Why do people obscure their plates when they sell their cars?

"E90M3" (e90m3)
06/14/2016 at 16:09 • Filed to: None

Is there any reason for this? I know people might want to remain anonymous when they post their cars to oppo, but when you’re selling your car you’re pretty much putting your contact info out there. Is there something I’m missing?

DISCUSSION (41)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:12

In the case of a rare or really expensive car I get it. They probably don’t want you to track them down and steal it.

It’s a long shot that someone’s going to do that, but it makes them more comfortable.

Now the genius selling a 500 broken down neon that sticks his finger over it in frame is going way over board to protect his investment.

CalzoneGolem > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/14/2016 at 16:13

It’d probably be worth more if it was stolen.

Roadster Man > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:14

I don’t understand this either. There is no way for someone to get information from a license plate unless they have access to police or DMV databases. It makes no sense. It’s an urban legend that the average joe can get any sort of information from a license plate.

PartyPooper2012 > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:15

For the most part, they are advertising their manicure. Unless you’re a cop or work at DMV, it’s hard to track down owner using license plate.

License plate is out there for all of public to see anyway so hiding it makes zero sense. Don’t do it.

Steve in Manhattan > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:16

Yes - you are permitted to photograph anything out in the wild, and anyone can see your tags unless you’re in your garage. Just stop.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CalzoneGolem
06/14/2016 at 16:18

Feel free to steal mine, I’ll leave the keys on the tire.

CalzoneGolem > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/14/2016 at 16:20

You’ll come out to find Bullmobile it its place.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CalzoneGolem
06/14/2016 at 16:22

Yeah but I could sell that for scrap and move on + the insurance check for the Montego.

E90M3 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/14/2016 at 16:22

That’s true, but a 2012 128i isn’t rare or expensive.

Future next gen S2000 owner > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:24

People just want to give you the finger.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:24

You feel free to ask that 128i owner if his car is rare, expensive or “above” standard.

I’ll buy a ticket to that show

E90M3 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/14/2016 at 16:27

Well that’s mine, hopefully not for long. If it wasn’t I could park incorrectly next to him in the M3 and show him the fallacy of thinking a 128i is rare.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:29

Hahahahaha, all I can say is 99% of BMW owners think just because of that logo it’s the best car ever, no matter the model, trim or options.

Ash78, voting early and often > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:30

He should blur out the Roundel so I can ask how much he wants for his Galant.

E90M3 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/14/2016 at 16:39

I mean my E90 M3 6MT is a pretty awesome, or at least I think it is

E90M3 > Ash78, voting early and often
06/14/2016 at 16:40

It’s mine, but if you’ve got $15.5k to part with I’m sure I could source a Mitsubishi badge

CobraJoe > Roadster Man
06/14/2016 at 16:42

And even if they could get your address, what doest that help? You know where one specific car is parked. Might as well just follow some random car home, then you’ll know where that one specific car is parked for the night.

Ash78, voting early and often > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:42

LOL, love it. Just teasing you...old, old joke about 5-series people having their cars called a Galant and getting pissed off.

Bullitt Ride > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/14/2016 at 16:42

No need to be salty just because you decided to buy an inferior driving machine.

E90M3 > Ash78, voting early and often
06/14/2016 at 16:45

Ah, wasn’t aware of that. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen a Galant in awhile, so you’re calling it rare and special, I’ll take that as a complement.

brianbrannon > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 16:53

Because half the population is below average intelligence

E90M3 > brianbrannon
06/14/2016 at 16:55

Kinja'd!!!

Something, something statistics

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Bullitt Ride
06/14/2016 at 16:57

Excuse me SIR

I drive a Mercury - The Man’s Car.

Kinja'd!!!

brianbrannon > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 17:01

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8rh6qq…

Something, something, comedy

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 17:07

You can see the plate if you’re serious about buying and want to personally check out my car.

