Do You Cover Your Dash VIN?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
Do you really think that any theft ring would actually go to a "Dealership" to pull off the scam? Surely, they have already hacked, bribed or stolen whatever they need without going to a Dealership.
As far as Insurance Companies "allowing" such... I have mentioned several things to my Insurance Agent over the years that would drastically reduce their payouts - only maybe some guys at the top "might" care, the rest of the industry just goes with the flow.
As far as Insurance Companies "allowing" such... I have mentioned several things to my Insurance Agent over the years that would drastically reduce their payouts - only maybe some guys at the top "might" care, the rest of the industry just goes with the flow.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 45
From: St Paul, MN; Orlando, FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,139
Likes: 2
From: Whidbey Island WA
I just ordered a replacement key for my wife's MB. The dealership ordered the key (they asked for the VIN) and she has to show up with the car, Reg. and I.D. before they'll program it and release it.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
In most states it is illegal to cover the VIN. Also if you get stopped, then it gives the police more reason to believe that something is wrong and thus put you through unnecessary questions.
This is what people do who actually steal cars, it's done to impede recovery should an officer come upon a vehicle that is parked...............
This is what people do who actually steal cars, it's done to impede recovery should an officer come upon a vehicle that is parked...............
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
in most states it is illegal to cover the vin. Also if you get stopped, then it gives the police more reason to believe that something is wrong and thus put you through unnecessary questions.
This is what people do who actually steal cars, it's done to impede recovery should an officer come upon a vehicle that is parked...............
This is what people do who actually steal cars, it's done to impede recovery should an officer come upon a vehicle that is parked...............
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Covered.
You don't think there aren't a few crooked Service Managers who would cut a key for a partner in crime? If so I have a bridge to sell you at an amazing price.
I personally know someone who was involved in that type of thing. A mint Honda S2000 was driven off the lot. (just one example, and no I don't know him anymore. His goons stole the wheels off a Zo6 at my old boss's used Corvette lot so I turned him in, just for the wheels. Wasn't stepping into that other mess!)
Also, there's a huge rash of stolen '98-'02 Camaros/Trans Ams being taken this way in the New Orleans area. They get the vin of a nice car spotted in a parking lot (usually heavily modded) follow the guy home, get a key cut, and steal it right out of the driveway at night.
Search the southern section of ls1tech and you'll see a thread like this at least once a month, sometimes at it's peak was 3+ per month. I'm talking like 20+ cars that drive off without a trace from ls1tech threads alone! Try getting past the VATS system without a key.
So yeah, my vin stays covered.
You don't think there aren't a few crooked Service Managers who would cut a key for a partner in crime? If so I have a bridge to sell you at an amazing price.
I personally know someone who was involved in that type of thing. A mint Honda S2000 was driven off the lot. (just one example, and no I don't know him anymore. His goons stole the wheels off a Zo6 at my old boss's used Corvette lot so I turned him in, just for the wheels. Wasn't stepping into that other mess!)
Also, there's a huge rash of stolen '98-'02 Camaros/Trans Ams being taken this way in the New Orleans area. They get the vin of a nice car spotted in a parking lot (usually heavily modded) follow the guy home, get a key cut, and steal it right out of the driveway at night.
Search the southern section of ls1tech and you'll see a thread like this at least once a month, sometimes at it's peak was 3+ per month. I'm talking like 20+ cars that drive off without a trace from ls1tech threads alone! Try getting past the VATS system without a key.
So yeah, my vin stays covered.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
If someone wants to steal your car that bad, then they will steal a tow truck, then steal your car.
As far as garaged cars. How many people actually put the house alarm on the garage also?
How many of you have a locking mechanism on the garage that sends the bar just to one side instead of to both sides (easy to pry up one side.....)
How many have a garage door opener with windows at the top of the garage? Even easier to get into the locked garage.
As far as stealing a new car off the lot,,,,,,,,,,,,,people take the car for a test drive, then duplicate the key on a machine that they OWN or have ACCESS too.
Hmmmmmmmmm, heavily modded car stolen right out of drive way, usually means nice exhaust system, not a sound heard, go back up top, TOWED out.
So bottom bottom line is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if someone wants your car bad enough, then they will get it, enough said..........
Covering the VIN gets nothing except more hassle from LE should you get stopped. But then it's your car so do as you wish or what you feel is the most prudent way to protect it. My way of ultimate protection, if it wasn't for the lawsuit hungry idiots, would be to install a 1200 watt magnatron tube with a wide spread waveguide underneath the drivers side dash aimed low at the drivers seat. MICROWAVE.
As far as garaged cars. How many people actually put the house alarm on the garage also?
How many of you have a locking mechanism on the garage that sends the bar just to one side instead of to both sides (easy to pry up one side.....)
How many have a garage door opener with windows at the top of the garage? Even easier to get into the locked garage.
As far as stealing a new car off the lot,,,,,,,,,,,,,people take the car for a test drive, then duplicate the key on a machine that they OWN or have ACCESS too.
Hmmmmmmmmm, heavily modded car stolen right out of drive way, usually means nice exhaust system, not a sound heard, go back up top, TOWED out.
