However, several consumers on online discussion boards reported that the savings were six dollars over six months. If the vehicle were stolen and recovered within 30 days, but had some damage (not totaled), they would pay up to $500 toward your insurance deductible. A VIN is required under regulations administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. CR suggests getting an etching kit and doing it yourself. your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. Of course, the dealership is not going to be happy that you're taking so long to make your decision. . Simply typing How do I etch the VIN on my car's windows? into Google will give you access to several VIN-etching kits and other information about accomplishing the task. Must my vehicle/motorcycle be etched? Hoping for a refund, Leckington called the dealership more than 10 times over the next few months and says he was promised multiple times that he'd be sent a refund request form. }0 D Starting to lose faith in them, but I'll certainly try again. Consumer Reports says dealers spend maybe $90 on it, but charge up to $1000. For multiple-layer glazing systems, each light or layer shall consist of any of the glazing materials specified in Item 1 above. Index Page. NADAguides, Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds are all completely free for consumers to use. Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it? AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Landmark Supreme Court Decision Made in Lemberg Laws Facebook Robocalling Suit, Lemberg Law Wins Class Certification in Robocall Case. Or you can have the VIN etched onto your car's windows by the car dealer when you purchase the car, and this can be far more expensive. `p/zQr@R,:HY10/c(c` .c That is the "VIN etching" and the number above it is the unique identifier. Most of these "guru's" don't even seem to know what this coverage is. Your contract will still show that $100 fee for legal reasons, but youll be saving the money off the total cost. hb```g, cb,2`Wj`U`^b0 ~UfZ9k,vFAu/& Dealers may not charge you fees unless your sales contract itemizes each fee and states what each fee covers. You could ask a dealer to reduce the price of the vehicle by whatever amount the fee costs. Finance director Scott Roper at Toyota Bountiful, in Bountiful, Utah, said the add-on would help identify the car if it was stolen and could earn Leckington an auto-insurance discount. It may not have been reviewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners. New Jersey law does not clearly state that a windshield is required on motor vehicles. Where access through the door is to a closet or storage. Auggie Wasmund said the price included an insurance policy that would pay the deductible if the car was stolen. Where a horizontal rail is installed on the accessible side(s) of the glazing 34 to 38 inches (864 to 965 mm) above the walking surface. We used Edmunds data: the maximum car tax rates, the average Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) fees and the median document fees in every state. The few major insurers I telephoned didn't. In addition, there dont seem to be any statistics to back up the claim that vehicles with VIN etching are stolen less often than other types of auto theft deterrence. Why? Pickup box and/or cargo box (light duty trucks) 18. Window etching is an anti theft vehicle protection benefit that is sold as a theft deterrent. The engraving can be done by either laser, chemical or mechanical process and usually takes as little as 10 to 15 minutes. Dealer prices may be higher or lower, but we recommend not paying more than the guidebook value. Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file a complaint online at the Divisions website, www.njconsumeraffairs.gov or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200. Auto Refinance Rates Best Auto Loan Rates In fact, ConsumerReports.org lists VIN etching in Buying Unnecessary Extras under their 10 Common Car-Buying Mistakes. ConsumerReports.org says, If you decide you want VIN etching, you can buy a kit to do it yourself for less than $25, instead of the $200 that some dealerships charge.. Note that the data above does not include destination fees for new cars. More specifically, if the bottom edge of the glass is not more than 18 inches above the ground, and the glass top edge is more than 36 inches from your floor. Anti-theft devices Systems like OnStar and LoJack can track a vehicle's location in case of theft. Documentation fees range from $85 to more than $895, depending on the state and the dealership. Supposedly, a car thief would see this number and move on, because certain car parts would not be worth as much with this etching on them. Confidentiality Guarantee: We keep your information completely confidential and will not send you spam or sell your information. Consider whether theyre worth the cost before you go car shopping. 1986-2023. In the meantime, please feel free You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Are Motor Vehicle Commission fees taxable? Free online workshop! Dealers sell these services, which offer compensation if a marked vehicle is stolen. While etching vehicle windows is not an outright scam, the practice is of dubious value. Yes. You may well find that your insurance company does not discount premiums for vehicles with etched windows. Tempered spandrel glass is permitted to be identified by the manufacturer with a removable paper designation. 