Thread: Suggestion for vehicle sales and partouts..

I'd like to make a suggestion, based on an incident that recently happened to my friend on another car forum. He fell victim to a guy who was parting out a stollen car. The guy was caught, and all of the parts that he sold were tracked down through the internet/various car forums. He was almost charged with posession of stollen property, but he was able to prove that he knew nothing about the car being stollen after a bit of a hassle.

My point is.. If someone is parting out a vehicle, or posting one up for sale, why not have them post up a picture of the VIN number, and a copy of a valid registration with name, address, and matching VIN. This way, we can at least know who we're dealing with. If the persons name doesn't match up with the Paypal name, or the name that they ask you to make a money order/check out to, then you can at least check into things and make sure that the vehicle isn't stollen.

Just an idea.. Many of the parts on the Sentra (body panels) have VIN numbers stamped on them. And, even still, it's not hard for detectives to track down names/addresses of people who buy stollen parts.

Travis

Well that's a cool idea. I'd like to add the fact that posting the seller's name and address on a forum might not be the best idea. Instead, the potential buyer should contact the seller via PM/email and obtain the registration information from there.

Trav, this would be for larger parts right? Motor/Trans, body panels, etc..

Can't see how you can ask a member for a VIN if all he is selling is a top bin or plastic trim piece.

I'm trying to cover my ass here too because I have a garage attic full of random things and no VIN

I think every part-out thread should have the VIN of the vehicle posted, as well as FS posts with larger items like motors, transmissions, etc.

Good looking out Trav.

Originally Posted by MisterNuts

I think every part-out thread should have the VIN of the vehicle posted, as well as FS posts with larger items like motors, transmissions, etc.

Good looking out Trav.

How can a end consumer who is buying odds and ends from the part out verify that the car is stolen using the VIN?

Is there a national database of stolen cars that you can search by VIN?

No, but it will deter anyone who knowingly is trying to sell stolen parts. Not sure if Carfax, etc. can tell you if a car is stolen... never used it. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

Originally Posted by MisterNuts

No, but it will deter anyone who knowingly is trying to sell stolen parts. Not sure if Carfax, etc. can tell you if a car is stolen... never used it. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

The thing is right, VIN numbers are so easy to come by, you could get one from a car off the street or in a junk yard and post it up, even a pic is very possible of the VIN Plate, very easy to get.

I'm just being devils advocate, to catch a thief you must think like one, that's all i'm doing here.

I'm not posting my registration on the internet along with my name and address-that's too much.

I wouldn't mind posting the VIN number from a car if I was parting it out but if I'm selling a body panel from my car that I still own/that is registered to me, I am not putting my VIN on the web like that.

Originally Posted by B15NewYork

How can a end consumer who is buying odds and ends from the part out verify that the car is stolen using the VIN?

Is there a national database of stolen cars that you can search by VIN?

All you have to do, is call the local authorities, and give them the VIN. Tell them that you are buying parts from this vehicle, and they will run it to verifiy that it's not stollen. Takes 5 minutes, and it's good peace of mind.

The biggest thing is that it makes the seller think twice before posting stollen parts. It's more of a deterant than anything.

For vehicle part outs, a vin number, copy of the registration in the seller's name, and a valid phone number should be a requirement. You can cover up the address if you want. But, something tieing the seller to the actual VIN would be great. Can this be worked around? Sure.. but, it would take some effort, and I doubt most thieves would go to this extreme. They would just find another forum to post on instead.

But, yeah.. in any case, you can find the records through the local authorities, and/or the DMV, to make sure that you cover your ass.

Travis

Originally Posted by fullah

I'm not posting my registration on the internet along with my name and address-that's too much.

I wouldn't mind posting the VIN number from a car if I was parting it out but if I'm selling a body panel from my car that I still own/that is registered to me, I am not putting my VIN on the web like that.

Why not? If it's legit, then there's nothing to hide. Cover up your address if you're that worried. No one can do anything to harm you by having your name and a VIN number for a vehicle that belongs to you.

People put VIN numbers up on Ebay when they sell stuff.. Anyone who has half a brain will ask for it if they're interested in buying a car.

If I buy parts from a vehicle that's being parted out, I wanted to know who and what I'm buying.. so that I don't end up getting caught with stollen parts.

Travis

StoLen parts have always been a problem, and they always will be.

Trav, what if they post the VIN of a car that is legitimately registered to them? And the part out/stolen cars VIN is kept a secret?

So many variable in this thing.

this doesnt apply to sentras. who in their right mind is stealing a sentra? i can think of maybe one or two total stolen cars in the 7 yrs ive been on the forums.

Originally Posted by jeremy

this doesnt apply to sentras. who in their right mind is stealing a sentra? i can think of maybe one or two total stolen cars in the 7 yrs ive been on the forums.

They have tried to steal a couple in our neck of the woods. NYC 5 boros.

We sell parts off customers cars all the time. I'm not posting a VIN, etc. There is no real way except:
1. Call the seller first and ask for their address. Just dont blindly send money. Paypal ALWAYS favors the buyer anyway.
2. Make sure the addy is legit and you can put a disclaimer in your payment that says, by accepting these funds you (seller) is certifying that the parts are not stolen. That will hold up.

And just because we accept wire transfers from the Cayman Islands from African Princes doesnt mean those people are shady. Come on man!

And just because we accept wire transfers from the Cayman Islands from African Princes doesnt mean those people are shady. Come on man![/QUOTE]

Get while the gettin is good

Originally Posted by B15NewYork

Trav, what if they post the VIN of a car that is legitimately registered to them? And the part out/stolen cars VIN is kept a secret?

So many variable in this thing.

It's all about detering.. It's not 100% fool proof. But, how many car thieves actually own the car that they're stealing?

What harm is there in posting a VIN number? No one can do anything malicious that I know of with a VIN..

It def should be a requirement for a part out or any major component to provide VIN# vin numbers are not private info and have to be publicly displayed on all cars by fed law. Other online used parts sites list VIN# PAM's Auto, Inc. - Remaining Parts <-----example If not in the posting people should ask