So, I've seen a few comments about protecting your VIN as if it's your SSN. What's up? Can someone give a few examples of what can be done to you if someone wants to mess with you and they have your VIN?

I noticed someone taking pics of my car and was pleased until it seemed from a distance they may have been getting the VIN in a closeup. They left before I got to my car.

Thanks,

 

Why worry about protecting a VIN? You can walk up to any car in the parking lot and write down its VIN......I'm not sure why this would be something to worry about.

 

With a Vin# you can cut a key and get the brake bypass code to open and start any S2000 or any car for that matter. Any Honda dealer can get this information as well as any GM dealer to start any GM vehicle. This info in the wrong hands, well that explains itself. Should you cover your vin#? That's your decision!

 

I strongly question the above.

This means that virtually every car on the US road is 'game' for thieves, as on most cars the VIN is legible from the outside through the little 'windscreen window thingy'.

Don't panic!


Siepel

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Siepel
[B]


I strongly question the above.

 

FYI, I know someone expressed some concern about putting that information into s2ki... The only folks who have access to our VINs in the database are the s2ki staff. These guys understand it's protected info.

As for someone being able to *use* that info (since it is, after all, visible in multiple places on your car)... that I don't know. I wouldn't go posting it or putting it anywhere unnecessary.

SanMarino, isn't your access to key info, etc., because you work at a dealership??? If that's the case, I damn well hope you protect access to that kind of stuff. It's not to be taken lightly!

 

I think the issue with posting "Hey! My vin is ####!" is that somebody (say, a dealer when you bring your car in) would be able to do a search on that VIN and find out everything you've been up to. Oh, that drag race last week? Laguna Seca last month? Tsk tsk. No warranty for you, kiddo.

 

PM sent!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chazmo
[B]SanMarino, isn't your access to key info, etc., because you work at a dealership???

 

True, I wasn't talking about ALL warranty items. But if you take your car in for a broken diff and the dealer can show that you've been drag racing, I think the could easily (and rightly) deny a warrant claim.