Is it safe to display VIN details?

[ptjs1]

Jon,

Within the club we don't advocate the publishing of VINS, for security reasons. As this is not your car, I have taken the liberty of cropping the VIN from the commission plate.

Cheers

Paul

(This debate originated in another thread about trim codes and was prompted by a member posting a photo of a VIN plate to illustrate and unusual trim code that also included the full VIN details. David R)

[franrca]

Hi Paul

I'm probably being thick, but what's the issue with displaying VINs, especially on a member forum? More interesting as the VIN for my car is prominently displayed in the windscreen on a black card, like many i assume. Just wondering.

Richard

[Brakebuster]

Hi Paul

I'm probably being thick, but what's the issue with displaying VINs, especially on a member forum? More interesting as the VIN for my car is prominently displayed in the windscreen on a black card, like many i assume. Just wondering.

Richard

agreed , ( but forum is open to non JEC members who want to join the forum ) , but as you say , publicly displayed in all modern vehicles, and part of the MOT checker and tax/insurance checker as well ( i think )

BB

[ptjs1]

Jon,

I do understand that some people don't have an issue with VIN publication. However, it is one element of a cars identity. With a VIN you can get the registration and then it's one more step to getting address etc. As has been mentioned, these posts are visible to the public not just registered users.

Whilst VIN plates may normally be visible, I choose to cover mine up at shows etc. In the end, it's a personal choice. As you'd mentioned it was someone else's car, I just took the liberty of removing the VIN. I'm sure you understand.

Cheers

Paul

[Tintin]

I reckon I'm a careful sort of bloke when it comes to privacy and personal information - I don't bank on line and I don't do social media and I shred and burn all personal documents etc, but it never occurred to me that displaying your cars VIN and/or registration number on the vehicle when in a public place may assist identity theft (if that's what you're talking about, Paul).

I agree that you shouldn't disclose information about someone else's car - but covering up the VIN on your own vehicle? Crikey!

If this is really a significant risk I'd better get the masking tape out!

Robbie

[franrca]

Isn't this technically a form of social media Robbie?

[Tintin]

Isn't this technically a form of social media Robbie?

Dunno - I don't do social media

I thought that one of the benefits of a visible (and hard to tamper with) VIN was positive security. I have briefly googled "Is it safe to disclose your VIN" and couldn't find any significant comment against disclosure - in fact several contributors on other sites thought anyone refusing to disclose their VIN or deliberately hiding their VIN may be up to no good (present company of course excepted, Paul!).

The VIN itself gives information about the subject vehicle only - it does not give any personal data. I suppose it may be possible to use the VIN to access personal data but the same is true for index numbers - after all, number plate recognition cameras at filling stations and car parks can find vehicle owners and addresses via databases and if anyone is determined to clone or steal your pride and joy they will find a way to do it, VIN or no.

So, I can't see that the risk is significant - unless anyone else knows differently?

Robbie

[ptjs1]

Robbie,

I agree it's all relative. However, armed with a VIN and a registration plate, you could write to the DVLA, explain that you've bought the car but haven't got a registration document. They will write to the previous (current) owner stating that if they don't hear within 3 weeks, they will issue the new registration document. So you just find a 3-week window of absence, or means to intercept the post, get the reg document in your (false) name, steal the car and then sell it with apparent legal title. Sound far-fetched? It happens a lot!

As previously said it's a personal choice. However, IMO, it is absolutely unacceptable to publish the VIN of any car other than your own.

Cheers

Paul

[franrca]

Sorry I asked the question in the first place!

[blownaway]

For what it's worth here is my two penneth...

The collection of data and history on older vehicles is, IMHO, an important role for clubs like the JEC. Another Jaguar club I am also a member of started last year to create a register of remaining vehicles. Up until that point a somewhat flawed attempt had been made to record vehicle registration numbers, but with people constantly swapping registrations this was something of a moving feast.

The new initiative involved the collection of VIN numbers that could then be used to access further important vehicle information from sites such as FordEtis. However, earlier this year Ford decided to dump most or all the vehicle records from the Ford/Jaguar era. Some limited information is still available on the Jaguar TOPIx site, but the Ford data was more complete. Should have started sooner

To date more than three quarters of the VINs included in one particular section of the database have not come directly from the owners. Almost half have been harvested from eBay and other adverts for US vehicles for sale. The limiting factor in the UK is the willingness of people to share data. While I recognise that access to the VIN might possibly assist the criminal fraternity it is, on modern cars, information in the public domain. I know that clubs can collect this data securely through membership, but not every owner is a club member.

I suspect that originally the displaying of the VIN through the windscreen was driven by US legislation. In the US, adverts for vehicles for sale almost always quote the VIN.

The bottom line is that the VIN is useful information for criminals and enthusiasts alike. But let's not get too precious about the information as it does reside in the public domain. VINs can easily be collected like train numbers from any street or car park. You don't have to share but if you do then clubs like this can use the data intelligently and for the greater good. I accept that the grey area is the publication of other peoples VINs. Personally I am on the 'in the public domain' side of the fence.

There would also be benefit in different clubs pooling their data. But that will probably never happen in my lifetime, if ever.