Is VIN Etching worth it?

[Thuva4]

What you guys think? Is it worth the cost? Would I save in insurance?

[ottoyu34]

No. I would save the $ and get a 2-way alarm instead.

[Cab0oze]

It is a waste of time and makes your car look like crap... especially if they do a bad job/put the etching in stupid places (e.g. on the face of your wheels, which you might one day want to sell). Only get it if your insurance company insists on it... mine did in MTL and when I got my new car (my speed3) it led to me switching companies.

Now, if its gonna save you 100+$ per year, go for it unless you can get the same rebate by some other type of theft deterrent.

[sube]

Just another dealer rip off, some of the more enterprising dealers etched all of their cars and then tried to tell customers they had to take it. It is another big profit gimmick for dealers, like charging admin fees to do the paperwork to sell you a car, and consumers accepted this as part of doing business, how sad.

Pat.

[Cab0oze]

some of the more enterprising dealers etched all of their cars and then tried to tell customers they had to take itThat's exactly what happened to my gf... and she took it -__-

[asyed]

my car came with the sherlock antivol system ( previous owner installed)

pretty neat how every single part that is in demand is stamped but im noticing the etching is starting to fade away on some parts.

Its only useful if your car gets stolen and you somehow find someone trying to sell parts with the etching still on ( most cars that get stolen are parted out). but besides that you are better off with a 2 way alarm... just make sure the shock sensor is at a reasonable level or your remote will beep every few minutes :P

[Jenuine]

That's exactly what happened to my gf... and she took it -__-

lol same thing happened to me but they did this to all the cars on their lot and I needed a car ASAP so I took it.

[Default User]

It's not worth it for a thief to steal a car and chop it up for parts - that's been etched as it can be traced back as stolen.

[Cab0oze]

It's not worth it for a thief to steal a car and chop it up for parts - that's been etched as it can be traced back as stolen.If they really wanted to part the car they could either take it elsewhere in the world, grind off the numbers, or sell them to people who don't know what the numbers mean. Furthermore, bodywork isn't etched for obvious reasons, and that is still good to sell.
This was probably a big thing like 10-20 years ago but I don't think people do that anymore. Furthermore, if people were going to sell cars for parts I doubt they would choose stock econoboxes... not much money there!... and if they're modified then they would be wanting to sell the non-etched aftermarket parts.

[Default User]

If they really wanted to part the car they could either take it elsewhere in the world, grind off the numbers, or sell them to people who don't know what the numbers mean. Furthermore, bodywork isn't etched for obvious reasons, and that is still good to sell.
This was probably a big thing like 10-20 years ago but I don't think people do that anymore. Furthermore, if people were going to sell cars for parts I doubt they would choose stock econoboxes... not much money there!... and if they're modified then they would be wanting to sell the non-etched aftermarket parts.

But that's what I mean. I chop shop doesn't have time to
- "analytically" sell to a specific demographic.
- Ship outside of the country (cost outweighs the risk)

The "big items" would be the glass pieces (windshields and windows) as they can flip easily to any local glass repair facility - which any reputable shop wouldn't touch an etched piece.

It's also targeted towards the "Kijiji" crooks.

[TheMAN]

having the VIN etched all over your car is just a more inviting way for your car to get stolen... all it takes is someone to write down your now very visible VIN and then hit up their buddy at the dealer, slip him a couple of bills and have him cut a key with a VIN, then they can just unlock your car without any drama

I cover the VIN on my dashboard for this very reason
countries other than USA and Canada do not require VINs on the dashboard... the original idea of requiring the VIN on the dashboard was anti-theft reasons, but that's so counter intuitive it's not even funny

[Cab0oze]

having the VIN etched all over your car is just a more inviting way for your car to get stolen... all it takes is someone to write down your now very visible VIN and then hit up their buddy at the dealer, slip him a couple of bills and have him cut a key with a VIN, then they can just unlock your car without any drama

I cover the VIN on my dashboard for this very reason
countries other than USA and Canada do not require VINs on the dashboard... the original idea of requiring the VIN on the dashboard was anti-theft reasons, but that's so counter intuitive it's not even funny
Whoa!! That is scary! What is the reason for having the VIN there?? Can you get ticketed for covering it up?

[Charlie S]

Is that all you need to cut a key ? I don't think so !
I am going to ask the parts guy at Budds on Wednesday when I take my car for service.

[Mty Mous]

having the VIN etched all over your car is just a more inviting way for your car to get stolen... all it takes is someone to write down your now very visible VIN and then hit up their buddy at the dealer, slip him a couple of bills and have him cut a key with a VIN, then they can just unlock your car without any drama

I cover the VIN on my dashboard for this very reason
countries other than USA and Canada do not require VINs on the dashboard... the original idea of requiring the VIN on the dashboard was anti-theft reasons, but that's so counter intuitive it's not even funny

I would tend to agree with you up to a certain point ... I personally hate etching on my cars.
As for simply getting keys cut using VIN numbers, umm, when I had my '07 Mazda3 GT Sedan, and I bought an extra key from the dealer, I was told I now need to get it programmed to the car, or else it won't start the car and keep it running, so the key being cut with VIN number will get ppl into the car, but I don't know (not 100%) if they'd be able to drive away with it.

That being said, my 2010 Speed3 has the proximity keyless entry system, so I got no idea if\how that can be over come (but seeing how clever thieves are nowadays, I won't be surprised if there isn't already a way to over come it).

I cover my VIN number on the dash as well.

-Thuwa

[rajin929]

IIRC the DIY etching kits have a serial number that have fewer digits, so you don't have to worry about the actual VIN.

I guess any deterrent no matter how big or small, is better than none

[TheMAN]

it depends on WHICH etching kit the dealer uses.... some has their own numbering scheme, but many uses the VIN
yes, it is really easy to cut a key with a VIN... it may not start a car, but at least they can open the door and behave as if they're the legitimate owner going through the stuff inside their car, and have it towed off to be chopped ;)

[Mty Mous]

Well yes, if they really want your car, there's really nothing you can do to stop em, I agree with you on that!

[Flunk]

VIN etching is another dealer scam. When I bought my car the dealer claimed they pre-etched every vehicle. I made it clear that this was their problem, not mine and I would not pay for it. Low and behold they managed to supply me a car that was not etched. If the dealer says something like that just say you don't want it and you'll go to a different dealer, they nearly always cave. Otherwise there are always plenty of other dealers in Toronto who want your business.

Dealers hate me because I never take the upsale options.

[Orangevirus]

my dealership said my car came with all it's windows "vin etched" but I cannot find the slightest clue on any window proving this. what's it look like?

Also my dealership gave me a paper about the VIN-Etching, something about if my car was ever stolen and not recovered in 30 days, they would pay me $1000.00

[m_bisson]

Found out that Nissan wanted to charge me $650 for this on my truck. Went to another dealer and they got rid of it NO problem, didn't cost me a thing.

I did some research and I found that the company that actually holds the insurance or w/e only charges $65 for registration. So, the dealer is charging you roughly ten times what it actually costs them :p

If the etching is done, and the dealer doesn't charge you/register your vehicle, you can still register it on your own afterwards :D

It ONLY benefits STOLEN vehicles that CANNOT be recovered and you ONLY get UP TO a certain amount of money specifically for the SAME DEALERSHIP that you originally bought the car from. That's what they don't tell ya :D

[Mingo85]

If the dealership sells it, you don't want it. Many times that applies to most of their cars too.