When I bought my Escape, the dealer tried to sell me on VIN etched windows. I told them I wasn't interested, as I had insider information. During test driving, I noticed it was already on the vehicle! So during the paperwork session, I turned them down. I didn't get charged for it, but ended up with the etching anyways!

So now, I buy the Accord Hybrid. Doesn't have pre-etching. Again, they wanted to sell the etching. I declined, wanting to look elsewhere to see if I could find it cheaper. And I did!

http://www.vinetcher.com/

Anyone use this product before?

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I got the same lecture during my purchase as well. However, the difference with not paying for the etching that is already there is that the $500 or whatever price it is gets you an additional $3K if your car does get stolen.

Basically you are just purchasing additional insurance in hopes that your car gets stolen.

I've used something similar but not sure who we got it from (was many years ago).

I think we had to provide our VIN and they sent back the kit with several cardboard strips with the VIN cut out (about the thickness of a manilla folder) and a small vial of "stuff" - basically you place the cardboard on the window, "paint" over the VIN number cutouts with the gunk, wait a while and rinse it off. It seemed to work fairly well - I think on one window we either didn't use enough or washed it off a little early as it didn't seem as defined as the others but overall we were satisfied.

I had mine done for free as a service from AAA a few years ago on my '95 Explorer, mostly because they were having a promotion that if you got it done, not only was it free, but they'd lower your insurance payments.

The next time they do it (Seems they do it early summer), I may get it done on my FEH.

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The irony of all this is that VIN numbers are now being stolen for identity theft for other vehicles. You are better of by hidding all VIN numbers.

I was just reading www.nicb.org and they were talking about starting a database on vehicles damaged by the hurricanes because in the past, people would sell flood damaged cars without disclosing that the car used to be underwater. Perhaps, that could be a use of stolen VIN numbers?

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Is it legal to hide you VIN number, thought they required them to be viewed for identifying possible stolen cars?
Sources for Vehicle Identification Window Etching
See vinguard.org, vinetcher.com, vinshield.com, etc…
VIN Etching Information
These kits only cost about $20-$30, take about 15 minutes to install yourself, have been rated as very effective at theft deterrent, and have ~85% recovery rate track record (as opposed to ~60% ave). This works as a deterrent because thieves cannot modify the VIN to sell vehicle without replacing all the windows.

if you have a valid VIN, then you can create false papers with a valid VIN, if the VIN matches the car you have, even better. It's a lot easier to sell a car (stolen, damaged or whatever) with a valid VIN than without... hence VIN identity theft.

In some (many? most?) jurisdictions it is illegal to hide your VIN.

As for stolen VINs, it's not hard to generate a perfectly valid VIN. The meaning behind the letters and numbers in a VIN is not a secret.

i was watching some show a while ago about car theft and they suggested etching your vin on your windows, they said you could do it with computer printed out labels and acid???? i have no idea how exactly that would work. i could be remembering it wrong though too, it was a prety long time ago.