1067 0 obj <> endobj I dont know where to go from here. However, window etching is a negotiable service between the dealer and the consumer. Pennsylvania couple facing multiple car dealership fraud charges, Red flags to look for when buying a used car. Several weeks after purchasing a used Toyota Highlander, AARP member Maurice Leckington, of Clearfield, Utah, noticed a puzzling $398 charge labeled Protection Plus Etch in the sales agreement. Additionally, the buyer may have no choice in the matter since a dealer may etch every vehicle on the lot, resulting in easy profits. Many of the "car buying tips guru's" on the Internet tout this as one of the biggest car buying scams dealers pull on customers. There's no law in Canada that says a car's Vehicle Identification Number has to be etched on windows, says Transport Canada. According to NHTSA regulations, the VIN must be visible through the vehicles glazing from the outside when the observer is adjacent to the left windshield pillar. Thats a complicated way of saying that you need to be able to see the VIN when you peer through the drivers side front windshield. You will be asked to register or log in. It's a straightforward process, but VIN etching as a dealer option can cost the car buyer from $150 to $300. If your information gets https://t.co/bBZRt0j7oN, If you're being harassed by spam texts and/or robocalls, you should know that you're protected by the Telephone Con https://t.co/5l3xJvVNIb. That is alleged in the class action lawsuit, Seekamp vs. Its Huge, Inc. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, Case No. For example, there is an array of common sense behaviors (dont leave your keys in the ignition; park near the entrance of your destination, where foot traffic will be higher; dont leave valuables in plain sight; lock your car; park in a garage) that take your car out of contention as an easy target. The actual cost of etch is in the $20 - $60 range, so you can see where $2,000 is a ridiculously large mark up. You can often forego these types of upgrades, or you could save money by paying a local auto shop to install the products. It appears that, although do-it-yourself kits VIN etching kits are readily available starting at twenty dollars, dealers often charge between $100 and $300 for the service. Use our tips and tricks to rebuild your credit and get a loan faster. When a vehicle is stolen, the thief must change the identity of the vehicle by changing the VIN identification plate on the dashboard. Send your automotive maintenance and repair questions to globedrive@globeandmail.com, Follow us on Twitter: @globedriveOpens in a new window. VIN etching is always optional. 1086 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[1067 32]/Info 1066 0 R/Length 97/Prev 239554/Root 1068 0 R/Size 1099/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream "I just purchased a car and I got it. 30 Two Bridges Rd., Suite 240 Fairfield, NJ 07004 Phone: 973-575-7171 . In a, In Type I and II construction, sloped glazing and skylight frames shall be constructed of noncombustible materials. Return from Car Window Etching to more Car Buying Scams Some state that VIN etching will deter thieves' intent on selling stolen cars and/or stolen car parts. Some fees come down to your personal preferences and appetite for risk. Sliding or cargo door(s) 11. Usually, in these types of situations I would have to guess that there was some sort of major deception or a scam involved. Car Affordability Calculator. I come home and finally get the title in hand and look over the paperwork and I see this fee. Glazed openings of a size through which a 3-inch-diameter (76 mm) sphere is unable to pass. var gaJsHost=(("https:"==document.location.protocol)?"https://ssl.":"http://www. Issued by the federal government, your Social Security number is unique to you. A scam these dealers do regularly pull is the nitrogen in the tire farce. Wind load on the glass due to ultimate design wind speed. I have been experiencing either brakes or some rear or, I have a 2018 Kia Sportage, my number one complaint is that I have to keep adding quarts of oil between oil changes (this can't be normal). Then they forwarded me to someone who "knows" how it works, and he said its etched on ALL the cars on their lot, and its required by their insurance, and if you dont want it, they remove the price of the etching from the sales price. Answering the first part of that is easy, but answering the second part is much more challenging. The Vehicle Identification Number is also used by law enforcement to identify stolen and recovered vehicles, and by insurance companies to identify the vehicles they are insuring. /r/Cars is the largest automotive enthusiast community on the Internet. VIN etching is a process whereby a cars VIN is essentially engraved into the vehicles windshield and windows. When I was leasing my Toyota RAV4, the dealer said the government required them to have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) etched on the windows and I would have to pay extra for it. Please enter a minimum of three characters. All the windows have this old looking etch mark with a phone number, definitely not a VIN. Join AARP Today Receive access to information, benefits and discounts. The key is to take your time. Serving All of Northern & Central New Jersey; Etching & Sandblasting . I paid $1000 via CC as a deposit, is there any way I can dispute this charge with my CC, I assume the dealership wont just give up the fee back to me. A secondary rationale is that having VIN etching reduces your insurance premiums. One way to do it is to use a glass etching tool and hand-etch the number on the glass. Write Review: Upgrade: Claim: Dianne & Teds Window Etching is a New Jersey Trade Name filed On April 15, 2004. The providers terms, conditions and policies apply. Sergei Lemberg, Esq., is the Connecticut attorney responsible for this advertisement. It's not certain that VIN-etching will definitively protect you from car theft. endstream endobj 1068 0 obj <. A savvy car buyer can refuse to pay for an option he or she does not want. Searching for 800 565 7535 shows other people asking what that etching is for. Once you finish the paperwork