How to Find Out the Production Month of a Japanese Car

  • Created By Rubel Hassan on 2025-12-07
  • last modified on : 2025-12-07

If you import cars from Japan, you have probably noticed that many Japanese vehicles do not show the production month on the chassis plate. Unlike US or European cars, Japanese domestic vehicles use a Frame Number instead of a full 17-digit VIN, and the month is not directly included.
So how do you find out the exact month a Japanese car was made?

Here are the most accurate and reliable methods used by dealers, importers, and auction buyers.

❌ Check the Japanese Auction Sheet

If the car came from a Japanese auction (USS, TAA, ARAI, HAA, JU, etc.), the auction sheet usually lists:

  • First Registration Date (初度登録)

  • Written as: Year / Month (e.g., 2018/03)

This date is normally very close to the production month, however, this is not the accurate one.
Keep in mind:
✔ Registration month ≠ is always the exact manufacturing month

Look for the Door Jamb Sticker (Build Sticker)

Some Japanese cars include a build sticker located on:

  • Driver-side door jamb

  • Passenger-side door jamb

  • Engine bay area

Depending on the manufacturer, the sticker may show:

  • Build Month and Year

  • Model Code

  • Plant Code

  • Trim Code

Brands like Mazda, Subaru (which exports models), and Mitsubishi often clearly print the month.
Toyota, Nissan, and Honda sometimes do, but not always.

Use Online Tools That Read EPC Data

CAR MODS BD provides online tools to verify production month, easily paying only 200 Taka. 

Nissan Month Code on Door Plate (Some Models)

Some Nissan vehicles include a small letter code indicating the build month:

Letter Month
A January
B February
C March
… …
L December

This makes locating the production month very simple—if the code is present.

What Does NOT Work

To avoid confusion, here are common mistakes:

❌ 1. Trying to decode JDM cars using VIN month systems

JDM cars do not use 17-digit VIN month/year codes.

❌ 2. Assuming the chassis plate shows the month

Most Japanese chassis plates only show:

  • Year

  • Model code

  • Frame number

  • Engine type

No production month is included.

❌ 3. Using registration month as manufacturing month

This provides only an approximation.

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