VIN numbers make car theft easier

Visible VIN plates printed on windscreens to help police fraud are making life easier for car thieves. These numbers contain a history of the car such as where/when it was built, model and bodystyle. This allows criminals to obtain information to clone cars typically ones that have been either stolen or written off. The cars which have been signed off as write offs by the car insurance industry are then placed back on the streets as death traps.

One car data checking company is leading a campaign to 'bin the VIN' in other words to hide the VIN out of sight (possible in the glove box or elsewhere). They say it is like leaving a credit card in full view of thieves with the PIN number attached.

According to the DVLA, it is not compulsory to display the VIN code although most manufacturers do so. Fraudsters can currently copy a number plate and VIN to give a stolen car with the same specification a complete new identity.

Car insurance companies are worried about this development as car theft is rising very fast and this needs addressing by a government who claims to be tough on crime.

Date - 04/12/2006