4 ms·

There are systems to look up VIN, which gets you make/model/year/trim, by something other than the VIN. In the U.S., the state you live in can find the VIN by p

by ssharp 6y ago

There are systems to look up VIN, which gets you make/model/year/trim, by something other than the VIN. In the U.S., the state you live in can find the VIN by plate number. They make expose this information via third parties. Additionally, you can even do things like look up all cars by something like driver's license # or maybe even just name/address. Auto insurers have been using those systems for years to simplify the quoting process. Enter your driver's license # and magically all your cars show up to choose from.

ssharp 6y ago
A funny aside to this on how poorly integrated these things can be: My state has a random proof of insurance system where licensed drivers with registered vehicles will be randomly selected and be forced to provide proof of insurance for their registered vehicle. I got one of these a few years ago for a car that I had sold at least several months prior to the date they wanted me to show insurance proof for. Boy was that an unexpectedly difficult situation to navigate. It turns out the state uses a private company to run this program and the state just dumps them information a few times a year. Of course the private company runs under the guise of a state agency even though it isn't. Talking with the private company led nowhere since my logic of "you literally have access to the State DMV. Call them up and find out when that VIN was titled to someone else" didn't land. I ultimately needed to deal with the State DMV directly, all while under the countdown clock of my license being automatically suspended for failure to provide proof.
AdrianB1 6y ago
Isn't it a privacy problem if all this data (including property listing of a driver) is available publicly on Internet? Just asking as an European guy used with a minimum of privacy.
- true_religion 6y ago
  In the US, lots of things that involve licensing are publicly available even if they aren’t available online. For example, if you own land, your name is listed in a register along with the purchase date and price. The floor plan for your house is also listed, as is the condition of your utilities.

by ssharp 6y ago

ssharp 6y ago

A funny aside to this on how poorly integrated these things can be: My state has a random proof of insurance system where licensed drivers with registered vehicles will be randomly selected and be forced to provide proof of insurance for their registered vehicle. I got one of these a few years ago for a car that I had sold at least several months prior to the date they wanted me to show insurance proof for. Boy was that an unexpectedly difficult situation to navigate. It turns out the state uses a private company to run this program and the state just dumps them information a few times a year. Of course the private company runs under the guise of a state agency even though it isn't. Talking with the private company led nowhere since my logic of "you literally have access to the State DMV. Call them up and find out when that VIN was titled to someone else" didn't land. I ultimately needed to deal with the State DMV directly, all while under the countdown clock of my license being automatically suspended for failure to provide proof.

AdrianB1 6y ago

Isn't it a privacy problem if all this data (including property listing of a driver) is available publicly on Internet? Just asking as an European guy used with a minimum of privacy.

true_religion 6y ago
In the US, lots of things that involve licensing are publicly available even if they aren’t available online. For example, if you own land, your name is listed in a register along with the purchase date and price. The floor plan for your house is also listed, as is the condition of your utilities.