The rate of vehicle theft is rising annually. Stolen cars are frequently shipped abroad for resale or stripped down for precious components and materials. However, “re-vinning” is the most recent fate for stolen cars.
Despite an increase in incidents, fewer than half of Canadians are aware of this new criminal frontier, according to a recent research conducted by insurance company Aviva Canada. This is the reason why those who are looking to buy a secondhand car are having a hard time.
What is re-vinning?
Since 1981, each and every car sold in North America has been assigned a distinct VIN. The ownership permit and the dash on the driver’s side of the vehicle both bear this VIN.
Re-vinning is the process by which thieves alter the vehicle’s VIN to a false one in order to conceal the fact that it was stolen and make the car seem authentic. They take this action to facilitate the car’s resale within Canada.
How can re-vinning affect you?
An increasing number of Canadians are at danger when buying a used car because thieves are becoming more skilled at their craft, making it harder to determine when a car might be stolen. It might be quite problematic to register a car, renew your license plate permission, or file an insurance claim if your car has an erroneous or counterfeit VIN. It might potentially make your auto insurance void.
Since mechanics use the VIN to identify parts to order and diagnose difficulties, it might also result in serious maintenance problems.
Naturally, as it is stolen property, the car could be seized by the authorities at any time, leaving you without a car and without money.
How can you spot a re-vinned vehicle?
1. Get information such as the seller’s name, phone number, and identity when you meet up if you’re buying from a private seller.
2. Embrace your intuition. Could the offer be too good to be true? Is the seller open to meeting at an unusual location? Will they only take money? All these are warning signs.
3. Verify that the vehicle’s VIN and the accompanying documents match. To examine and confirm the vehicle, you might bring it to a reputable mechanic.
4. If you want to make sure the information is accurate, you should get an auto history report, which is similar to a credit history check for your vehicle.
5. Make sure to get the used car information package if your province provides one. For instance, in Ontario, purchasers can purchase a package, but sellers are legally obligated to give it to them.
6. If you’re purchasing from a dealership, verify the dealer’s licensing status and look up any past infractions by running their information through the dealer regulatory website for your province.
Learn more about protecting yourselves from re-vinning at https://newscanada.com/en/The-latest-threat-to-your-vehicle—and-what-you-can-do-about-it-138388
Refrence: https://newscanada.com/
