what can you get from a car vin #?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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March 10, 2010 3:04 p.m. Rusnak_322 Reader

I have a car listed for sale (Audi A4). I have been getting lots of requests for VIN numbers. Is there any reason to NOT give it out? I know it is visible in the window, but you still see people covering their license plates when posting in the internet.

What do people do with the vin? Get a carfax is the only thing that I can think of.

I don't have a problem with it, but when they email me asking for it without looking over the car or even asking any more questions about the car it just seems weird.
March 10, 2010 3:06 p.m. 93celicaGT2 UltraDork

What's the VIN?
March 10, 2010 3:07 p.m. 93celicaGT2 UltraDork

No, but seriously... what year is it?

I seem to remember that there was a model year of the A4 that they made changes halfway through the year. I may be hallucinating. I want to say 2003.5.

But i bet that's what people are looking for.
March 10, 2010 3:10 p.m. dean1484 Dork

Is there a particular option that car could have that is rare that people are looking for? Or possibly a build date with in a model run that would mean some option change that is important. I would not give it out unless they called and came to see it. I really don't think it would matter but you never know. You may find your car for sale in a bunch of cities all over the country by a Nigerian.

Have you asked why they want the VIN? If it is just for a car fax I would go get one and gladly give it to those that come look at it.
March 10, 2010 3:12 p.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

I suppose someone could use it in the ad for a stolen car to give it some legitimacy or secure a fake title in another state or some such buffoonery.
March 10, 2010 3:20 p.m. Cotton HalfDork

I always request the vin. I run a carfax or autocheck on everything I buy that is new enough to get one. I also use the vin to verify options etc. depending on the car.
March 10, 2010 3:25 p.m. SVreX PowerDork

They need it for a carfax
March 10, 2010 3:27 p.m. amg_rx7 Reader

Also to determine mid-year model cutoffs w/ new engine options and such.
March 10, 2010 3:44 p.m. Rusnak_322 Reader

It is a 2004.5 Ultrasport. They did make a change with the car mid year. It makes ordering parts a PITA. I just got a new battery for it today and calling around, no one had one or could get one. Then I finally asked if they had one for a 2005,and sure enough they did and it fit.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/1634360709.html
March 10, 2010 4:08 p.m. Gearheadotaku Dork

2002 was a 'split' year for the A4. About ten years ago there was a rash of car thefts at the local mall. Oddly, they were all GM's, mostly Chevys. Turns out the theives would write down the VIN (looking thru the windsheild) and walked to the dealer across the street. "locked myself out of the car, can you cut me a key?"
March 10, 2010 6:10 p.m. integraguy HalfDork

The shop I've bought my last 2 Hondas from reportedly had a problem like the previous poster outlines. However, they have a website and it lists the various cars VIN#s....so maybe they are relying on better shop security. (They did have 2 or 3 cars that were stolen, but no one broke into them/no broken glass on the lot.)

My Integra needed a key and when I went to the dealership with my car and the registration the key that the VIN said I was supposed to have, did NOT match (even close) the "old" key. Apparently, from the VIN, they were able to tell me the color and transmission....
March 10, 2010 7:09 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

The color is not in the VIN. The VIN will get you Year, Make, Model, # of doors, Engine, ABS, and sometimes transmission (depending on manufacturer) All Integras default to 5 speed.
March 10, 2010 9:26 p.m. Gearheadotaku Dork

Color not in the VIN? Are you refering to just Honda?
March 10, 2010 9:37 p.m. SVreX PowerDork

Datsun1500 wrote:

The color is not in the VIN. The VIN will get you Year, Make, Model, # of doors, Engine, ABS, and sometimes transmission (depending on manufacturer)

That's kinda right.

The color is not in the VIN directly. However, characters 12-17 are the vehicle's production number, and combined they are unique to the car. If you can cross-reference them to the manufacturer's database, you can determine the specifics of the original build, including color.
March 12, 2010 1:34 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

No it's all of the way right. As you said, the color is not in the VIN directly.
March 12, 2010 4:20 p.m. M030 HalfDork

One thing someone can do with a VIN is commit fraud. I once had very rare car for sale and customers kept asking for the VIN. I assumed this was to be certain that the car really did exist, etc.

Well, that was true, except that one customer 'sold' - and got paid for - my car to a long-distance (overseas) buyer without my knowledge. A nasty legal battle followed. It was easy to win, as I had clear title to the vehicle, in my name, and the perp had nothing but forged documents.

And that's your daily dose of paranoia, brought to you by M030
March 12, 2010 4:45 p.m. benzbaron HalfDork

For mercedes a lot of people have rebadged cars or don't really know much about their car and the VIN code can give you a very good idea as to what model the car is. On a mercedes you can run the vin and get the original options sheet from either a russian sight or MB classics center with the vin code. Many people misrepresent their mercedes through either lack of knowledge or cunning. The online mercedes community is very vigilant about checking the numbers to make sure a car purported as a rare or european model is actually the such. Lastly for rare cars like a mercedes 450slc 5.0 or 500slc it provides documentation as to where the car was delivered and equipped.