My friend's Hyundai Accent is on a 53 plate but was first registered in 2001 - how can we check the age of the car? | Ask Honest John

My friend's Hyundai Accent is on a 53 plate but was first registered in 2001 - how can we check the age of the car?

I have a friend who has a Hyundai Accent with a 53-registration plate but has noticed that in the warranty book it is recorded as first registered in 2001. The DVLA document states first registered in 2003, but another friend has told us that sometimes garages preregister cars to meet their targets and then officially register them for future sale. How can my friend check the actual age of the vehicle?

Asked on 11 March 2012 by CM., via email

Answered by Honest John

Pull out the plastic ashtray and read the date stamped onto the reverse side. It could have been imported in 2001 and not registered until 2003.

Tags: dvla imports

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