The compliance date is the moment your car officially meets Australia’s ADR rules and gets recorded for sale here—historically via a compliance plate, now via the RAV.
It’s usually later than the build date (when the car was made) and not the same as the marketing model year (MY), which is a whole different circus.
Why care? It often dictates how dealers describe the car’s year in ads, can influence resale expectations, and is vital for imports proving they’re legit for our roads.
You’ll find it on the plate or sticker in the engine bay or door jamb on older cars, or in the RAV entry for newer ones; registration and warranty usually hinge on first delivery/registration, not that compliance stamp.
Handyman
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