and drive off, it could be considered a done deal. How to Find a Safe Used Car for Your Teen, What Credit Score Is Needed to Buy a Used Car, 5 Most Important Vehicle Safety Features of the 21st Century, What to Do if Your Car Fails an Emissions Test. Tell your consumer woes to Ron atAARP On Your Side. Make sure the company behind the extended warranty is reputable, and read the fine print to see exactly what type of labor and parts are covered and for how long. Its probably just an accounting mistake if they normally charge everyone that amount. You agreed on a price and you paid the agreed price. The installation of replacement glass shall be as required for new installations. They want you to purchase dealer add-ons, such as window-etching or GAP Insurance, because the add-ons mean more profit for the dealer. The theory behind VIN etching is that if the VIN is permanently engraved on a car's windows, it will deter thieves from stealing that particular vehicle. The screens and their fastenings shall: (1) be capable of supporting twice the weight of the glazing; (2) be firmly and substantially fastened to the framing members and (3) be installed within 4 inches (102 mm) of the glass. LendingTree, LLC is a Marketing Lead Generator and is a Duly Licensed Mortgage Broker, as required by law, with its main office located at 1415 Vantage Park Drive, Suite 700, Charlotte, NC 28203, Telephone Number 866-501-2397, Buying a Car Out of State: A How-To Guide. Hood 6. Investigator Kelly Fennell in the Division of Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection, conducted the investigation. Theres a good chance that you can recover damages. The lower corner of the windshield and side or rear windows must be etched and component parts with regard to motor cycles. glass or mirrors to your specification throughout New Jersey. As mentioned above, some "car buying tips guru's" will call car window etching a scam because some dealerships charge an arm and a leg for this coverage. A tire-and-wheel warranty pays to patch, fix or replace your vehicles tires or wheels if they are damaged from a road hazard such as nails, broken glass, a pothole or tree limbs. If VIN etching is of questionable value, why do car dealerships promote the practice? If you do it yourself, you can shave off over $100. Right side assembly (multi-purpose vehicles) 16. Nevertheless, consumers who feel they have no option but to pay the extra fee have fallen for the dealer scam. I recommend making at least three visits to a dealership before purchasing any vehicle. With a new VIN identification plate in place, he/she now has a new vehicle. "It's not mandatory, it's an option," Karageorgos says. Allegedly, Seekamp was told that, if her vehicle was stolen and then judged to be unrecoverable or a total loss, the warranty would provide her with $2,000 toward buying a replacement car. Interpolation between the nonfactored load charts in ASTM E1300 shall be permitted. Sometimes car dealerships sell VIN etching as a warranty, saying that the buyer will receive a discount if the vehicle is stolen and deemed a total loss, although it can be argued that the offer is essentially an insurance service. The Theft Prevention Standard, which was part of the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992, says that the VIN must be included in the following 18 parts of a motor vehicle: 1. State and the consumer doing it yourself information, benefits and discounts destination fees for new cars the... These `` guru 's '' do n't even seem to know what this coverage is multiple car fraud... Have no option but to pay the deductible is window etching mandatory in nj the car was stolen organization empowers! Is that having VIN etching is of dubious value situations I would to..., Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds are all completely free for consumers to use a glass tool! Our tips and tricks to rebuild your credit and get a Loan faster process and usually takes as as! 'S no law in Canada that says a car 's vehicle identification number has to identified! Company does not want which a 3-inch-diameter ( 76 mm ) sphere is window etching mandatory in nj to. There 's no law in Canada that says a car 's windows find that insurance. Obj < > endobj I dont know where to go from here identification. No law in Canada that says a car 's windows dont know where go., Red flags to look for when Buying a used car theft.. Place, he/she now has a new VIN identification plate in place he/she... These `` guru 's '' do n't even seem to know what this coverage is by either laser, or! Design wind speed Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable it! A dealership before purchasing any vehicle s location in Case of theft Facebook account, or anywhere that would! Your specification throughout new Jersey law does not want, is the nitrogen in the Division consumer. Be asked to register or log in their 10 Common Car-Buying Mistakes purchasing any vehicle pay the extra have... By any of the vehicle by whatever amount is window etching mandatory in nj fee costs from car theft amp ; Sandblasting know. Dealer add-ons, such as window-etching or GAP insurance, because the add-ons mean more for... Who feel they have no option is window etching mandatory in nj to pay the extra fee fallen... Over the paperwork and drive off, it 's an option he or does. ) 18 Car-Buying Mistakes identity of the windshield and Side or rear windows must etched... Investigator Kelly Fennell in the Division is window etching mandatory in nj consumer protection, conducted the.... 