Hiding reg numbers
Discussion
I would say for more common cars, its to save lazy cloners. If you have a popular car, say, a silver Ford Focus, and you want to drive on cloned plates, its simple to just go on Autotrader to find a similar car and copy the number down.
For rarer cars, I'm not so sure as surely cloning would be less of a problem.
For rarer cars, I'm not so sure as surely cloning would be less of a problem.
My guess is to stop cloning,
Example:
Your selling a 2001 '51' Ford Mondeo LX, light blue.
A 'cloner' has stolen a '51' Ford Mondeo LX in blue
The cloner just looks for an identical car and pinches its reg number, so if its hidden the cloner can't do anything. Also I don't think many people pay attention to the number plate while it's on the move.
I tried to explain it the best I could, and thats my guess anyway.
Example:
Your selling a 2001 '51' Ford Mondeo LX, light blue.
A 'cloner' has stolen a '51' Ford Mondeo LX in blue
The cloner just looks for an identical car and pinches its reg number, so if its hidden the cloner can't do anything. Also I don't think many people pay attention to the number plate while it's on the move.
I tried to explain it the best I could, and thats my guess anyway.
On top of the cloning issue a number plate, picture and description is an easy way for a well informed 'steal to order' thief to locate a suitable car. Last time I said this though I was accused of being a tin foil hat wearer, but it's not about creating a crime it's about making it that little bit easier for the criminal.
Same story as with street view on google maps, yes you can go to the location in person but it's not as convenient as looking it up online. And also, with DVLA selling the reg keeper details to anyone who has a "valid" reason to obtain it it's easy to identify where the seller lives.
exkay said:
Anyway, thanks for your comments, but i still think if they wanted to clone, then they could just take any old number off a car driving along the road.
Well no, why would you wait for an identical car to drive passed you on the road when you can find a numberplate on the internet in seconds flat?exkay said:
Anyway, thanks for your comments, but i still think if they wanted to clone, then they could just take any old number off a car driving along the road.
Which is easier and quicker, a quick search on Autotrader or Ebay for a 4 door, 52 plate, Mondeo, in metalic blue, or walking round the streets hoping to spot one. exkay said:
Anyway, thanks for your comments, but i still think if they wanted to clone, then they could just take any old number off a car driving along the road.
That would work if you wanted to clone a car that lives in the same town/village/street, but surely even a dumbass would know not to do that?Autotrader can give you the number plate of the exact same car you want to clone, but on a car that is based 300+ miles away. What are the chances of that car then turning up in your town/village/street?
exkay said:
Ok, another point then, what if it does get cloned...so what ??? you know that you own the car with all the documents, what have you got to worry about if there`s another 20 "cloned" cars the same as yours, as long as the one you own is correct ......
Parking / speeding fines insurance claims etc etc etcI hid the number plates last time I sold a car online. Didn't want the vehicle to be cloned (it was something that appealed to the sort of people that steal to order) and didn't want any other issues with reg plates being stolen (having already had 2 Congestion charge fines for one of our vehicles that has never been to London that was a concern) and if someone if genuine enough to want to do an HPI check then they would be genuine enough to call and ask for the number plate etc, which the buyer did.
exkay said:
Ok, another point then, what if it does get cloned...so what ??? you know that you own the car with all the documents, what have you got to worry about if there`s another 20 "cloned" cars the same as yours, as long as the one you own is correct ......
There are cases of people doing 100mph down the M1 on cloned plates and the innocent victim getting loads of fines and then there is London = Congestion Charge, Parking TicketsThere are a couple of reasons why people hide there plate.
exkay said:
Ok, another point then, what if it does get cloned...so what ??? you know that you own the car with all the documents, what have you got to worry about if there`s another 20 "cloned" cars the same as yours, as long as the one you own is correct ......
On this theme it occurred to me a couple of weeks ago that I could save money on tax & insurance by cloning my own car if I bought another identical car of similar age for my wife. I suspect however that the dead giveaway would be parking them on the same driveway.I know of someone on a motorcycle forum who had a Yamaha FZ750 that he wanted to ride, but he was 16. So, instead of waiting, getting a full license etc, he looked on Autotrader for an FZ750 of the same colour and year, and copied the plate. He stuck the plate on the bike and rode around like that for a while.
Hence, I always cover up my reg no when advertising a vehicle on the net.
Hence, I always cover up my reg no when advertising a vehicle on the net.
LOADS of reasons, surely?
As above, parking/speeding fines, congestion charges etc etc. Also, with ANPR going the way it is, if you drive a car without tax and/or insurance, you're not going to get very far. Copy Mr & Mrs Law-Abiding's plate from Cornwall and you can smoke around Glasgow* unhindered.
* Other cities are available
As above, parking/speeding fines, congestion charges etc etc. Also, with ANPR going the way it is, if you drive a car without tax and/or insurance, you're not going to get very far. Copy Mr & Mrs Law-Abiding's plate from Cornwall and you can smoke around Glasgow* unhindered.
* Other cities are available
exkay said:
I never cease to be amazed at why people hide the reg number of there car when there selling it, do we really know why this is done, after all, we dont hide them when we`re driving down the road. Come on folks, what bright persons gonna tell me the reason why this is done ????
They are simply half-wits.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff