A woman whose car was recently stolen is warning others to hide their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Here’s why that might not be such a great idea. TikTok creator @tatted_nurse_vee posted a video with her PSA over the weekend. "Y’all I am livid. Picture waking up, getting your son or daughter dressed for school, going outside, and your car’s missing," she says to start the video. She indicates that her vehicle theft was related in some way to her VIN being visible from outside the vehicle. You can usually find your vehicle’s VIN on the dashboard or on the driver’s side door. "It wasn’t until today that I found out if your VIN number is showing they can steal your car," she says. "You would think, ‘Duh,’ but I’m not a thief. How am I supposed to know that my VIN number, that is made to be shown on the outside of the car, would be the reason it gets stolen." To conclude the video, she asks, "Why are manufacturers still making brand-new cars to this day with your VIN number exposed?" Can Thieves Use Your VIN to Steal Your Car? Unfortunately, thieves can use your VIN and other nuggets of personal information to hack into and steal your car. United States Cybersecurity Magazine reports that thieves have used VINs to exploit weaknesses in Nissan and Honda push-to-start systems. The magazine recommends guarding your VIN closely by treating it like any other sensitive personal information. That means only doing business with people and car dealers that you trust. OWNERSHIP STORIES Viral stories from across the web Our team of experts tracks what owners are saying about car-shopping, repairs, the daily driving experience and more on social media. As one commented on the TikTok, "This is only for Push to Start. Hackers can hack into your car’s system with the VIN number. But if you have to insert and turn a key to start your car, you’re fine." The Globe and Mail reports, however, that there’s another way to use a VIN to steal a vehicle. It says that thieves can use the VIN to cut an authorized key. While it might not crank the engine, it can get them in. Is It Legal to Cover Your VIN? In the comments section of the video, viewers offered words of caution. One said, "Doesn’t matter if it’s showing or not. If they want it, they can get it." Second warned that hiding your VIN isn’t the answer, writing, "In most states, covering your VIN can be a felony." It is against federal law to "remove, obliterate, tamper with, or alter" the VIN number on your vehicle. The law doesn’t mention covering it, however. United States Cybersecurity Magazine suggests blocking your VIN with a piece or paper when you’re not in the car, but notes that you can run into legal trouble if you cover it all the time. So it may be best to find a temporary way to hide your VIN if you’re concerned about theft. Unfortunately, it still might not be enough to deter thieves. Some might use your license plate—which you obviously can’t legally cover—using the Carfax Car Care app to access the information. In short, maybe there is something to the creator’s assertion. If thieves are truly determined to steal your vehicle, it may be impossible to stop them. As a member of a Honda CR-V forum wrote, "A determined thief will stop at nothing to steal a car— VIN covered or not." Motor1 contacted @tatted_nurse_vee via email for comment. We’ll update this if she responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
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