It is a 17-character alphanumeric that is unique to each car. Best Auto Loan Rates Some information may no longer be current. That theory is certainly plausible, but there is little empirical proof that it is true. Consumer advocateRon Burleywrites the On Your Side column for AARP and is the author ofUnscrewed: The Consumer's Guide to Getting What You Paid For. It depends on who you ask," says Pete Karageorgos, Ontario Manager, Consumer & Industry Relations, with the Insurance Bureau of Canada. These statements are not always true. Glazed openings of a size through which a 3-inch-diameter (76 mm) sphere is unable to pass. Pennsylvania couple facing multiple car dealership fraud charges, Red flags to look for when buying a used car. I was getting a good price for the truck so I didn't care and wanted to be done with the search fo a Maverick. What you are really buying is a warranty coverage that will pay you cash if the vehicle is stolen and not recovered within a certain amount of time, usually 30 days. 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. This is where I think you're correct, I did agree to the OTD price, which is OK with me. receive communications related to AARP volunteering. Thread starter #1 I have never purchased window etching but the dealership insisted. You can often forego these types of upgrades, or you could save money by paying a local auto shop to install the products. It's a good coverage for the right customer, but you'll want to be sure you're not getting raked over the coals to buy this anti theft vehicle protection. Auto Payment Calculator Car dealers may add hundreds of dollars to the sale of a vehicle for VIN etching, which costs the dealership a fraction of that amount. In structures where acid fumes deleterious to metal are incidental to the. Glazing shall comply with the test criteria for Category II, unless otherwise indicated in Table 2406.2(1). Rear door(s), decklid, tailgate, or hatchback. Section 115 of the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) requires that the manufacturer mark the VIN onto vehicles "clearly and indelibly and in such a manner that it cannot be removed without damaging or defacing the plate, label or vehicle". "We are not aware of any provincial requirements for window etching of the VIN. Of course, there is no guarantee that the dealer will agree to the price reduction. Confidentiality Guarantee: We keep your information completely confidential and will not send you spam or sell your information. Seekamp vs. Its Huge, Inc. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, Case No. Write Review: Upgrade: Claim: Dianne & Teds Window Etching is a New Jersey Trade Name filed On April 15, 2004. Left side assembly (multi-purpose vehicles) 17. This is a bit counterintuitive. While the real-world benefits of VIN etching as a theft deterrent are difficult to ascertain, it is somewhat easier to determine if doing it is worth the cost. Save money and time with the AARP Auto Buying Program. Do Overinflated Tires Really Boost Gas Mileage? www.aarp.org/volunteer. You could ask a dealer to reduce the price of the vehicle by whatever amount the fee costs. Dealerships handle much of the process on your behalf, and rules vary by state. I honestly don't know who would pay $2,000 for a benefit, that you "might" use, that will only pay $500-$1,000 more if a claim is filed. I agreed on that price, but I dont believe thats OK given I technically paid for a service that I did not receive. Use our tips and tricks to rebuild your credit and get a loan faster. Fees charged by dealers are allowed by law but must be uniform. BUT, with a vehicle that has its window glass VIN etched, the thief . Newton Audi and Newton VW are located on Hampton House Road in Newton. If the window is bigger than 9 square feet, you will have to use tempered glass for it. CR suggests getting an etching kit and doing it yourself. The actual cost of etch is in the $20 - $60 range, so you can see where $2,000 is a ridiculously large mark up. VIN etching is the engraving of the complete Vehicle Identi-fication Number (VIN) in the lower corner of the windshield and on each side or rear window of a new car, used car, or leased car. Yes and no. In Florida, the median doc fee is $895. }0 D 09-cv-00018-LEK-DRH). Auggie Wasmund said the price included an insurance policy that would pay the deductible if the car was stolen. Left rear quarter panel (passenger cars) 15. 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. Sergei Lemberg, Esq., is the Connecticut attorney responsible for this advertisement. For glass sloped more than 30 degrees (0.52 rad) from horizontal. Sliding or cargo door(s) 11. Shop around before taking an offer. They include any applicable taxes, registration charges and other fees required by law. There are also companies who mark vehicle windows -- either by etching or with stickers they say cannot be removed -- with their own numbers. Some fees are required by law, and dealers must disclose what theyre charging. The most effective way to do this is to call your insurance company and ask. 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. There are also myriad devices you can use, such as car alarms, steering wheel locks, smart keys, and hidden switches. A specific, identifiable set of numbers is permanently etched into all primary window glass areas, either by sandblasting or a chemical process; ii. Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it? 1098 0 obj <>stream That is alleged in the class action lawsuit, Seekamp vs. Its Huge, Inc. