On some cars like 65 Mustangs, the sequence number might be as important as the other digits if you are looking for an early car or a transition car. It could be the difference to determine if you have a 64 1/2 or a late 65, 260 vs. 289, 5 bolt or 6 bolt trans, other stuff like that..... Same with transitions within model years on some older Jags, MGs, Vettes, and many others.
The biggest problem in this state and probably a bunch of others now is that you have to have proof of insurance in the car if you get pulled over or it's right around a 700.00 fine. Even when you can later prove that you had continuous coverage on the vehicle for two years prior in court they still fine you here for not having that slip of paper in the car. The car may be covered but the cops and especially the judges in small towns slap the fine on you if you don't actually have that piece of paper in the car. There are ways around everything though and one is to get his insurance agent's info and call the agent yourself (after making sure it is a legit agent) and ask what info they need. It may just be that the guy is scared ****less to drive a freshly purchased car without insurance on it especially if it is a high dollar car. And not all insurance companies or agents are the same. The one I have now due to my wife's wrecks and tickets is a pain in the **** and I have to go into the agent's office for everything. They do pay off though and fought the fight for me when she caused an accident. When I had MET Pay I could call the 800 number any time of day or night and have insurance on a vehicle in five minutes with proof of insurance faxed or emailed back to me within 30 minutes or less. It wasn't cheap but they sure gave the service.
My proof of insurance is available thru a phone app. I can add a car in about a minute flat, or about the length of time it takes for the officer to walk up to my window..........
In CT, I needed the car VIN checked against the bill of sale and ***le before I registered it. Insurance didn't ask for it, but I was able to give it to them since I had written it down when looking at the car. They basically wanted year, make, and model and two photos - one showing left side and front, the other showing right side and rear - to quote me.
My wife works for State Farm and if you want a loan for an auto you need a vin. I serio usly doubt its so he can use it for x y or z.
Do not give him the vin. Tell him you will be willing to include it with the small purchase of the car.
i've asked for a vin to insure the vehicle & have the insurance card on hand after i can guarantee the seller with a good deposit. that way i just drive out there with a friend, pay the remaining balance and drive home w/o worrying about a total loss from a wreck or soo on.
All kinds of things can be done with a vin. years back i was selling a ot truck and had a guy interested and he wanted the vin, i was hesitant about giving it to him but did. A few weeks go by and i get a lien sale notice for the truck, this dumb *** tried to do a lien sale on it to get it for free! Talked to another guy across town that had a truck like mine that he was selling and said he had someone do the same thing to him. ( it was the same guy) Also if you are selling a car that is off the dmv computer, all someone needs is the vin and a crooked cop buddy and they can get a ***le on it and you are S.O.L. with no do***ents.
Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get ya. They can have the damned vin when I have money in my hand. And not more than the asking price so I can pay the shipper for them.
I'm with the do not give it out folks.... He can get that info after he hands over the cash, and it oficially belongs to him...... WAY too many scammers out and about these days.... Remember the difficulty some have had getting their older cars ***led and registered,... and one can see how a dishonest type would try using yours..... 4TTRUK
Thats about it right there. Most modern cars, the vin is right there on the dash visable from the windshield. If he just wanted any old car vin number, its not that hard to get a book on IDing vin numbers and have EVERY vin sequence out there. Just remember, your tin foil hats will save you from the evil VIN guy
Is the car being shipped up here to Canada or somewhere else? I needed the win for my car to be able to send it to the border for export 72 hrs before I drove it across. I did send down a deposit before I asked for it.
VINs have been visible throught the windshield on millions of cars since 1968. Why would anybody want mine? Even if I don't have a ***le (pre '82 in my state) it would be hard for somebody to try and claim it if I have old registration docs (even if hasn't been on the road for years)
Um.. not good opsec. giving out info like that without a comitment. nope not going to play there isnt much info to be gained off of cars the age we should be talking about ..so that point seems moot to me, so paranoid or not ,if you want to look at it that way fine for you then . but its possible to ask for trouble doing this for someone with nafarious means, and it just doesnt seem intelligent to just throw stuff like that out there on cl***ics with so dam much theft going on.
This just brings up another point completely, not related to the current conversation. Why deal with a guy who wants to do wierd stuff your not used too...theres always someone out there willing to do the deal normal.
It can also be needed to check if the car is stolen or to use it to secure a loan. Either way I'd be upfront about it. Most these days require notification and will not automatically cover without it. Most of the time it is a simple phone call or can be done over the web.
If my conscience alarms me that "something doesn't seem right"..I've learned over the years to trust that feeling. It has never let me down..can't make that same claim about some peoples "word". If it doesn't feel right to you, don't do it.
The Jalopy Journal
