
If you want to find out how old your car is in Australia, you can look for the vehicle's build date, which is usually found on a label or plate called the vehicle build plate. This can often be found in the engine bay or on the door frame. The build date is important as it provides information about the manufacturing process, potential recalls, and compatibility with certain parts or accessories. Another way to find out the age of your car is to look at the compliance plate, which is proof that the car complies with Australian Design Rules and can be registered for use on Australian roads. The compliance date is the month and year the car arrived in Australia and was certified for road use.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Build date | The month and year the car was produced and rolled off the production line |
| Compliance date | The month and year the car arrived in Australia and was certified for road use; the date when the compliance plate is added |
| Sale date | The date the car was delivered to the buyer |
| Registration date | The official date the car was registered for use, usually the same as the sale date |
| Model year | An arbitrary year to mark the start of a new specification; sometimes a calendar year, but more often commencing months earlier |
| Series or generation | A marketing or engineering code to distinguish model years in a lifecycle with architecture, powertrain and other engineering facets in common |
| Compliance plate | Proof that the car complies with Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and can be registered for use on Australian roads; features an approval number, category, manufacturer name, model line and series/generation, VIN, GVM, and seating capacity |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) | A unique 17-character identifier for the vehicle, composed of digits and capital letters, displaying the car's unique features, specifications, and manufacturer |
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What You'll Learn

Finding the build date
The build date is the month and year your car rolled off the production line. This date may differ from the compliance date, which is when the car arrived in Australia and was certified for road use. The build date can usually be found on the "vehicle build plate," which is often located in the engine bay or on the door frame. The vehicle build plate is sometimes found in the door jamb, attached to the firewall, near the strut towers, or attached to the vehicle's frame under the hood.
If you're unable to locate the build plate, you can use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to obtain the build information. The VIN is a unique 17-character combination of digits and capital letters that acts as a fingerprint for your vehicle. You can contact the vehicle's manufacturer or a dealership with the VIN, and they should be able to provide you with the build date.
It's worth noting that the build date may not always be the same as the model year. A car marketed as a "2023 model" may have been built in 2022 or even earlier. This is because the model year is an arbitrary year used to mark the start of a new specification, and it is sometimes a calendar year but often commences months earlier.
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Compliance plate
A compliance plate is a metal plate attached to a vehicle by its manufacturer or importer. It confirms that the vehicle meets all the necessary Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for safety and environmental standards and can be registered for use on Australian roads. It is critical for registering your vehicle and ensuring it is roadworthy and legal to drive in Australia.
The compliance plate includes the vehicle identification number, the compliance date, the approval number from the regulatory body (the federal Department of Infrastructure), the category (usually MA for light vehicles), the name of the manufacturer, model line and series/generation, the VIN, the GVM (gross vehicle mass in kilograms), and the seating capacity.
The compliance plate must also include the text: "THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO COMPLY WITH THE MOTOR VEHICLE STANDARDS ACT 1989".
In the past, compliance plates were aluminium plates riveted to the car, but now they are often powder-coated labels bonded to the car. The compliance plate is typically located in the engine bay, on the firewall, or near the driver's side door jamb. If you're having trouble finding it, your vehicle's owner's manual may provide specific guidance.
The compliance date is the month and year the car arrived in Australia and was certified for road use. This is one of the milestones in the 'life' of your car, along with the build date, sale date, registration date, model year, and series or generation.
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The age of a car in Australia can be determined by considering several milestones in its "life", including the build date, compliance date, sale date, registration date, model year, and series or generation. The build date refers to when the car rolled off the production line, while the compliance date is when it arrived in Australia and was certified for road use. The sale date is recorded in the car's service manual, and the registration date is when the car was officially registered for use, usually matching the sale date. The model year is an arbitrary year marking the start of a new specification, and the series or generation code distinguishes model years within a lifecycle.
One crucial aspect of determining a car's age in Australia is the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is a unique 17-character serial number used to identify a motor vehicle. It is composed only of the numbers 0-9 and uppercase letters A-Z, excluding the letters I, O, and Q. The VIN is typically located on a compliance plate, which is either an aluminium plate riveted to the car or a powder-coated label bonded to it. This plate indicates that the car complies with Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and can be registered for use on Australian roads. It includes information such as an approval number from the regulatory body, the category (usually MA for light vehicles), the manufacturer's name, model line, series/generation, VIN, gross vehicle mass (GVM) in kilograms, and seating capacity.
