Car Theft & VIN Nos.

[LarryIII]

One of my friends sent this to me. He has the following fine stable of restored Detroit iron:
'64 Vette
'6? SS 396 Chevelle
'6? Plymoth Road Runner
'?? 440 Dodge Challenger

I do not know if it is true or not but it is scary. Here is the message.

<<<<<VIN NUMBER WARNING Here is INFO worth the price of your car....WHAT WILL the car thieves THINKOF NEXT?

The car thieves peer through the
windshield of your car or vehicle,
write down the VIN # from the label
on the dash, go to the local car
dealership and request a duplicate
key based on the VIN #.

I didn't believe this e-mail, so I called Chrysler-Dodge and pretended I had lost my keys. They told me to just bring in the VIN # and they would cut me one on the spot, and I could order the keyless device if I wanted.

The Car Dealer's Parts Department will
make a duplicate key from the VIN #, and collect payment from the thief who will return to your car.

He doesn't have to break in, do any damage to the vehicle, or draw attention to himself. All he has to do is walk up to your car, insert the key and off he goes to a local chop shop with your vehicle.

You don't believe it? It IS that EASY.

To avoid this from happening to you,
simply put some dark tape (electrical
tape, duct tape or medical tape) across the VIN Number Metal Label
located on the dashboard.

By law, you cannot remove the VIN, but you CAN cover it so it can't be viewed through the windshield by a car thief.

I urge you to forward this to your friends before some other car thief steals another car or truck.

I slipped a 3x5 card over my VIN NUMBER. >>>>

[RSVX]

And here you go...

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

[TomsSVX]

Dunno about your states but Jersey has the vin clear as day on the inspection sticker... Which cannot be covered.

Tom

[Tim]

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

Dunno about your states but Jersey has the vin clear as day on the inspection sticker... Which cannot be covered.

Tom

All the more reason to have the car registered as a collector vehicle. Those inspection stickers do not have the VIN # on them.

[TomsSVX]

Originally Posted by TE1221

All the more reason to have the car registered as a collector vehicle. Those inspection stickers do not have the VIN # on them.

Awaiting paperwork from the network then, my application goes in.

Tom

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by RSVX

And here you go...

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

Thank you!

[dcarrb]

Last time I went through a crystal meth/license check roadblock (pretty common in these parts), the cop gave a glance through the windshield to casually check the dash VIN against my insurance card.

Then he asked what's up with the windows...

dcb

[b3lha]

I never really understood why USDM cars have a visible VIN number. Over here you have to open the bonnet and read the VIN plate or the firewall.

I don't think it would work at my local dealer:

Dealer: Good morning sir, would you like to buy an impreza?

Thief: No. I've lost my key and I want to order a new one.

Dealer: Why not just trade the car for a new impreza?

Thief: No. I just want a key for an SVX.

Dealer: SV...?? What??

Thief: The one with the funny windows.

Dealer: Oh..Um..Yeah..Sure..I'm kinda busy right now. Maybe you could come back next week and buy an impreza.

Thief: I really need this key

Dealer: They are $100 but they are on back order and no expected delivery. Might take a couple of weeks. Maybe you should just trade it in for a new impreza.

Thief: The VIN number is CXD001234, could you just order me a key?

Dealer: That's a JDM VIN number, we have to notify head office and they have to send a fax to Japan. Could take 3 months. Did I say $100, I meant $300. Plus tax. I could do you a great deal on a new impreza.

Thief: 3 months and $300!!!!!!! For a key?????

Dealer: Buy an impreza or **** off and stop wasting my time.

Thief: OK Forget it........ Hey could you hand me the keys to that blue STi, I just wanna take it for a quick test drive.

[Crazy_pilot]

[odepaj]

I dont know how all dealerships are, but the Suby dealer here in San Antonio cut me a key from my vin, didn't need anything else. The guy didn't even charge me for the key




Dustin

[Hondasucks]

I don't know about other dealerships, but at the dealership I work at, we won't cut a key for a customer unless they show proof of ownership. So someone can't just walk in with a VIN on a scrap of paper and expect us to cut them a key lol.

[Royal Tiger]

Covering up the VIN is a sure fire way to get some extra attention from law enforcement. If the plate info can not be verified, and the VIN is obscured, it allows us to enter the vehicle to get the VIN from the door panel or under the hood. Unless you drive a Mercedes S600, I wouldn't worry about someone stealing the VIN on your $5000 Subaru.

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by b3lha

I never really understood why USDM cars have a visible VIN number. Over here you have to open the bonnet and read the VIN plate or the firewall.

Do other-than-U.S. cars have the tamper-evident VIN stickers inside the hood, fenders and such?

dcb

[b3lha]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

Do other-than-U.S. cars have the tamper-evident VIN stickers inside the hood, fenders and such?

dcb

The VIN is on the VIN plate (obviously) and stamped on the firewall. I think it's also stamped and stickered in a few other places. But nowhere that you could easily read it if the car was locked.

They do check the VIN numbers at the annual inspection.

[SvXit]

Originally Posted by Hondasucks

I don't know about other dealerships, but at the dealership I work at, we won't cut a key for a customer unless they show proof of ownership. So someone can't just walk in with a VIN on a scrap of paper and expect us to cut them a key lol.

OK, was wondering if other dealers did this. Audi requires copy of registration and title, then sends for the key to be cut and gets it back to you in a few days. Just not worth it if someone's up to no good.