if it's a vehicle specially brought in from the factory. However, keep in mind that windows are manufactured slightly before the car itself, and that the car takes time to reach you.
More information – How to find out the manufacturing date of a car?