Hiding your Plates on Images posted on the Internet
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 669
From: Sandhills of NC
Rep Power: 58
OK, my wife and I have gone back and forth on this one, so I thought I'd put the question out to the group and get your thoughts on it.
Her Thought Process:
* Don't show your car with plates on the internet as it is a personal security issue as people can look up your personal info (address, etc) for either theft or other internet crimes.
My Thought Process:
* It doesn't matter is my plates show up on the internet because hundreds of people see my car/plates everyday on the road (and can/have take pictures if they so please) and therefore can initiate the same type of criminal activity just as easily.
Am I missing something? How careful are you about posting pictures of your car(s) with the plates being visible (not blurred/hidden)? If you do hide them, what is your reasoning?
Her Thought Process:
* Don't show your car with plates on the internet as it is a personal security issue as people can look up your personal info (address, etc) for either theft or other internet crimes.
My Thought Process:
* It doesn't matter is my plates show up on the internet because hundreds of people see my car/plates everyday on the road (and can/have take pictures if they so please) and therefore can initiate the same type of criminal activity just as easily.
Am I missing something? How careful are you about posting pictures of your car(s) with the plates being visible (not blurred/hidden)? If you do hide them, what is your reasoning?
I'm not sure about the rest of the country, but I know that here in NC some high-end auto dealers search the web to determine where the high-end cars are garaged (it may be through the DMV's website, it may not be - I'm not sure). They then know where to focus mailers, invitations to events, etc. I got that from a trusted employee at my servicing Porsche dealer. That being said, blocking your plate in a photo posted on the net seems somewhat futile.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,342
From: USA
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Anyone can "lurk" this forum or any other forum for that matter. Plenty of thieves posting boggus for sale ads have already been black listed over the years. As for hidding your plate, why risk it by not hidding it ?
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 485
From: Birmingham, MI
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Yeah and spend 2 hours waiting in line at the DMV to do so, I'd rather blur.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Vancouver
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Nope, 1 call to an insurance agent, no questions asked....instant new plate. In fact the most time this takes for me is the time to swap the plates.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 485
From: Birmingham, MI
Rep Power: 46
Why are you switching your plates so often? So your insurance company contacts the DMV and the DMV ships you new plates? So I'm assuming you'd be waiting for the DMV to ship them to you? I don't know how you'd get instant plates. Although I don't live in Vancouver.
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Posts: 8,875
From: Vancouver
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I haven't changed my plates at all, 5+ years on my Porsche, and 8 years on the Touareg. I am just saying, if you want to change them here, call an insurance agent, and he will bring me a set with in the hour, $20 fee, and no lines.
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From: California
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I have no basis for comment on whether that reflects real policies that lie behind their uh... policies. But I'll bet some of them are right.
Gary
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Posts: 2,154
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Setting aside the issues of 'security', which are a matter of personal comfort level, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the obvious. Many people have issues with insurance. This is particularly true of scenes with their car on track, but I suppose some of them even worry about including a picture of their plate along with discussions of any other use of our cars but taking the kids to school in a snowstorm.
I have no basis for comment on whether that reflects real policies that lie behind their uh... policies. But I'll bet some of them are right.
Gary
I have no basis for comment on whether that reflects real policies that lie behind their uh... policies. But I'll bet some of them are right.
Gary
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 396
Rep Power: 33
Setting aside the issues of 'security', which are a matter of personal comfort level, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the obvious. Many people have issues with insurance. This is particularly true of scenes with their car on track, but I suppose some of them even worry about including a picture of their plate along with discussions of any other use of our cars but taking the kids to school in a snowstorm.
I have no basis for comment on whether that reflects real policies that lie behind their uh... policies. But I'll bet some of them are right.
Gary
I have no basis for comment on whether that reflects real policies that lie behind their uh... policies. But I'll bet some of them are right.
Gary
/Agree
