jcampagna4

Read this article the other day and it got me to thinking. The VIN number is in plain site on the windshield.
It can't be easily accessed, thus can't be covered up. Has anyone found a way to cover the VIN?
https://www.komando.com/happening-no...-easily-hacked

jcampagna4

Sorry, should have mentioned that I have a 2017 ES300H.

Popgun

In Virginia it is a class 6 felony to conceal the VIN or other serial numbers required by federal law. I don't know about NC but I would imagine it isn't legal.

Dave Mac

This story has been around for awhile and I'm not sure that it is of great concern. I'm also not sure the scenario described applies to all cars or just the make and app described. Like everything I guess it could be a problem as technology goes forward though.

Dave Mac

BradTank

Yes, I do think its a vulnerability, but not much you can do. I've also heard about a really large car theft ring where they were able to get a manufacturer's computer and make keys for it just off the vin numbers.

I also think they get "clean" VINs when they steal cars and take them out of the country and put those on there to fly under the radar.

They probably should stop putting them on the windshield for starters, but just about every car ad has the VIN with a carfax so that ship has probably sailed. Just something we have to deal with.

bc6152

As a retired Philly cop I'll tell you that if I stopped a car and the VIN plate was covered or hidden in some way, you'd be asked to exit the car and I'd be doing additional checking. I don't know what the penalty is for a "hidden" VIN as I've never cited anyone for the violation but I've found a number of altered, homemade VIN plates in cars and the drivers were arrested. In 100% of these cases the cars were stolen. The VIN plate is placed in a conspicuous place and visible for a reason. However, some of the above comments do apply as far as thieves copying the number and creating a new one for a stolen car.