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, Case No. %%EOF 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. The bottom edge of the glazing is less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor. You can expect to pay 8% to 10% of the cars price in fees. This article was published more than 9 years ago. Do Fuel Additives Work and Can they Increase Gas Mileage? lbh5k8RV(#Rq,we/HqA(xHI %% @By90UI9H>b`z0 "13;5'0J8B ^ The States Complaint alleges that the dealerships: The initial violation of the Consumer Fraud Act carries a civil penalty to up $10,000, with each subsequent violation assessed at up to $20,000. But, first things first. There are kits that can be purchased for the "Do It Yourself'ers" out there and I believe they run in the $30 range. Depending upon the dealers policies, this could cost you $200 or more. You could try to get out of it by saying it's technically not THE VIN but they did etch it. Negotiating the price of a car doesnt have to be a stressful experience. Dealers may offer these services as an upgrade, while others automatically add them to cars for sale. 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. Anyone that parks their vehicle in a high theft area. VIN etching is also the engraving of the VIN on motorcycle component parts. That is false. For multiple-layer glazing systems, each light or layer shall consist of any of the glazing materials specified in Item 1 above. 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. A secondary rationale is that having VIN etching reduces your insurance premiums. One or more walking surface(s) are within 36 inches (914 mm), measured horizontally and in a straight line, of the plane of the glazing. The theft deterrent comes from the visibility of this serial number on windows and/or a sticker claiming the vehicle has this anti theft vehicle protection. Federal law requires that the VIN be visible on all cars and that it be stamped on many parts of each vehicle. Consumer Reports says dealers spend maybe $90 on it, but charge up to $1000. Please enter a minimum of three characters. 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). Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, Because the window etching will require the thief to replace the cars windows before selling the car, and because it will prevent the thief from selling the auto glass itself. I recommend making at least three visits to a dealership before purchasing any vehicle. Stripping away the unwanted add-ons could save hundreds, even thousands, off your total cost. Some content provided by and under copyright by Autodata, Inc. dba Chrome Data. Five Ways to Save Money on Gas Using Mobile Apps. The value for patterned glass shall be based on the thinnest part of the glass. Unscrupulous car dealers may tell consumers that the etching will lower their insurance rates or provide them with certain benefits from the car manufacturer if the vehicle is stolen. Is the used car you bought actually two cars? Short duration load on the glass as determined in accordance with ASTM E1300. . `p/zQr@R,:HY10/c(c` .c Cars are typically stolen for one of four reasons: to profit from selling the stolen car intact; to profit from selling the cars parts individually; to provide a getaway car for another crime; or to joyride. The team of innovative design and etching specialists at SpeedPro South Jersey offers distinct, custom glass etchings. Investigator Kelly Fennell in the Division of Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection, conducted the investigation. Glass in elevator cars shall be in accordance with this section. If VIN etching is of questionable value, why do car dealerships promote the practice? 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. Some recommend that you have the VIN etched on your vehicle's windshield and windows. NJ Vehicle(s) Aviator, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee Trim XLT Oct 14, 2021. 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. Alternately, a car dealer might include it as a line item on the bill of sale, implying that VIN etching is required. Sloped glazing shall be any of the following materials, subject to the listed limitations. All in all, I think this is a good coverage, but you want to make sure that you are not over paying and you understand the exact coverage you are paying for. Anti-theft devices Systems like OnStar and LoJack can track a vehicle's location in case of theft. 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. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. 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. Nonfactored load in accordance with ASTM E1300. If your vehicle were stolen and not recovered within 30 days you'd be paid $2,500. This often means carrying as much insurance as one can afford. This coverage will offer a cash benefit, paid to the policy holder, in the event the vehicle is stolen and not recovered. 9. Why you should skip it If you'd. It's the next most expensive thing I own after my house.". If youre buying a new car, you can expect to pay the destination or freight charge to cover its transportation from the manufacturer to the dealer. Some recommend that you have the VIN etched on your vehicles windshield and windows. Our tips and tricks to rebuild your credit and get a Loan faster that would pay the deductible if car... Glass for it theft area that it be stamped on many parts of vehicle... 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