How to prove a car's build date
Every import rule that matters is measured from the date of manufacture. Almost no document states one. This is the list of the ones that do — 26 routes across 51 marques, with what each costs, how long it takes, and, above all, whether the date it gives is a build date or something that merely looks like one.
The distinction nobody makes for you
A build date is when the car was finished. A despatch date is when it left the factory. A first registration date is when someone put plates on it. They can be months apart, and they routinely fall on opposite sides of a year boundary. Manufacturers sell all three and call them all certificates. Below, every document is labelled with which one it actually gives.
What each label means
| Label | Count | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Build date and despatch date | 4 | States when the car was built and, separately, when it left the factory. The best kind of document there is. |
| Build date | 8 | States when the car was built. This is the date every import rule is measured from. |
| Despatch date only | 1 | States when the car left the factory, which is later than when it was built. Safe as an upper bound, wrong as a build date. |
| Year of production only | 1 | States a year and no month. Enough for the EPA's 21-year test, which is year arithmetic. Not enough for the DOT's 25-year test, which runs from a date. |
| Not established | 2 | The programme exists but we have not confirmed what the document says. We will not guess on your behalf. |
| No date of manufacture | 10 | Carries no date of manufacture. Useful for other things; useless for proving a car's age. |
By marque
The single route we would try first for each marque. Several have more than one; a few have none at all, and saying so is the point.
| Marque | Best route | Gives | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abarth | Certificate of Origin | Year of production only | Alfa Romeo EUR 120, Lancia EUR 100, Abarth EUR 100, Fiat EUR 70, all including delivery | Up to 70 days within Italy, up to 95 days internationally |
| Alfa Romeo | Certificate of Origin | Year of production only | Alfa Romeo EUR 120, Lancia EUR 100, Abarth EUR 100, Fiat EUR 70, all including delivery | Up to 70 days within Italy, up to 95 days internationally |
| Alpine | Certificate of production and dating | Build date | EUR 75 per document, EUR 115 for the attestation and production certificate together, EUR 40 extra for express | 4-6 weeks standard, 2 weeks express |
| Aston Martin | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Audi | Fahrzeug-Identitatsurkunde (vehicle identification certificate) | Not established | Not verified | Not verified |
| Austin | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Austin-Healey | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Auto Union | Fahrzeug-Identitatsurkunde (vehicle identification certificate) | Not established | Not verified | Not verified |
| BMW | Digital Birth Certificate (Geburtsurkunde) | Build date and despatch date | EUR 150 including VAT on the current order form | Not published |
| Citroen | Attestation de datation (dating certificate) | Build date | Sources conflict badly: the 2022 tariff lists EUR 220 for the dating attestation and EUR 190 for the certificate of conformity, while a 2023 first-hand account reports paying EUR 60. Check the shop. | About three weeks to receive the scan by email |
| DKW | Fahrzeug-Identitatsurkunde (vehicle identification certificate) | Not established | Not verified | Not verified |
| DS | Attestation de datation (dating certificate) | Build date | Sources conflict badly: the 2022 tariff lists EUR 220 for the dating attestation and EUR 190 for the certificate of conformity, while a 2023 first-hand account reports paying EUR 60. Check the shop. | About three weeks to receive the scan by email |
| Daihatsu | Export Certificate (yushutsu massho kari-toroku shomeisho, or yushutsu yotei todokede shomeisho) | No date of manufacture | JPY 350 in revenue stamps; JPY 500 for a kei car. An English translation costs about JPY 5,000-10,000 and is not official. | Issued at the counter. Obtainable up to six months before the scheduled export date. |
| Daimler | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 65 plus VAT plus postage | Not published |
