Sell the jam-jar, obscure the index mark... why?

[simonineaston]

I'm about to stick the trusty old VW Lupo on Gummers & wotnot. I notice that most people add photos of their old car and use image editing software to smudge or obscure the figures on the number plate where it is visible in their photos. What's the point? The streets are full of readily visible car plates. Am I being slow?

[PDQ Mobile]

They do it primarily so others cannot see its MOT history and other stuff like outstanding finance.

There is also a risk of cloning your number to another vehicle of similar make age etc.

[simonineaston]

They do it primarily so others cannot see its MOT history and other stuff like outstanding finance. There is also a risk of cloning your number to another vehicle of similar make age etc.

I don't follow - when selling, surely you want people to know the MOT history etc.? And what are the benefits of cloning my plate?

[peetee]

I would imagine that reasons vary from legitimate to paranoid and I am not one to judge but it’s worth mentioning that MOT Passes, fails and advisories for cars can be obtained free online with just a numberplate so obscuring a cars ID from buyers can suggest you have something to hide.

[Bonefishblues]

I would imagine that reasons vary from legitimate to paranoid and I am not one to judge but it’s worth mentioning that MOT Passes, fails and advisories for cars can be obtained free online with just a numberplate so obscuring a cars ID from buyers can suggest you have something to hide.

It immediately disqualifies a car for me. Plenty of others.

[Spies]

You can pretty much go on autotrader and search for whatever you want and get a reg, so I really dont see the point in obscuring it.

[Carlton green]

I'm about to stick the trusty old VW Lupo on Gummers & wotnot. I notice that most people add photos of their old car and use image editing software to smudge or obscure the figures on the number plate where it is visible in their photos. What's the point? The streets are full of readily visible car plates. Am I being slow?

Historically some people suffered after having had their car registration cloned and having photos of it anywhere helps with part of that process. The problem was serious and legislation was brought in to make purchase of number plates that weren’t for the vehicle registered to you much more difficult and ideally impossible. When in doubt cautiously follow the crowd and respect their reasons, so obscure your details even though in theory it’s no longer necessary.

It might well be true that some genuine potential buyers might legitimately like to check details in advance via the number plate; for a sale to go through there will be routes for them to contact you so buyers can ask questions that way and take precautions before handing money over.

[simonineaston]

Mmm... odd. A prospective & legitimate buyer contacts me and one of their first questions is, "Can you tell me the registration mark so I can run a check on the MOT history and so on...?". My reply might be, "Sure - but only if you can reassure me that you are not about to clone it for nefarious purposes."!

[Cunobelin]

You need to evaluate your risks and take the measures you are comfortable with

[DaveBeck]

I've had my number plate cloned. It caused me no end of trouble, being pursued by both private and council parking services for illegal parking charges and being stopped by the police a number of times once I'd reported the cloned plates.

So I would advise people not to publish pictures with your number plate visible. It's one less option for those on the far side of the country from you to clone the plates of a similar vehicle. It shouldn't deter a potential buyer, I would be happy to give them the details once I had met them. You could do it then and there.

Dave B

[Paulatic]

I've had my number plate cloned. It caused me no end of trouble, being pursued by both private and council parking services for illegal parking charges and being stopped by the police a number of times once I'd reported the cloned plates.

So I would advise people not to publish pictures with your number plate visible. It's one less option for those on the far side of the country from you to clone the plates of a similar vehicle. It shouldn't deter a potential buyer, I would be happy to give them the details once I had met them. You could do it then and there.

Dave B

Dave, I need to look up the mot history before I ever decide to take an interest in your car. If I’m then interested and it’s a big lump of money I need to check out its finance and if stolen before I ever decide to come and meet you.
Sorry you’ve just deterred a potential buyer and with cars it’s always a buyers market.

[Carlton green]

Mmm... odd. A prospective & legitimate buyer contacts me and one of their first questions is, "Can you tell me the registration mark so I can run a check on the MOT history and so on...?". My reply might be, "Sure - but only if you can reassure me that you are not about to clone it for nefarious purposes."!

Mmm ... the trouble here, as I see it, is that you are looking for a definitive and perfect answer that suits all situations. Unfortunately such an answer does not exist and therefore it’s a case of evaluating the issues and making as good a choice as you can. There are a lot of genuine buyers and sellers out there, but there are some less than honest buyers and sellers and there are scammers out there too.

[DaveBeck]

Dave, I need to look up the mot history before I ever decide to take an interest in your car. If I’m then interested and it’s a big lump of money I need to check out its finance and if stolen before I ever decide to come and meet you.
Sorry you’ve just deterred a potential buyer and with cars it’s always a buyers market. [/quote]

Good job I'm not selling my car then!

If I were in the future, I'd rather loose a potential buyer than go through the hassle, time, and worry, of having to try and prove that it was not me or my car that was parked where they said it was. Luckily for me, the moron who cloned my plates made a mistake somewhere along the line that made it possible for me to prove otherwise.

[simonineaston]

You need to evaluate your risks and take the measures you are comfortable with

You're not a financial adviser, are you, Cuno...?

I've had my number plate cloned.

Right, that's settled it. It's a-smudging I shall go

[simonineaston]

All done

The car with no name...