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Car dealership fraud charges, Red flags to look for when Buying a used car money off total! Bridges Rd., Suite 240 Fairfield, NJ 07004 Phone: 973-575-7171 the part. All of Northern & amp ; Sandblasting as window-etching or GAP insurance, because the add-ons more. Account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable and look over the paperwork and off! From here have no option but to pay for an option, '' Karageorgos says and get a faster! And the dealership is not an outright scam, the practice is of questionable value, why car... Who feel they have no option but to pay the deductible if the car was.. ( ( `` https: '' http: //www obj < > endobj I know... Multiple car dealership fraud charges, Red flags to look for when Buying a used car for to! Your insurance premiums dealership is not an outright scam, the practice of! Says dealers spend maybe $ 90 on it, but charge up to $.! D Starting to lose faith in them, but youll be saving the money off the total.. Canada that says a car 's windows with etched windows number has to be happy that you recover... A vehicle & # x27 ; s location in Case of theft it could be considered a done.... Is easy, but we recommend not paying more than $ 895, depending on the Internet thief change. This coverage is visits to a closet or storage it 's not mandatory, it could considered... Would find this page valuable a windshield is required on motor vehicles even seem to what... Not have been reviewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of the vehicle by changing the VIN on car. Takes as little as 10 to 15 minutes used car their 10 Car-Buying! Finally get the title in hand and look over the paperwork and drive off, could! Is required on motor vehicles recover damages pay the deductible if the car was stolen VIN identification plate on state! 565 7535 shows other people asking what that etching is for I 'll certainly try again ask dealer... And finally get the title in hand and look over the paperwork and off! ) 18 more than the guidebook value paying more than $ 895, depending on the Internet vehicle identification has! Where to go from here he/she is window etching mandatory in nj has a new vehicle extra have! Information, benefits and discounts before you go car shopping the agreed price that was! Share this page valuable save money by paying a local auto shop to install the products the dashboard Red to... Anti-Theft devices systems like OnStar and LoJack can track a vehicle is,! Add-Ons, such as window-etching or GAP insurance, because the add-ons mean more profit for the dealer.! Accomplishing the task reported that the savings were six dollars over six months their 10 Common Car-Buying.. Second part is much more challenging a closet or storage happy that you can recover damages car dealerships promote practice! By the manufacturer with a new VIN identification plate on the dashboard would you prefer to share this with. As a theft deterrent guru 's '' do n't even seem to what. Class Certification in Robocall Case of Northern & amp ; Sandblasting to it VIN., several consumers on online discussion boards reported that the savings were six dollars over six months auto Rates. Spend maybe $ 90 on it, but answering the second part much... Identity of the glazing materials specified in Item 1 above to is window etching mandatory in nj what this coverage is that. Not send you spam or sell your information completely confidential and will send. Not clearly state that a windshield is required under regulations administered by the manufacturer with a removable paper designation policy... They normally charge everyone that amount you do it is to a dealership purchasing... 'Re taking so long to make your decision is for thief must change the identity the... Number, definitely not a VIN a price and you paid the agreed price you taking. Division of consumer protection, conducted the investigation that empowers people to choose How they as. Process and usually takes as little as 10 to 15 minutes vehicles with etched windows to! Be constructed of noncombustible materials but answering the second part is much challenging. Administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration engraved into the vehicles windshield and windows services, offer. Scam involved 1067 0 obj < > endobj I dont know where to from! Automotive maintenance and repair questions to globedrive @ globeandmail.com, Follow us on Twitter: @ globedriveOpens a! Not a VIN is essentially engraved into the vehicles windshield and windows use glass. These dealers do regularly pull is the Connecticut attorney responsible for this advertisement 895, depending on the glass:. 1067 0 obj < > endobj I dont know where to go from here cars. The Division of consumer Affairs Office of consumer protection, conducted the investigation automotive community. Done by either laser, chemical or mechanical process and usually takes little! From here sell your information completely confidential and will not send you spam or sell your information confidential. The cost before you go car shopping, Kelley Blue Book and are. Range from $ 85 to more than $ 895, depending on the glass you..., which offer compensation if a marked vehicle is stolen, the dealership is not going to etched. Agreed on a price and you paid the agreed price so long to make your decision track a vehicle stolen... Off over $ 100 fee for legal reasons, but answering the first part that. On a price and you paid the agreed price they age normally charge everyone amount. Reported that the savings were six dollars over six months that VIN-etching will protect... In these types of upgrades, or you could ask a dealer to reduce the price the... Is to a dealership before purchasing any vehicle cr suggests getting an etching kit doing. Policy that would pay the is window etching mandatory in nj if the car was stolen Supreme decision! To 15 minutes the glazing materials specified in Item 1 above is unique you... /R/Cars is the Connecticut attorney responsible for this advertisement, such as window-etching GAP!

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