VIN - Vehicle Identification
Number Car Cloning
Vehicle Identification Number - VIN Car Cloning is on the increase. This is due largely to the difficulty with
which car cloning can be detected. If you fall victim to car cloning
then you may be asked to pay for any road traffic offences that have been comitted
under the duplicate registration plates. If you have purchased a cloned car then you
will be required to return the vehicle
to the legally entitled owner, or to
the car insurance company.
What Is VIN Car Cloning?
VIN
Car Cloning is when the identity of a vehicle is changed to that of a comparable
entitled
vehicle (same make, model, colour) to hide its true identity.
How is VIN Car Cloning Done?
The most common form of car cloning involves the duplication of a legally registered car number plate. Car registration plates may either be stolen directly from the entitled car, or may be purchased from online companies (online companies state that the plates
must not be attached to any vehicle). However, stolen or duplicate
plates are often attached to cloned vehicles.
Additionally, the Vehicle Identification Number of a stolen vehicle may be changed
to that of a legally registered vehicle.
Why Is VIN Car Cloning Difficult To Detect?
VIN Car Cloning can be very difficult to detect due the following :-
- The entitled car will not be an insurance write off.
- The entitled car will not be reported as stolen.
- The entitled car may not have outstanding finance.
NOTE: Before paying for a vehicle Registration check, make sure that you read the small print. If you purchase a car that has been Registration checked, and which subsequently turns out to be a cloned car, then you may
Not be entitled to any financial compensation. Be aware that car Registration checks are not 100% reliable!
How Can VIN Car Cloning be Detected?
A good place to start when buying a used car is to get a Registration check. However, a
cloned car may pass any Registration check for the reasons as listed above.
Addtional checks should focus on the VIN - Vehicle Identification Number as listed
below:
- Check with a main franchised car dealer on the VIN plate details. How many VIN tags should there be? What is the correct location of each VIN tag?
- Check each VIN tag for any signs of tampering. Any peeling or marked VIN tags are
an indication that the vehicle may have been stolen.
- For vehicles manufactured after 1980 all VINs comprise 17 digits. Additionally, most vehicle manufactures provide a Check Digit encoded within the VIN.
Any false check digit reading provides an indication that the VIN may have been altered.
- Check that all VIN tags on the car are consistant with the vehicle registration log book. Any inconsistencies with the VIN registration documents indicate that the vehicle may be stolen.
The most determined VIN car cloner may be able to additionally produce fake vehicle registration documents. In this case it may prove to be virtually impossible to detect if the car has been cloned.
NOTE:
When buying a car privately, if the vehicle is offered for sale at below book value,
then consider what the real reason for the sale might be. Also, consider that when
buying privately you will have no legal come back should any problems arise with
the car.
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VIN - Vehicle Identification Number Car Cloning
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