Why blur out license plates?

[dentist90]

I am in the process of selling my Talon and placing ads out for it (yes, I did include the asking price ) When I printed photos and posted online I didn't edit the license plate numbers out, but I notice a lot of people posting pictures of their cars do. Why is this? What can a bad person do with this info?
Need to know if I shoudld edit my ads before someone steals my car's identity or something!

[ronster]

Originally Posted by dentist90

I am in the process of selling my Talon and placing ads out for it (yes, I did include the asking price ) When I printed photos and posted online I didn't edit the license plate numbers out, but I notice a lot of people posting pictures of their cars do. Why is this? What can a bad person do with this info?
Need to know if I shoudld edit my ads before someone steals my car's identity or something!

Your license plate number can be traced to your address via the DMV which, once learned, can be used to find out a lot more about you and your habits like when you leave and how long your gone. Your car can be tracked down for theft, your mail can be stolen for banking and credit card information...you get the picture.

[Zeke]

Sorry, did you search this? Been discussed many times.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by ronster

Your license plate number can be traced to your address via the DMV which, once learned, can be used to find out a lot more about you and your habits like when you leave and how long your gone. Your car can be tracked down for theft, your mail can be stolen for banking and credit card information...you get the picture.

Jeez, are you paranoid. The DMV hasn't allowed information like that for 10 years. Ever since that actress was stabbed to death.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by ronster

Your license plate number can be traced to your address via the DMV which, once learned, can be used to find out a lot more about you and your habits like when you leave and how long your gone. Your car can be tracked down for theft, your mail can be stolen for banking and credit card information...you get the picture.

wow, that's a lot of bad stuff!

I assume you drive around with your license plate covered to protect against that?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by milt

Jeez, are you paranoid. The DMV hasn't allowed information like that for 10 years. Ever since that actress was stabbed to death.

Is it possible to get information if you "know" someone in the DMV?

[dentist90]

Originally Posted by McLovin

wow, that's a lot of bad stuff!

I assume you drive around with your license plate covered to protect against that?

That's what I was thinking. I drive my cars around with the plates exposed to the great unwashed everyday. Perhaps if they find out where I live they will come look at it?

Sorry Milt, I am guilty of not searching. I will go do this now as I still don't have the answer.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by ronster

Your license plate number can be traced to your address via the DMV which, once learned, can be used to find out a lot more about you and your habits like when you leave and how long your gone. Your car can be tracked down for theft, your mail can be stolen for banking and credit card information...you get the picture.

This is correct if the license plate is registered to your person at home. Some of us have our vehicles registered to a trust that goes to a PO Box and good luck Charlie finding out anything about the owner other than a trust name.

[URY914]

I've taken the plates of my cars. Too much info being stolen.

[dentist90]

edit: did the search (I am properly chagrined). Trekkor asked this question just 6 months ago, except he was concerned about 'fuzzy' plates.
The concensus seems to be that there is no good reason to blur your own plates out. Feel free to search WCW 599 if you want to find me and test drive a well-maintained AWD sportscar!

[BeyGon]

Do a search somehow and find out when something actually happened, meaning someone got info and stole a car from home, or anything else that happened because someone posted a picture of their plates. If you are that paranoid you sure shouldn't park the car at a show or in a parking lot. I think it's urban legend.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by milt

Jeez, are you paranoid. The DMV hasn't allowed information like that for 10 years. Ever since that actress was stabbed to death.

Same in Oregon...gotta know somebody official or be official (cop) to get that info.

[RWebb]

wrong!

I can get info about you from your plates in Oregon - so can about a dozen other types of people including private investigators (who can work for any client).

You certify on a form that you have a proper purpose for the information - that's all. You can also make a blanket certification and look up large numbers of plates at the same time; IIRC it lasts for a year.

[BeyGon]

Originally Posted by RWebb

wrong!

I can get info about you from your plates in Oregon - so can about a dozen other types of people including private investigators (who can work for any client).

You certify on a form that you have a proper purpose for the information - that's all. You can also make a blanket certification and look up large numbers of plates at the same time; IIRC it lasts for a year.

Jeez, good thing I don't drive my car on the streets of oreegun.
But then nobody has ever broken into my garage, someone did steal one of my cars, off the street, if someone it going to steal it, it would be on the street.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by milt

The DMV hasn't allowed information like that for 10 years.

Maybe in Cali. In SC, all I have to do is fill out the proper form, pay $10, and I get a list of all known owners past and present, with addresses.

Still, blurring a plate on a car that gets driven on a public roadway.... makes no sense to me.

[Joe Bob]

Dumb.....plain dumb.....

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by BeyGon

Jeez, good thing I don't drive my car on the streets of oreegun.
But then nobody has ever broken into my garage, someone did steal one of my cars, off the street, if someone it going to steal it, it would be on the street.

- already ran your plates, bubba

don't answer the door