adventures in used car selling
May 10, 2012 4:31 PM Subscribe
Selling a car on craigslist -- are there any drawbacks to including the VIN in the ad?
I can think of two advantages: it allows buyers to run a CarFax report (even though they're mostly useless) and it allows buyers to start the financing paperwork at their bank.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 4:41 PM on May 10, 2012
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 4:41 PM on May 10, 2012
Some dealerships around here do this. The advantage is that it lets people run the carfax and other checks. I suppose it also offers security that the car in the ad is the one they look at.
It doesn't seem like there is anything wrong with it. They need the title to do anything real anyway.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 4:41 PM on May 10, 2012
It doesn't seem like there is anything wrong with it. They need the title to do anything real anyway.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 4:41 PM on May 10, 2012
Best answer: VINs are visible from the street. I'd think if there was some criminal mischief that could be done we'd her about it more right?
posted by bitdamaged at 4:46 PM on May 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by bitdamaged at 4:46 PM on May 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
No, there are no real drawbacks, but I wouldn't do it.
If you look at dealer print ads where they advertise some kind of stunning low price, they will often say "one at this price" and include a VIN number to indicate which one, specifically. This is to avoid a claim of bait-and-switch tactics. "Yes, we said there was one at that price, and it's been sold, and here's the paperwork of the sale to prove it, with the VIN number we referenced."
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:58 PM on May 10, 2012
If you look at dealer print ads where they advertise some kind of stunning low price, they will often say "one at this price" and include a VIN number to indicate which one, specifically. This is to avoid a claim of bait-and-switch tactics. "Yes, we said there was one at that price, and it's been sold, and here's the paperwork of the sale to prove it, with the VIN number we referenced."
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:58 PM on May 10, 2012
The bit about VINs being visible from the street confuses me. Is there some way of getting VINs that I'm not aware of?
posted by rdr at 5:15 PM on May 10, 2012
posted by rdr at 5:15 PM on May 10, 2012
Mine's on my dashboard in the windshield in the corner on the driver's side.
The metermaids even use it on my parking tickets sometimes.
posted by small_ruminant at 5:18 PM on May 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
The metermaids even use it on my parking tickets sometimes.
posted by small_ruminant at 5:18 PM on May 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Mine's on my dashboard in the windshield in the corner on the driver's side.
True for all cars.
posted by wutangclan at 5:20 PM on May 10, 2012
True for all cars.
posted by wutangclan at 5:20 PM on May 10, 2012
wutangclan: "True for all cars."
… in the US, built since 1968. Rest of the world varies; Germany, for instance, doesn't mandate it.
posted by Pinback at 5:54 PM on May 10, 2012
… in the US, built since 1968. Rest of the world varies; Germany, for instance, doesn't mandate it.
posted by Pinback at 5:54 PM on May 10, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
I wouldn't do it.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:35 PM on May 10, 2012