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> And literally none of it, not a single step that you mentioned requires blockchain. Then tell me, where is this wonderful centralized database that tells me

> And literally none of it, not a single step that you mentioned requires blockchain. Then tell me, where is this wonderful centralized database that tells me who owns which car? Blockchains are not just about decentralization, it's also about publishing the actual databases in the wild for everyone to see, because you have the guarantee that no-one can fake it. Sure, a lot of the use cases could be done with centralized databases, but that's the model we had for decades now, and I don't see any effort to make these centralized databases accessible to everyone.

mijamo 5y ago
Don't know about the US but in most countries you do have those databases. And them not being in the Blockchain makes it easier to solve hard problems such as inheritance disputes, or illegally purchased goods.
mimon 5y ago
I'm don't know where you live, but I have purchased cars in both Australia and the UK and both involved verifying via a centralised database that the car was not stolen or financially encumbered.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
gambiting 5y ago
>>Then tell me, where is this wonderful centralized database that tells me who owns which car? Uhm, here in UK DVLA holds it? Anyone can access it too, you can just check the entire car history including its tax payments as well as technical inspections online. No Blockchain needed. >>because you have the guarantee that no-one can fake it I'd like you to explain why you think that's true. If you assume an external authority is entering details into the blockchain, how is that different to the exact same authority entering details into the systems that we have currently?
- kikimora 5y ago
  How much taxpayers money goes into maintaining this database? Not sayin blockchain is a better solution but it can replace 99% of UK DVLA staff with an algorithm.
  - gambiting 5y ago
    How exactly? Please explain. In particular how would using blockchain instead of a regular database replace 99% of the staff? What algorithm do you mean? What kind?
    - kikimora 5y ago
      Last time I bought a car the process involved multiple people that was there only because of a centralized database. First of all I need a contract with a dealership, so there is a lawyer involved. Then I pay for a car (cashier) take my contract and go to a special road police department that exists only to register car ownership transfers. There I have one guy that takes my contract, another who will check it and fill-in data into the centralized database. So we are looking at least 3-4 people who are there only to review documents and authorize update to a centralized database. Instead of this I could have pay to a smart contract and get my car ownership record in exchange. No clerks or lawyers involved. I cannot imagine how you implement this scenario as an API on top of a centralized database.
      - gambiting 5y ago
        I don't know where you live, but in UK it's even easier than what you described. When you buy a car it's just registered online, takes 5 minutes to do. No actual in-person anything involved. You get a PDF confirming your registration, the dealership prints the plate for you right there and then, nearly every garage has a machine for priniting them. You stick it on your car, drive off, done. The registration document arrives in post 1-2 weeks later, but you don't really need it for much as it's not proof of ownership anyway, it's just for your records. Literally nothing about buying a car involves actual people reviewing anything. It's all automated, it's all online. So I'd still like you to explain how exactly are you going to get rid of 99% of DVLA's staff and what algorithm exactly allows for that when using NFTs/blockchain. >>First of all I need a contract with a dealership, so there is a lawyer involved Why? I bought several new cars in the past, you read the documents, sign them, the car is yours. Why involve a lawyer? What for?
stefanfisk 5y ago
In Sweden we use https://biluppgifter.se https://biluppgifter.se.
- CRConrad 5y ago
  https://www.traficom.fi/en/services/vehicle-data-and-tax-payment https://www.traficom.fi/en/services/vehicle-data-and-tax-pay...
cuteboy19 5y ago
why should it be accessible to everyone? i dont want people to know which car I own
- CRConrad 5y ago
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29972711 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29972711
UncleMeat 5y ago
> it's also about publishing the actual databases in the wild for everyone to see Weird to see privacy go completely out the window in all of these discussions.
- CRConrad 5y ago
  When some fuckwit runs me over and speeds away, you betcha I'm gonna want to know whom XYZ-123 belongs to. What did you think license plates are for in the first place? If you've lived under the misapprehension that what you do with a multi-ton piece of lethal equipment hurtling through traffic belongs to your sphere of privacy, it's high time to snap out of it. (Fortunately, of course, no blockchain silliness is needed for this; I can look up a license plate on the centralised car registry DB any time.)

