Subject: VIN on your car... >> >> Your "VIN" (Vehicle Identification Number) should be covered. >> Seems that car thieves have found yet another way to steal your car or truck without any effort at all. The car thieves peer through the windshield of your car or truck, 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. 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 tape (electrical tape, duct tape or medical tape) across the VIN Metal Label located on the dash board. You can also slip a 3 x 5 card over the VIN. 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 didn't believe this e-mail, so I called a friend at Chrysler 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 as well, using the same VIN.
Guess what.... Believe it or not........the VIN to my 03 Explorer is etched in the back window. GREAT!!!!!!!!! :spank: FORD for such a dumb idea. Now what do I do??? ou:
Call Ford and complain? Tell them that you'll hold them liable if someone has a key made for your car based on VIN number, without the title or other proof of ownership? Seriously, that's a really careless policy to only require a VIN number. I understand it helps for junkyard cars, to open doors, locks, etc, without having to damage parts, or to get spare keys for your own car. But they could require a title, or copy of an insurance policy with the VIN number. As for the etched glass, maybe it was an option that you chose at the time? I've heard of them offering to etch VIN numbers, to be able to identify the vehicle if someone files down the VIN. Well, maybe you could do the same to an etching? Or I should say, THEY could do the same thing to an etching, but it'll probably cost you. Probably doing it yourself would void some warranty or another.
You think its easy........yes and no...... General Motors, along with the other new car manufacturors, requires all new car dealerships to have postitive proof of ownership, personal ID,title and/or insurance card with all vin numbers matching, before a key can be cut. If a key is made and a vehicle is stolen, the dealership and personnel can be held liable. If you know of a dealership parts dept. that will make a key without positive ID, have the key made then contact the parts manager or the general manager and ask why. Duplication of a key does not fall under this catagory. If there is any doubt, try it and see. David
Excellant idea!!!!!!! :TU: The 04 Explorers do not have the VIN etched in tha back window. HHHHHHMMMMMMMMM trade in??? o No: And how do I get a V8buick.com sticker??? oooohhh Jim???
I believe that at many dealerships this is a "mandatory" option--as in, it's not really "mandatory," but they do it to all their cars as a "courtesy" and make you pay for it.
Ya, done here at the GM dealership to all cars. Adds a few hundred bucks to the price of the car. They also do a "mandatory" rust proofing that adds a few more hundred to the price. Biggest rip in the world, costs the dealer maybe a hundred to do both. But, they have zero financing....for the few who qualify.
This has been a problem for years. Illinois made it a law a couple of years ago for the dealers to require identification when requesting duplicate keys. Also, General Motors can track where any duplicate key is made, to include dealer, date and exact time.
Ummm.....my vin is also right there on my registration sticker and you csnt cover that up. Thats NY state
Dealers arent supposed to give keys out just by a verbal reading of the vin. I went to get a spare key a while back , and they wanted to see the registration. I dont think you can do that on the old cars anyway.
I don't think you can do it on old cars either..... this was meant for everyones driver they use today...
:rant: your friend at chrysler wouldn't be your friend for long. with out going in to the boring details, if he cut you a key...and you stole a car...he's gone. car companys watch that kind of thing. been there seen that!
