Blanking number plates in photos...

[Murph7355]

Could well be being dumb here, but what are the favourite reasons for doing this?

I've seen plenty of people doing it when posting photos of their cars and have started to do it myself, but am not totally sure why!

My current guesses are (1) potential thieving and people knowing who to masquerade as if they rob your car and (2) potential issues with the law...but both of these are a bit weak.

Any better ideas?

[CarZee]

Blanking plates on trackdays and events off the public highway is becoming more important as manufacturers are starting to invalidate warranties on the basis of 'improper usage' - BMW for one. Also, some insurance policies not only do not cover you for track use, but expressly forbid track use - this is particularly pertinent to motorcyclists. Insurers send people with cameras to trackdays and sometimes so do the police.

The main reason why I blank plates though is that I don't always gain individual permission from owners to publish photos of cars, so I blank the plates in case the owner of the vehicle would wish it that way - hence I don't antagonise anyone.

Oh and you never know if someone's lied to their wife about where they're going, and then turned up an Virginia Waters or a trackday or whatever..

As to why my car's plate is blanked on my profile, well it's because anyone *can* find your address from your numberplate with a little bit of ingenuity & I don't trust people. Any of them.

>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Tuesday 31st December 11:03

[chim_girl]

I wondered that too...... Shadowninja emailled me and told me to blank out my reg. When I asked why he said that it would stop potential burglars. The idea being that some enterprising thief could find your home address from DVLC then help themselves to the silverware when you were at at TVR meet or something!

Still not sure myself, but like you, did it anyway!!

BTW - Darren - thanks for the advice and the photo

[Murph7355]

Like the wife comment. Fortunately not an issue.

But the burglar bit is interesting so think I'll start blanking them off more regularly.

[jimbro1000]

Is more of an issue for number plate identity theft. Ringers have a healthy source of genuine number plates to match against vehicles - even down to the colour of the vehicle.

Most garage forecourts do the same for exactly that reason.

[jmorgan]

I will blank someone elses. If I send it to that person I won't, up to the owner then.
Mines not because I can't be arsed but you don't need to ask where a 400 lives, just listen out for it, preferably in the next county.

[CynicR]

Isnt it because people often post spec with their pics and/or show modifications in pics. And that is not good if said mods are not declared.......

[dazren]

Also certain people state they have done certain things on the roads that are illegal. In my own instance I wouldn't want a local plod or scamera operative who may troll these boards realising that my car belonged to that loud mouthed hooning lunatic on pistonheads.

DAZ
(plate on my piccy is only partially visible and has been replaced by a pplate).