Showing my plates to other random Craigslist browsers and scammers who might happen to recognise my neighbourhood, no thanks.

That said, I prefer a discreet method of blocking the plates. Sticking huge funny faces over it is just distracting from the picture.

Bullitt Ride > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/14/2016 at 17:16

Are you implying man is superior? If this was on Gawker.... ughhh #triggered. Fortunately it’s on Oppo... wooo! #menstuffmenstuffmenstuff

Kinja'd!!!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 17:24

The only rationale I can think of is when you put in an ad, you’re also making your contact info publicly available.

What you’re publicizing is the association of license plate A with contact info B.

Letting the world know that license plate is associated with the contact info you provided could in turn make it easier to track you down if you’ve done something to piss someone off... like cutting them off while driving.

If that driver takes down your plate number, normally they wouldn’t be able to get anything... unless of course you let the world know about the association.

Of course without that info, they could still figure out where you live by following you.

Personally I think it’s the type of thing someone who is paranoid and irrational would do.

The same type of people put pieces of paper over their web cams because they’re afraid of people ‘hacking their webcams’.

I saw someone do that and I asked them... have you EVER done anything salacious or even vaguely interesting in front of your webcam? “No”. So why do think anyone would be interested in hacking your webcam? Especially given that you don’t have Yahoo Chat or Skype installed...

Roadster Man > CobraJoe
06/14/2016 at 17:41

I guess a thief could get the address of a car to case the joint and steal it, or a stalker could get someone’s address if they see their car, but those are very far fetched scenarios. The bottom line is that there isn’t a magical license plate google search that will give you info connected to a license plate. It simply doesn’t exist.

Busslayer > E90M3
06/14/2016 at 18:20

I always wrap my plates in black plastic bags whenever I leave my garage.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Bullitt Ride
06/14/2016 at 19:52

Not at all, only calling out a ridiculous ad from the 60s lol

Nauraushaun > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/14/2016 at 23:07

I don’t think there’s any way this can make sense.

They already drive the car on the road - someone could follow them home and steal it.

On the internet their address isn’t public, showing their licence plate isn’t going to make the car any more likely to be stolen.

Even if you’re stupid enough to hide your licence plate despite the reasons above, what’s to stop someone coming to your house to test/inspect the car? Then they have your address and your useless licence plate number.

sellphones2493 > E90M3
06/15/2016 at 00:27

Free the plates!

Kinja'd!!!

E90M3 > sellphones2493
06/15/2016 at 00:36

front plates, ew

CalzoneGolem > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/15/2016 at 06:28

And I could do the same. It’s a win win.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Nauraushaun
06/15/2016 at 09:34

well, 1 with some solid google effort you can find the name and then address of a car with it’s license plate.

I’m not saying it’s really worth it and frankly calling to see it/test it/check it out is probably the easiest guarantee that you find the car.

I typically hide the Montego plate online when I share pics of it. There’s only 3-4 68 Montego’s for sale across the whole country at any given time. It’s not in great shape and good luck to them if they steal it (lol) but I don’t want any more attention to where it’s parked.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CalzoneGolem
06/15/2016 at 09:57

Yeah but you wouldn’t scrap the Montego.

The Sable on the other hand I don’t think I’d weep over.

CalzoneGolem > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/15/2016 at 09:59

Scrapping it would be safer than driving around a stolen car.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CalzoneGolem
06/15/2016 at 10:04

True, though the door card is already wrong so you could make a claim that the VIN is goofy

CalzoneGolem > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/15/2016 at 10:21

Nah I think it’s best to find a not so diligent scrapper and move on.

Nauraushaun > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/15/2016 at 18:50

Seriously? Where? I’m fairly certain that’s not possible in Australia.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Nauraushaun
06/16/2016 at 10:05

It’s possible in the US. I could do some googling to see if i could pull it off in Australia.

Also, I never said they were legit sources of information, just that they were available. Not that a less than above board website would deter a car thief anyhow, right?