| Fiat | Certificate of Origin | Year of production only | Alfa Romeo EUR 120, Lancia EUR 100, Abarth EUR 100, Fiat EUR 70, all including delivery | Up to 70 days within Italy, up to 95 days internationally |
| Ford | None. Ford of Europe operates no heritage certificate programme. | No date of manufacture | - | - |
| Honda | Export Certificate (yushutsu massho kari-toroku shomeisho, or yushutsu yotei todokede shomeisho) | No date of manufacture | JPY 350 in revenue stamps; JPY 500 for a kei car. An English translation costs about JPY 5,000-10,000 and is not official. | Issued at the counter. Obtainable up to six months before the scheduled export date. |
| Horch | Fahrzeug-Identitatsurkunde (vehicle identification certificate) | Not established | Not verified | Not verified |
| Jaguar | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 65 plus VAT plus postage | Not published |
| Lagonda | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Lancia | Certificate of Origin | Year of production only | Alfa Romeo EUR 120, Lancia EUR 100, Abarth EUR 100, Fiat EUR 70, all including delivery | Up to 70 days within Italy, up to 95 days internationally |
| Land Rover | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| MG | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| MINI (BMW) | Digital Birth Certificate (Geburtsurkunde) | Build date and despatch date | EUR 150 including VAT on the current order form | Not published |
| Mazda | Export Certificate (yushutsu massho kari-toroku shomeisho, or yushutsu yotei todokede shomeisho) | No date of manufacture | JPY 350 in revenue stamps; JPY 500 for a kei car. An English translation costs about JPY 5,000-10,000 and is not official. | Issued at the counter. Obtainable up to six months before the scheduled export date. |
| Mercedes-Benz | Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate) | Despatch date only | EUR 130 including VAT | 2-5 working days |
| Mini (classic) | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Mitsubishi | Export Certificate (yushutsu massho kari-toroku shomeisho, or yushutsu yotei todokede shomeisho) | No date of manufacture | JPY 350 in revenue stamps; JPY 500 for a kei car. An English translation costs about JPY 5,000-10,000 and is not official. | Issued at the counter. Obtainable up to six months before the scheduled export date. |
| Morris | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| NSU | Fahrzeug-Identitatsurkunde (vehicle identification certificate) | Not established | Not verified | Not verified |
| Nissan | Build month from the Nissan FAST parts microfiche | Build date | Usually free if you ask nicely; specialists charge | Minutes, once you find someone with access |
| Panhard | Attestation de datation (dating certificate) | Build date | Sources conflict badly: the 2022 tariff lists EUR 220 for the dating attestation and EUR 190 for the certificate of conformity, while a 2023 first-hand account reports paying EUR 60. Check the shop. | About three weeks to receive the scan by email |
| Peugeot | Attestation de datation (dating certificate) | Build date | Sources conflict badly: the 2022 tariff lists EUR 220 for the dating attestation and EUR 190 for the certificate of conformity, while a 2023 first-hand account reports paying EUR 60. Check the shop. | About three weeks to receive the scan by email |
| Porsche | Porsche Production Specifications (PPS) | Build date | $150 | 6-8 weeks |
| Range Rover | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Renault | Certificate of production and dating | Build date | EUR 75 per document, EUR 115 for the attestation and production certificate together, EUR 40 extra for express | 4-6 weeks standard, 2 weeks express |
| Riley | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Rolls-Royce | Digital Birth Certificate (Geburtsurkunde) | Build date and despatch date | EUR 150 including VAT on the current order form | Not published |
| Rover | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| SS | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 65 plus VAT plus postage | Not published |
| Saab | Certificate of Conformity only - no build-date document | No date of manufacture | German-market 1995-2004 CoC archive: EUR 238, or EUR 119 for Aero X Club members | Not published |
| Standard | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Subaru | Manufacture date given by telephone | Build date | Free | Same call |
