If you are unsure of the model year of your vehicle, you're not alone.
There are several correct ways to discover the model year of your vehicle and a couple wrong ways.
Correct ways:
- Title, Registration, or Insurance card - this is usually the best way to make sure you have the right model year of your car.
- Window sticker from the dealership - Also known as a Monroney sitcker, if you still have it, your model year should be there in plain sight.
- If you don't have any of the above stated documents, NADA guides is a great resource that can get you on the right track.
Incorrect ways:
- The year you bought your car or truck - when you buy a vehicle in one year, very often you are buying the next model year of the vehicle. For example, Jane buys a car in August of 2018, but her model year is actually 2019 because they have already started to sell the newer cars.
- The door jam or directly on your door when you open it - the date on the door jam is sometimes the same as the model year, but not always. This date is usually the month and year of manufacture. It can get you close, but you may have to make an educated guess if you are at the beginning or end of a model change.
