# What's with these three painted dots on my windshield (they were there when I bought the car from the dealer) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-these-three-painted-dots-on-my-windshield-they-were-there-when-i-bought-the-car-from-the-dealer/1016927 "2025-04-11T21:14:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-these-three-painted-dots-on-my-windshield-they-were-there-when-i-bought-the-car-from-the-dealer/1016927/1 "2025-04-11T21:14:27Z")
In case I didn’t do the pic-embedding thing right, I’m asking about three dots, forming a triangle, that are painted on my windshield of my new-to-me car. One is red, one is white, the other is green, forming a triangle. They were there when I bought the car from the dealer. My guess is that they conveyed some sort of information to the employees on the lot, but I can’t imagine what. > **[Window hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/zhZQ8Xsk)** > > Image Window hosted in ImgBB ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-these-three-painted-dots-on-my-windshield-they-were-there-when-i-bought-the-car-from-the-dealer/1016927/2 "2025-04-11T21:43:12Z")
Probably nail polish. Apparently, they help vendors (dent & body, windshield, detailers, etc.) keep track of the cars they have worked on on a car lot. https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7380505737023245611 Either that, or a visit from the infamous skittles bird. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-these-three-painted-dots-on-my-windshield-they-were-there-when-i-bought-the-car-from-the-dealer/1016927/3 "2025-04-11T22:31:45Z")
Yes, for new cars they track updates to SW and parts after the car leaves the plant. Many cars sit in a rework lot waiting for parts. If the car is not new it may be some sort of code the auction yard uses to track reworks and maintenance before they can ship it out. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-these-three-painted-dots-on-my-windshield-they-were-there-when-i-bought-the-car-from-the-dealer/1016927/4 "2025-04-13T03:52:56Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Yes, for new cars they track updates to SW I tried Googling but nada. What does SW stand for? Is it obvious and i should know it? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-these-three-painted-dots-on-my-windshield-they-were-there-when-i-bought-the-car-from-the-dealer/1016927/5 "2025-04-13T08:28:11Z")
Software updates. The new cars cannot be released to the public with known SW issues, many of which either pertain to safety isses or would cause systems not to work or respond correctly.