Should we blank VRNs in adverts?

[stu]

Very few people seem blank their number plates when selling cars even you hear the occasional story about cars being cloned. All the dealers do it but the private sellers don't. Are private sellers being naive? Should I obscure mine in my ad?

[Ian_C]

Yes.

[HYFR]

IMO yes, but not for the reasons you mention

[stu]

Yes.

I knew you'd say that!

Advert fixed. Would you have a quick look? Is the left side chopped off in you browser?

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=116103

I dunno if I uploaded the wrong size or if photobucket isn't doing what it did before.

[birdiemachine]

Still visible in one of your photos mate. Quality car and ad but as the guys above say I would keep my vrn off the internet.

[stu]

Still visible in one of your photos mate. Quality car and ad but as the guys above say I would keep my vrn off the internet.

Well spotted. I've fixed pistonheads as well.

[stu]

IMO yes, but not for the reasons you mention

Theft from registered address?

[birdiemachine]

Still visible in one of your photos mate. Quality car and ad but as the guys above say I would keep my vrn off the internet.

Well spotted. I've fixed pistonheads as well.

No worries. Pm if you want but definitely keep your vrn off the internet.

[rs6666]

Guarantee criminals have pals working for the DVLA , piece of piss to the get details up. The same folk who offer to remove points from licenses for a fee.

[F15HAR]

If hyperthetically such criminal types should be working at DVLA I fail to see why they would be browsing the classified ads for their next victim..if they were after a particular type of vehicle they can simply input the make and model and bring up every car on the DVLA database and all the registered keepers details, insurance, mot etc etc, they can also input an address and bring up the cars registered at that address.
If such behaviour was suspected in a theft then the action would be traceable as all access to DVLA records are electronically logged in accordance with the data protection act.
I suspect dealers blank out the VRM because they don't want people carrying out basic history checks on their mobiles etc discovering that the "low mileage" car they've advertised actually has 17 previous keepers and has covered 200k miles.
Do you blank out your VRM when you're driving on the public roads in case someone should wish to steal your car?
If you park or drive your car in a public place then anybody could film or photograph your car and upload that image to you tube or any other internet site, car related or otherwise. I think the question should be why are the dealers so paranoid as to cover the VRMs on their cars, not that Joe public is naive

[Ian_C]

I've always blanked my VRN and more importantly others VRN when posting pics of car meets in the public domain

Fontain started blanking the VRNs in adverts after having a car cloned. The main reason I take mine off pics - not just because the VRN leads straight to whichever address you have declared on both the V5 and the insurance policy....

[F15HAR]

Same point however, what information can criminal types gain from a VRM in a photo on the internet that they can't get from a car parked up in a car park with not only the VRM displayed but also the VIN displayed in the bottom of the windscreen.
I fear you're far more likely to find criminal types working at the dealerships than at DVLA.
There are endless videos on YouTube etc with every car imaginable on the road, why browse the classified ads?
I've disregarded several used cars at dealers simply because they would not provide the details required to conduct an HPI check via email, ie V5 doc number or most recent MOT cert number...stating "if you're interested you can check it in person."
Not that practical if yore 350 miles away.

[HYFR]

dont underestimate just how exposed you become on the internet from the tiniest thing

[RossDagley]

It's why I warn people where possible about posting photos with full exif/GPS data in.

That's not sensible - posting a photo of your £100k car outside your house with GPS embedded in the photo. That's just making it easy.

[Jess]

Same point however, what information can criminal types gain from a VRM in a photo on the internet that they can't get from a car parked up in a car park with not only the VRM displayed but also the VIN displayed in the bottom of the windscreen.
I fear you're far more likely to find criminal types working at the dealerships than at DVLA.
There are endless videos on YouTube etc with every car imaginable on the road, why browse the classified ads?
I've disregarded several used cars at dealers simply because they would not provide the details required to conduct an HPI check via email, ie V5 doc number or most recent MOT cert number...stating "if you're interested you can check it in person."
Not that practical if yore 350 miles away.

When selling a car, sometimes you get people call up and say "what is the reg ?" as their opening question, or ask really simple mistake questions about the car. To those types of calls, you know to give the same answer the dealers gave to you. The seller is subconsciously trying to work out if any caller is genuine or not. People bringing over £20k+ cash on the 1st view need to be treated with care also lol. All IMO.

Bottom line, blank the VRN and protect yourself.