| Suzuki | Export Certificate (yushutsu massho kari-toroku shomeisho, or yushutsu yotei todokede shomeisho) | No date of manufacture | JPY 350 in revenue stamps; JPY 500 for a kei car. An English translation costs about JPY 5,000-10,000 and is not official. | Issued at the counter. Obtainable up to six months before the scheduled export date. |
| Toyota | Export Certificate (yushutsu massho kari-toroku shomeisho, or yushutsu yotei todokede shomeisho) | No date of manufacture | JPY 350 in revenue stamps; JPY 500 for a kei car. An English translation costs about JPY 5,000-10,000 and is not official. | Issued at the counter. Obtainable up to six months before the scheduled export date. |
| Triumph | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Vanden Plas | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
| Volkswagen | Volkswagen Certificate (Art. ZER DAB 001) | Build date and despatch date | EUR 99.95 including tax, free tracked shipping. Data Sheet alone EUR 59.95; both EUR 129.95. | 5-8 weeks |
| Volvo | No published per-VIN certificate found | No date of manufacture | - | - |
| Wanderer | Fahrzeug-Identitatsurkunde (vehicle identification certificate) | Not established | Not verified | Not verified |
| Wolseley | Heritage Certificate | Build date and despatch date | GBP 52 standard, GBP 65 Premier. Postage GBP 7.50 to the USA and rest of world. A Production Record Request - the answer only, no certificate - is GBP 15. | 28 working days |
Every route in full
Heritage Certificate
Land Rover, Range Rover, Austin, Morris, MG, Rover, Triumph, Wolseley, Riley, Standard, Mini (classic), Austin-Healey, Aston Martin, Lagonda, Vanden Plas
Build date and despatch date
Digital Birth Certificate (Geburtsurkunde)
BMW, MINI (BMW), Rolls-Royce
Build date and despatch date
Heritage Certificate
Jaguar, Daimler, SS
Build date and despatch date
Volkswagen Certificate (Art. ZER DAB 001)
Volkswagen
Build date and despatch date
The manufacturer's own date-of-manufacture label
Any
Build date
Attestation de datation (dating certificate)
Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Panhard
Build date
Build month from the Nissan FAST parts microfiche
Nissan
Build date
Porsche Production Specifications (PPS)
Porsche
Build date
Certificate of production and dating
Renault, Alpine
Build date
Manufacture date given by telephone
Subaru
Build date
Classic Technical Certificate (CTC)
Porsche
Build date
Production period read off a government recall notice
Any Japanese vehicle
Build date
Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate)
Mercedes-Benz
Despatch date only
Certificate of Origin
Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Abarth
Year of production only
Fahrzeug-Identitatsurkunde (vehicle identification certificate)
Audi, Auto Union, DKW, Horch, Wanderer, NSU
Not established
Datenkarte (data card)
Mercedes-Benz
Not established
None. Ford of Europe operates no heritage certificate programme.
Ford
No date of manufacture
Export Certificate (yushutsu massho kari-toroku shomeisho, or yushutsu yotei todokede shomeisho)
Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Suzuki, Daihatsu
No date of manufacture
No formal build-date service
Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Daihatsu, Mazda
No date of manufacture
Certificate of Conformity only - no build-date document
Saab
No date of manufacture
No published per-VIN certificate found
Volvo
No date of manufacture
Toroku jiko-to shomeisho (Certificate of Registered Matters), detailed version
Any Japanese vehicle
No date of manufacture
Japanese auction sheet (USS, TAA, JAA, JU, CAA)
Any Japanese vehicle
No date of manufacture
Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
Any European vehicle
No date of manufacture
EU registration certificate (V5C, carte grise, Zulassungsbescheinigung, libretto)
Any European vehicle
No date of manufacture
JEVIC / JAAI / QISJ pre-export inspection certificate
Any Japanese vehicle
No date of manufacture
The Build Date Proof Pack
This page tells you which document to order. The pack gets it ordered — and tells you what to do when the answer is that no document exists.
- A ready-to-send request for every archive, in the language it wants
- Exactly which numbers to photograph, and where they are on the car
- What to ask the seller for before you pay the deposit
- The fallback ladder when the manufacturer has no records
- What US, Canadian and Australian officials each accept as proof