The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates that a unique vehicle identification number (VIN) appear on every motor vehicle that’s operating on the road. Think of it as your car’s Social Security number.
The DOT’s regulations require VINs on all passenger cars starting with the 1970 model year, as well as multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, and motorcycles starting with the 1981 model year. VINs are required whether the vehicle was manufactured in the United States or imported from another country.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulates the use of these important 17-character alphanumeric identification numbers. It requires any vehicle you buy to come with a VIN that’s easy to see when you look through the front windshield on the driver’s side. The VIN must also appear on a certification label, which you will probably find on the edge of the driver’s door.
Other Parts That Need a VIN
Since this is not always enough to deter thieves who steal vehicles to sell for parts, the Theft Prevention Standard included in the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 calls for the VIN to also be included on 18 parts of a vehicle. These include:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Both front fenders
- Hood
- Both front doors
- Front and rear bumpers
Why You Need VIN Etching
Many automobile manufacturers, dealerships, motor insurance companies, spare parts dealers, and vehicle owners use VIN etching tools to permanently inscribe these special codes on different vehicle parts, depending on their purpose. All the required etching may have been done by the dealer who sold the vehicle when it was new.
If you have a used car that is missing some of the required VIN etching, this is something you can supply affordably by acquiring the tools to do it for yourself. Read on to learn the benefits of VIN etching for your vehicle.
VIN Numbers Deter Vehicle Thieves
In America alone, a car gets stolen every 43 seconds. According to the United Nations, the average number of vehicles stolen per 100,000 residents worldwide is 68.5. VIN etching is one of the best deterrents to prevent such crimes.
Investing in VIN etching with permanent engraving can be the best way to protect your car from thieves. The technique seems to be successful. Studies reveal that vehicles with visible and apparent VINs printed on the windshield, windows, and other parts are less likely to be stolen.
In fact, some law enforcement agencies host free VIN etching events in their jurisdictions to allow people to get their cars engraved for free. For instance, the Las Cruces Police Department in New Mexico organizes periodical free VIN etching or engraving events for the city’s residents.
It’s Difficult to Resell Stolen Cars Quickly
A car thief can easily remove your car’s VIN tags or plates. But a high-quality VIN etching tool leaves visible and permanent engravings that are very hard to remove. That can keep the thief from reselling your vehicle fast.
Vehicle thieves hate this. They’ll most likely leave your automobile alone once they realize it has visible permanent engravings.
It’s Impossible for Criminals to Sell Your Auto Parts Fast
A few of the best places to inscribe VINs include:
- Side mirrors
- Car windows
- Windshields
- Other removable parts
It’s common for most vehicle thieves to disassemble automobiles into separate parts and sell them to hardware retailers for reselling. However, many second-hand spare part vendors don’t accept parts with VIN etchings unless the seller provides some documentation to prove ownership. Therefore, permanent engravings on your vehicle’s most resalable parts make it a no-go for such thieves.
Tracking a Lost Vehicle With Clear VIN Etchings Is Easy
Most engravings have automated VIN scanners linked to the state’s central database, making it easier to spot a stolen car anywhere. The last thing an automobile thief wants is to drive a stolen car with clearly visible etchings. That’s because law enforcers may flag it randomly using appropriate scanning technology.
Insurance Companies Encourage VIN Etching
Automobile insurance companies may provide significant discounts on your insurance premiums if you have VIN engravings to serve your car’s security measure. They are the greatest supporters of VIN etching for security purposes. Some companies may offer discounts of up to 15% on car insurance policies for individuals and dealerships that invest in VIN etching.
Why Should You Pay for VIN Etching?
Not sure if this is a service worth paying for? The easiest way to determine that is to weigh the cost of VIN etching against the possible benefits of having these markings clearly visible on your vehicle.
Using an etching machine, you can inscribe the VIN on your car’s windows, windshield, or other parts. You can also use an affordable glass-etching tool to etch the number on the window or windshield by hand. Alternatively, you can make a stencil of the VIN and affix the number to your windows with use glass-etching paste. When deciding exactly where to do the etching, you’ll want to choose places that won’t obstruct your field of vision.
Tools and kits for this task are available online or at certain auto-parts retailers. You can buy a VIN etching kit for as little as $15 or a custom-engraved VIN plate for about $32.
Keep in mind that some etching kits are intended for a single use, while others give you everything you need to etch VINs in several places on each of two vehicles. The latter would come in handy if you wanted to provide VIN etching for your vehicle as well as that of a family member or friend. You may need to shop around to find the VIN etching tool or kit that works best for your make and model and suits your budget.
If you can’t do it yourself, let the car dealer etch the VIN onto the windows at the time of purchase. But this can be relatively expensive; you may need to pay $200 or more.
So, compare the etching cost — whether $20, $200 or higher — against your insurance’s discount value you may earn after engraving your car. The best way to determine the savings is to contact your insurance company for more information.
Once you know the insurance discount value, you can decide if you would rather pay for the service or do it yourself. When you look at the cost and benefits of etching your car’s parts, you may find that doing it yourself is a great solution.
VIN etching is easy, safe, and affordable. Check out the required tools and read the online guides. With the right tools and information, you can do VIN etching as effectively as your dealership, even if you have no experience.
Final Thoughts
In addition to federal regulations that mandate VINs on vehicles, many states and automobile insurance companies encourage VIN etching for added security against vehicle theft. There are three main ways to get this done.
First, check to see if local or county law enforcement is hosting an event to provide this etching as a free service. If not, you can do it yourself for around $20 or pay $200 or more to get it done at a dealership.
VIN etching is simple and won’t take much time. You may decide that it’s a worthwhile way to make your vehicle less attractive to thieves.
