I have read many posts and replies in the past where an owner doesn't want to reveal the VIN of his car. I was just wondering what harm could come to you by revealing on the internet, a number that anyone could just walk up to your car and see. I don't mean this as a flame to those who do it, I just can't think of any reason for doing it.

 

There is no reason whatsoever to protect your VIN. Especially on mass produced cars like ours. Jeez, it sits right under the windshield for all to see.

 

Consider it a hint of paranoia... I do it for the same reason I used to blur my license plates out when posting pics of my cars... I don't want anyone out there running around with my VIN number. Granted there isn't much a person could do with it but still its my choice whether to let it out in the open or to conceal it, and its safer to conceal it.

 

Just out of curiosity, Drew...How is it safer to conceal it?

 

Because simply if no one else has it then how can it hurt me? Its fool proof.

 

Sounds like paranoia to me...

 

So, does anyone cover their license plate when they go to the grocery store? Come on people...

 

anyone willing to give me the vin from a B4 c car so i can get the upshift valve? gm wont let me have it with my vin

 

I'll go ya one better... I don't drive my cars to the grocery store... at least not my formula, or convertible. I don't subject my cars to the obstacle course of brainless soccer moms with screaming babies in their backseats of their Suburbans. Hell I don't even like subjecting my S10 beater to that kinda abuse.

A good example of why I don't leave my VIN lying all around the internet, I don't want some clever individual listing my vin on an ebay auction for a base model firebird dressed as a Formula, or anythign to that effect. On the car its pretty safe, I don't use the Formula or the convertible for any errands that involve leaving the car parked. Typically they come out of the garage, drive 20 miles and go right back into the garage. The only exception would be a once in a blue moon event when I drive it to a movie theatre and leave it in the lot for 2 hours. There's no reason not to hide a VIN or a license number from the internet. The last 6 digits of the VIN are only the production sequence anyway, they don't make any difference beyond identification for midyear changes.

 

I'm a VIN junkie, especially for 1982 Trans Am's, which are my favorite third-gen's... I ran zillions of requests on carfax trying to find as many of the 116362 possible VIN's as I could .. came up with 87450 of 'em, which is impressive. So now whenever I see a 1982 firebird or T/A on ebay, I already have its VIN, heh.

I don't think there's a lot anyone can do with your vin.. unless they happen to work for the Department of Transportation' DMV and they get bored one day and decide to run your VIN to see where you live, then they come steal your car.. but I've never heard of that happening, so I'm not losing any sleep over it.

 

I'm a bit paranoid on this issue too. I just don't trust people with a computer and any of my personal information. Yes they could get it at a car show (the only place I take my car), but that is a very limited number of people, and the people there are probably less likely to be hardened criminals looking to cause trouble. My father recently had a problem where someone many states away claimed his vehicle had run them off the road and caused them to have an accident. Turned out that the licence # had been reported wrong, it was someone else from Oregon. But what if it had been someone looking to do insurance fraud with a pic of my car with licence plate to use for a description, and my VIN # to boot. You'd have a real hard time proving it wasn't you, and even if you could it would be an absolute nightmare. I'm sure there are lots of other things that could happen too that I couldn't dream of. My $0.02.

 

As you can tell from my GTA's own personal web page, http://www.TransamGTA.com/Webmaster/...ters92GTA.html I have my VIN posted several times and at the bottom of my page I even have my license plate!

It doesn't hurt anything, hell I'm proud of my car and my personal plates!

 

I'm coming over to steal it alex..

 

My 50bux digital camera does it for me!
hahah its just cuase it cant handle the refelction or something.

 

Dew doesn't drive the vert or formula cuz out there in the dakotas they got ewoks and tumbleweeds. No shi<x>t.

 

Well you could list the VIN except the last 6 digits or even just some of the last 6, and nobody would really have your VIN. All of the important information would be there except that you wouldnt be able to verify the check digit. So what. Only reason I can think of to verify the check digit (and know the rest of the VIN) is if you are, or are going to be the owner of the car. Otherwise all of the important information that is in the VIN is there.

 

Ed, They have been known to throw rocks and logs at Cars in those part's, You know...

 

All of us shouldnt be, as he has the coolest 3rd gen

Its a personal thing, anit it kool to each his own