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Buying a used car? Know the difference between the model, registration and manufacturing years

Arvind · Oct 17, 2022 12:25 PM

Buying a used car? Know the difference between the model, registration and manufacturing years 01

Vehicle age is perhaps the first thing you look at when searching for a used or recond vehicle. 

In addition to the overall condition, it is very important to determine the vehicle's model, manufacturing and registration years because there are distinct differences between the 3 and what they describe about the vehicle. So, let's break them down.

What is a car's manufacturing year?

Buying a used car? Know the difference between the model, registration and manufacturing years 02

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A car’s manufacturing year simply refers to the year in which the car was produced. The production of any vehicle starts before the model is officially launched and ends before production of the facelift or replacement model begins.

You can find out the manufacturing year of any vehicle by looking at its registration card.

What is the registration year?

Buying a used car? Know the difference between the model, registration and manufacturing years 01

The manufacturing and registration years are both listed on the vehicle registration card

The registration year refers to when the vehicle was registered with the Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Recond vehicles typically have a registration year 1-5 years after their manufacturing year because these vehicles are produced and driven in other countries (such as Japan and the UK) before being imported and registered in Malaysia.

Also read: Buying used cars: How to test drive a used car?

Buying a used car? Know the difference between the model, registration and manufacturing years 02

For recond vehicles, the registration card will show the status of Kenderaan Import Terpakai (used import vehicle) as well as the vehicle’s manufacturing and registration year.

What is a car's model year then?

Buying a used car? Know the difference between the model, registration and manufacturing years 03

In its simplest definition, the model year of a vehicle refers to the year the car is officially launched, and showroom sales begin.

However, in more recent times, due to customer behaviour changes, and the advent of Google search terms, the model year is increasingly used to denote an outgoing, current or upcoming model. Thus, it’s common to see terms such as the ‘2022 Honda HR-V’ 2022 Honda HR-V’ being used to describe a particular model.

Also read: Buying a used or recond car? Check its history first with CTOS VehicleCheck, just RM 6

Buying a used car? Know the difference between the model, registration and manufacturing years 04

But what about model years set to the following year (or later), for instance, ‘2023 Toyota Vios’, well, there are two main reasons for this. Firstly, it’s because the launch and model sales will only begin the following year, or secondly, it’s simply a case of marketing.

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to marketing taglines so manufacturers sometimes use ‘future’ model years to further entice buyers and reinforce the fact that the vehicle is the very latest offering.

Conclusion

Buying a used car? Know the difference between the model, registration and manufacturing years 05

Used and recond car values are largely determined by their age. Thus it's common for used/recond dealers to advertise a car by its later registration year, rather than the manufacturing year. 

Besides knowing when a car was manufactured and registered, model years may also denote better, newer features or equipment that may have been introduced during the model’s lifecycle.

Knowing the difference between the three will help you narrow your search for your perfect used/recond car and, more importantly, know how much to pay for it. 

Arvind

Senior Writer

Arvind can't remember a time when he didn't wheel around a HotWheels car. This love evolved into an interest in Tamiya and RC cars and finally the real deal 1:1 scale stuff. Passion finally lead to formal training in Mechanical Engineering. Instead of the bigger picture, he obsesses with the final drive ratio and spring rates of cars and spends the weekends wondering why a Perodua Myvi is so fast.

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