mijamo 5y ago

Don't know about the US but in most countries you do have those databases. And them not being in the Blockchain makes it easier to solve hard problems such as inheritance disputes, or illegally purchased goods.

mimon 5y ago

I'm don't know where you live, but I have purchased cars in both Australia and the UK and both involved verifying via a centralised database that the car was not stolen or financially encumbered.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

gambiting 5y ago

>>Then tell me, where is this wonderful centralized database that tells me who owns which car? Uhm, here in UK DVLA holds it? Anyone can access it too, you can just check the entire car history including its tax payments as well as technical inspections online. No Blockchain needed. >>because you have the guarantee that no-one can fake it I'd like you to explain why you think that's true. If you assume an external authority is entering details into the blockchain, how is that different to the exact same authority entering details into the systems that we have currently?

kikimora 5y ago
How much taxpayers money goes into maintaining this database? Not sayin blockchain is a better solution but it can replace 99% of UK DVLA staff with an algorithm.
- gambiting 5y ago
  How exactly? Please explain. In particular how would using blockchain instead of a regular database replace 99% of the staff? What algorithm do you mean? What kind?
  - kikimora 5y ago
    Last time I bought a car the process involved multiple people that was there only because of a centralized database. First of all I need a contract with a dealership, so there is a lawyer involved. Then I pay for a car (cashier) take my contract and go to a special road police department that exists only to register car ownership transfers. There I have one guy that takes my contract, another who will check it and fill-in data into the centralized database. So we are looking at least 3-4 people who are there only to review documents and authorize update to a centralized database. Instead of this I could have pay to a smart contract and get my car ownership record in exchange. No clerks or lawyers involved. I cannot imagine how you implement this scenario as an API on top of a centralized database.
    - gambiting 5y ago
      I don't know where you live, but in UK it's even easier than what you described. When you buy a car it's just registered online, takes 5 minutes to do. No actual in-person anything involved. You get a PDF confirming your registration, the dealership prints the plate for you right there and then, nearly every garage has a machine for priniting them. You stick it on your car, drive off, done. The registration document arrives in post 1-2 weeks later, but you don't really need it for much as it's not proof of ownership anyway, it's just for your records. Literally nothing about buying a car involves actual people reviewing anything. It's all automated, it's all online. So I'd still like you to explain how exactly are you going to get rid of 99% of DVLA's staff and what algorithm exactly allows for that when using NFTs/blockchain. >>First of all I need a contract with a dealership, so there is a lawyer involved Why? I bought several new cars in the past, you read the documents, sign them, the car is yours. Why involve a lawyer? What for?

stefanfisk 5y ago

In Sweden we use https://biluppgifter.se https://biluppgifter.se.

CRConrad 5y ago
https://www.traficom.fi/en/services/vehicle-data-and-tax-payment https://www.traficom.fi/en/services/vehicle-data-and-tax-pay...

cuteboy19 5y ago

why should it be accessible to everyone? i dont want people to know which car I own

CRConrad 5y ago
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29972711 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29972711

UncleMeat 5y ago

> it's also about publishing the actual databases in the wild for everyone to see Weird to see privacy go completely out the window in all of these discussions.

CRConrad 5y ago
When some fuckwit runs me over and speeds away, you betcha I'm gonna want to know whom XYZ-123 belongs to. What did you think license plates are for in the first place? If you've lived under the misapprehension that what you do with a multi-ton piece of lethal equipment hurtling through traffic belongs to your sphere of privacy, it's high time to snap out of it. (Fortunately, of course, no blockchain silliness is needed for this; I can look up a license plate on the centralised car registry DB any time.)