Compliance plate, VIN number, Year - oh MY!

To say it can be confusing is an understatement.
Why does it need to be so hard?
Here is our quick guide to the car code lingo:

VIN Number
What is it: Vehicle Identification Number. Simple enough.
Commonly found: Windscreen, driver's door, rego paper
Fact: No two vehicles in operation have the same VIN
Used for: Registrations, Insurance, Warranty claims and recalls

Compliance Plate
What is it: ID to state the car has passed the approval of Australian Design Rules which includes comprehensive testing and crash testing.
Commonly found: Engine bay although most cars have random hiding places for this plate.
Fact: Since July 1, 2021 the Compliance Plate ID has become redundant thanks to the introduction of the Register of Approved Vehicles.
Used for: Safety. Every Australian vehicle on the road must have this plate, there are very few exceptions.

MY
What is it: "MY" is the Model Year and not always the same year it was built but the year of the cycle the car is in from the manufacturer.
Commonly found: in the VIN plate, rego paper, dealer paperwork
Fact: It's very common to see a car ,for example built in 2019 but labelled MY20.
This could be related to an update for that model since the MY19 edition.
Used for: ID to know what specific model the car is because they can vary slightly.

Build Date
What is it: "Build Date" is exactly as it reads, the month and year the car was built and released off the production line from factory.
Commonly found: in the VIN plate, dealer paperwork, service book
Fact: Most cars are built one year, e.g. October 2020 or 10/2020 but do not land at our ports in Australia until the next year say, May 2021 or 05/2021 which makes it confusing for the owner who receives it a few months later in 2021.
Used for: ID to know what specific version the car is. Some models are released twice yearly with slight differences.

The Year
What is it: "The Year" is the most technically confusing and potentially misleading term we see.
This is the year it is manufactured. Often the year it was complied or the "MY" is used in its place, adding to the confusion.
Commonly found: in the VIN plate, dealer paperwork, service book
Fact: The most confused term used in automotive industry. You can have a Mercedes-Benz, complied in 2018 or be a MY18 model but built in 2017 so technically this should be listed as a 2017 car.
Used for: ID to know what specific age the car is. Pre-owned vehicles often list the year incorrectly so be aware.

Still Stuck?
We are always happy to take your call or answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Our clients use our service to take away the stress involved in managing their cars.