So bottom bottom line is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if someone wants your car bad enough, then they will get it, enough said..........
Covering the VIN gets nothing except more hassle from LE should you get stopped.
But then it's your car so do as you wish or what you feel is the most prudent way to protect it. My way of ultimate protection, if it wasn't for the lawsuit hungry idiots, would be to install a 1200 watt magnatron tube with a wide spread waveguide underneath the drivers side dash aimed low at the drivers seat. MICROWAVE.
Last edited by Jewjenk; Oct 8, 2010 at 06:13 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,506
Likes: 0
From: This is not a Song, It's an Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues; Sixto Diaz Rodriguez
. I'll be damned if I didn't get an email like that too, already looking at property in the Caribbean 
.
Ahh, but no, I don't cover my VIN.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 2
From: Keystone, I.T.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 77
From: Louisville KY
NO, I don't cover my dash VIN on any of my/our vehicles.
It is like those who cover their license plates when they post pictures of their cars online, you don't do it on the road or out in public where anyone can see ones license plate, why online?
I don't give it a moment of thought.
It is like those who cover their license plates when they post pictures of their cars online, you don't do it on the road or out in public where anyone can see ones license plate, why online?
I don't give it a moment of thought.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
How many of you have a locking mechanism on the garage that sends the bar just to one side instead of to both sides (easy to pry up one side.....)
How many have a garage door opener with windows at the top of the garage? Even easier to get into the locked garage.
So bottom bottom line is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if someone wants your car bad enough, then they will get it, enough said..........
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,899
Likes: 1
From: Denver Colorado
NO, I don't cover my dash VIN on any of my/our vehicles.
It is like those who cover their license plates when they post pictures of their cars online, you don't do it on the road or out in public where anyone can see ones license plate, why online?
I don't give it a moment of thought.
It is like those who cover their license plates when they post pictures of their cars online, you don't do it on the road or out in public where anyone can see ones license plate, why online?
I don't give it a moment of thought.
i totally agree....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 7,639
Likes: 326
From: Greenville SC
NO, I don't cover my dash VIN on any of my/our vehicles.
It is like those who cover their license plates when they post pictures of their cars online, you don't do it on the road or out in public where anyone can see ones license plate, why online?
I don't give it a moment of thought.
It is like those who cover their license plates when they post pictures of their cars online, you don't do it on the road or out in public where anyone can see ones license plate, why online?
I don't give it a moment of thought.
I always thought this was crazy too.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,899
Likes: 1
From: Denver Colorado
If someone wants to steal your car that bad, then they will steal a tow truck, then steal your car.
As far as garaged cars. How many people actually put the house alarm on the garage also?
How many of you have a locking mechanism on the garage that sends the bar just to one side instead of to both sides (easy to pry up one side.....)
How many have a garage door opener with windows at the top of the garage? Even easier to get into the locked garage.
As far as stealing a new car off the lot,,,,,,,,,,,,,people take the car for a test drive, then duplicate the key on a machine that they OWN or have ACCESS too.
Hmmmmmmmmm, heavily modded car stolen right out of drive way, usually means nice exhaust system, not a sound heard, go back up top, TOWED out.
So bottom bottom line is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if someone wants your car bad enough, then they will get it, enough said..........
Covering the VIN gets nothing except more hassle from LE should you get stopped. But then it's your car so do as you wish or what you feel is the most prudent way to protect it. My way of ultimate protection, if it wasn't for the lawsuit hungry idiots, would be to install a 1200 watt magnatron tube with a wide spread waveguide underneath the drivers side dash aimed low at the drivers seat. MICROWAVE.
As far as garaged cars. How many people actually put the house alarm on the garage also?
How many of you have a locking mechanism on the garage that sends the bar just to one side instead of to both sides (easy to pry up one side.....)
How many have a garage door opener with windows at the top of the garage? Even easier to get into the locked garage.
As far as stealing a new car off the lot,,,,,,,,,,,,,people take the car for a test drive, then duplicate the key on a machine that they OWN or have ACCESS too.
Hmmmmmmmmm, heavily modded car stolen right out of drive way, usually means nice exhaust system, not a sound heard, go back up top, TOWED out.
So bottom bottom line is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if someone wants your car bad enough, then they will get it, enough said..........
Covering the VIN gets nothing except more hassle from LE should you get stopped.
But then it's your car so do as you wish or what you feel is the most prudent way to protect it. My way of ultimate protection, if it wasn't for the lawsuit hungry idiots, would be to install a 1200 watt magnatron tube with a wide spread waveguide underneath the drivers side dash aimed low at the drivers seat. MICROWAVE.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
NO, I don't cover my dash VIN on any of my/our vehicles.
It is like those who cover their license plates when they post pictures of their cars online, you don't do it on the road or out in public where anyone can see ones license plate, why online?
I don't give it a moment of thought.
It is like those who cover their license plates when they post pictures of their cars online, you don't do it on the road or out in public where anyone can see ones license plate, why online?
I don't give it a moment of thought.
/QED
Last edited by T5Mika; Oct 9, 2010 at 12:41 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 146
From: Saint John's, Florida