The VIN plays a significant role in the registration process. The National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS) maintains a database that records the VIN of every road vehicle across Australia. When a vehicle is manufactured or imported into the country, NEVDIS decodes and uploads its VIN to facilitate registration in the relevant state or territory. This process involves submitting the VIN to the NEVDIS Administration Unit (NAU) for validation, decoding, and uploading.
It is important to note that some imported vehicles, particularly older Japanese models, may not have a 17-character VIN or one that can be easily validated or decoded by NEVDIS. In such cases, a "surrogate" VIN needs to be created and issued for registration purposes. Additionally, if a vehicle chassis number includes the letter I, O, or Q, it will need to be changed to a number (1 or 0) to comply with VIN requirements.
By utilising the VIN and understanding the various milestones in a car's life, individuals can accurately determine the age of their vehicle in Australia and ensure compliance with the necessary regulations.
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Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV)
The Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) is an online, publicly searchable database of vehicles that have met the requirements of the RVS legislation and have been approved for the Australian market. The RAV was introduced alongside the Road Vehicles Standards Act 2018, which replaced the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.
Vehicles must be entered on the RAV before they can be presented for state or territory registration. This does away with the need for a physical compliance plate, which previously served as proof that a car complied with Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and could be registered for use on Australian roads.
To meet the eligibility criteria for the RAV, the vehicle must be covered by an entry on the SEVs Register, and the applicant must be the owner or intended owner of the vehicle. The applicant must also have, or have access to, an approved Model Report for the vehicle. Once a concessional RAV entry approval is granted, any modifications required for the vehicle to meet relevant national road vehicle standards must be undertaken in accordance with the Work Instructions in an approved Model Report.
You may apply for one or more variants of a model, or make and model, of a road vehicle to be entered on the SEVs Register. All applications must be submitted through ROVER, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts' applications and approvals portal. Before applying, you will need to create a ROVER account and have your identity checked.
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Sale and registration dates
The age of a car in Australia is calculated from the date it was manufactured, known as the build date. This date is often available on the build plate or compliance plate of the car. The compliance plate indicates that the car complies with Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and can be registered for use on Australian roads. It includes information such as the approval number, category, manufacturer name, model, VIN, GVM, and seating capacity.
When purchasing a vehicle in Australia, there are a few key dates to be aware of regarding sales and registration:
Build Date
The build date is the month and year the car was manufactured and rolled off the production line. This date is usually available on the build plate or compliance plate of the vehicle.
Compliance Date
The compliance date is when the car arrived in Australia and was certified for road use. This date may be featured on the compliance plate, along with other relevant information.
Sale Date
The sale date is the day you took delivery of the vehicle, and it is typically logged in the car's service manual. This date is essential for ownership transfer and registration purposes.
Registration Date
The registration date is the official date the car was registered for use in Australia. In most cases, this date aligns with the sale date. To register a vehicle, you must provide the necessary documents and may need to obtain a safety certificate or certificate of inspection. The specific requirements may vary depending on the state or territory of registration.
Model Year
The model year is an arbitrary year used to mark the start of a new specification. It may correspond to a calendar year or commence months earlier. This date is often used for marketing purposes and may not align with the actual manufacturing or sale dates.
It is worth noting that the process of importing and registering a vehicle in Australia can take a significant amount of time. Shipping times vary depending on the origin country, and once a car arrives in Australia, it must go through the compliance process and transportation to a retailer before it is prepared for sale. This can result in a delay of several weeks or even months before a car is available for purchase.
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Frequently asked questions
You can find out the age of your car by checking the compliance plate, which will have the month and year the car arrived in Australia and was certified for road use.
A compliance plate is usually a powder-coated label bonded to the car, indicating that the car complies with Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and can be registered for use on Australian roads.
The compliance plate must feature an approval number from the regulatory body, the category (usually MA for light vehicles), the name of the manufacturer, model line and series/generation, the VIN, GVM (gross vehicle mass in kilograms), and the seating capacity.
The compliance plate can usually be found in the engine bay or on the door frame.
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique code that identifies almost every vehicle in the world. It is usually placed in secure spots on the vehicle to prevent accidental damage or removal.











































