Covering VIN plate on dashboard

[Minerva]

Is it illegal to cover this so the "meter maids" cannot copy your VIN on the citation illegal? -M

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: Minerva
Is it illegal to cover this so the "meter maids" cannot copy your VIN on the citation illegal? -M

No it is not illegal, but couldn't they just write down your license plate and get the VIN from that?

 

[Minerva]

They would have to run the plates and the VIN would be the VIN on file.

Police officers aren't too thrilled about questions like these. -M

 

[BooGiMaN]

why would you do that?

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: Minerva
They would have to run the plates and the VIN would be the VIN on file.

Police officers aren't too thrilled about questions like these. -M

Yes... So... if they wanted your VIN that bad, they could get it... What are they going to do with your VIN anyway? Get keys made?

 

[TitanDiddly]

I'd be more worried about identity thieves, meter maids can screw you regardless. Put a piece of electrical tape over it. Easily removed from the inside.

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly
I'd be more worried about identity thieves, meter maids can screw you regardless. Put a piece of electrical tape over it. Easily removed from the inside.

Lets all get tin foil hats and build bomb shelters while we are at it. Do you mind explaining to me how one would go about stealing your identity via your VIN number?

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly
I'd be more worried about identity thieves, meter maids can screw you regardless. Put a piece of electrical tape over it. Easily removed from the inside.

How the fvck does someone steal your identity from your VIN number?

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly
I'd be more worried about identity thieves, meter maids can screw you regardless. Put a piece of electrical tape over it. Easily removed from the inside.

How the fvck does someone steal your identity from your VIN number?

Not so much steal your identity as steal your car by having a key made.

 

[thirdeye]

^^ What he said.

Beat me to it.

 

[MikeMike]

yea.. because just a VIN number gets your key made, not unless you have an insider at a dealer....

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
yea.. because just a VIN number gets your key made, not unless you have an insider at a dealer....

Which begs the original question.. Why bother worrying about something so minute?

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: arcenite

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
yea.. because just a VIN number gets your key made, not unless you have an insider at a dealer....

Which begs the original question.. Why bother worrying about something so minute.

I'm not, but I've read things from people who are. Just relaying that info.

 

[zanieladie]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly
I'd be more worried about identity thieves, meter maids can screw you regardless. Put a piece of electrical tape over it. Easily removed from the inside.

How the fvck does someone steal your identity from your VIN number?

Not so much steal your identity as steal your car by having a key made.

Yup. Read this a while back and then was encouraged to cover mine (which I did years ago) by my local community association.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

There has evidently been a rash of thefts using keys obtained in this manner lately. I also thought "surely dealerships wouldn't make a key with just the VIN", so i called two local dealerships (one Ford, one Chevy) and asked "I've lost my only key, how can I get a new one". In both cases they said "write down you VIN and bring it in, and we'll make you a new one no problem"

Now I didn't actually try it, so it's entirely possible that when I got to the dealership that they would require additional ID and check it against the title(I sure hope they would). But the whole idea scared me enough to cover mine. Even if the dealership does the right thing, there is always the possibility of an insider working with theives.

 

[zanieladie]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
yea.. because just a VIN number gets your key made, not unless you have an insider at a dealer....

Nope. From what I understand from my local police department, you can go into a dealer, provide the VIN, tell them you lost your key (or locked them inside the vehicle), and then have one made.

Maybe with the increase in this type of car theft, dealers will change their policy.

 

[Drakkon]

yay for snopes and explaining this whoel psuedo myth to us:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: zanieladie

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
yea.. because just a VIN number gets your key made, not unless you have an insider at a dealer....

Nope. From what I understand from my local police department, you can go into a dealer, provide the VIN, tell them you lost your key (or locked them inside the vehicle), and then have one made.

Maybe with the increase in this type of car theft, dealers will change their policy.

:Q

 

[Asharus]

I had a key made for me at the BMW dealership, they asked for my registration or title.

 

[112]

i dont know about other states, but here in CA, there is a section on a parking ticket that says something along the lines of "VIN is covered." i'm sure there's technical terms for it, but basically u get a ticket for parking illegally plus u get an additional fine for having the VIN covered. i dont know if this policy has changed but my friend got a ticket for a meter running out + no front license plate + VIN covered. i'm not sure why they would need the VIN though.

FIXED. sorryyyyyy

 

[Zenmervolt]

I know for a fact that Porsche dealerships will not make any copies of a key (including a copy from a key you give them) without proof that you own the vehicle. I was trying to get a duplicate alarm key made for my 951 and they wouldn't copy the existing key for me without my showing them the title and a photo ID.

ZV

 

[112]

all california dealerships are required to ask for registration and identification when making a copy of a key, by law. of course there's always places that dont follow the law, but at least that law exists. not really sure how much it'll help u out when u get ur car stolen. maybe they can trace back to where the copy was made and you could sue them.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly
I'd be more worried about identity thieves, meter maids can screw you regardless. Put a piece of electrical tape over it. Easily removed from the inside.

How the fvck does someone steal your identity from your VIN number?

I can get your SS# from your VIN, and other information. It's amazing the kind of things you can find out.

 

[Trikat]

Originally posted by: Asharus
I had a key made for me at the BMW dealership, they asked for my VIN and $325.

Fixed.

O and plz don't say VIN number. It is kinda redudant -> Vehicle Identification Number Number.