And yes, for peace of mind and security, the $20 to $25 you spend on it is worth it, for the etching is permanent. A $400 charge means the dealership marked up the cost of the service by 1600 percent. Don't worry about the glass etching itself. 4.1 out of 5 stars 2. If you opt for the UV VIN tags, the kit will also come with ultra violet paint to put the VIN number on the inside of the body panels. If you want to have VIN etching done to your vehicle, you can buy a do-it-yourself VIN etching kit on the internet for about $20-30. VIN etching cost. What is Find the Best Car Price and Why is it Free? Ultraviolet VIN number labels can also be placed on various body panels, making it more difficult for thieves to get away with selling stolen parts. Angie's List states that car dealers and local police departments often provide etching service. VIN etching is a very simple, low cost way to deter thieves. If the VIN has been etched into the vehicle’s glass, the criminals usually have to spend the time and money to get the windshield and windows replaced – negating much of the profit they’ll receive from reselling the vehicle. VIN etching is also the engraving of the VIN on motorcycle component parts. Prevent Car Theft - SecureVIN is a complete kit to allow you to etch your. VIN etching, as it's commonly known, can be a cost-effective method for doing this if your vehicle did not come with the windows marked already. Car dealers may charge $300 and up for etching! Must my vehicle/motorcycle be etched? Save money on your auto insurance. You may well find that your insurance company does not discount premiums for vehicles with etched windows. Regardless of how you get it done, VIN number etching is an easy way to deter car thieves, and save some money on your insurance. If you can’t get them to waive this fee, simply take your business to another dealership. Moreover, charging $398 for a procedure an owner can do with an $18 kit from Amazon seems a bit cheeky. These come with a custom stencil of your vehicle’s VIN number and a mild acid solution to etch the number into the glass. Using a mild acid paste and six computer cut stencils, VIN etching consists of cleanly, professionally, permanently and discreetly etching your car or truck Vehicle Identification Number on six of your vehicles windows (front, back and four side windows). Front ¾ vehicle photos © 1986-2021 Autodata, Inc. dba Chrome Data. Etching the VIN on all windows of the vehicle would make the vehicle unsuitable to be cloned or VIN switched without first replacing all windows of the vehicle; I.E. That’s a $17.95 value.   Check your local laws before you head to the dealership, and be sure to question any amount much more than that. Because of this, some auto insurance companies offer discounts on comprehensive insurance or waive insurance deductibles for vehicles that are protected by VIN etching. This fits your . Presidents Day Weekend Car Sales [2021 Edition], Best 0% APR Financing Deals For January 2021, Best Deals on New Cars Under $20,000 for January 2021, Coronavirus Car Payment Assistance Programs. Most insurance companies offer a discount for anti-theft devices. This discount is on your comprehensive portion of your insurance policy and is usually 15%. VIN etching is the engraving of the complete Vehicle Identification 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. And, because Connecticut state law permits the dealer to preprint the charge directly on the contract, many consumers do not even notice that they have been charged for this service. VIN etching discounts may reduce rates by up to $11.90/mo. VIN etching also aids in the recovery of a vehicle if it is stolen. The problem here is cost: Most dealers charge you $300 or more for the feature while do-it-yourself kits are often $50 or less. So VIN etching is definitely worth the dealer add-on, right? 99. This in turn, allows the insurance company to recover more of the money they just paid you. The VIN is a 17-character serial number which is unique to every vehicle and can be found in several different places on the car. The VINetcher kit can pay for itself many times over thanks to the money you may save on your comprehensive insurance premiums. There are two different technologies used in this trade, namely; etching, and engraving. In Connecticut, for example, dealerships are required … Your first vehicle is only $18. If you want to have VIN etching done to your vehicle, you can buy a do-it-yourself VIN etching kit on the internet for about $20-30. Be sure to select number of vehicles to etch and carefully enter your VINs on separate lines in the box. 6. VIN etching is a process that involves an acid etching of your vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number onto a windshield, or side window. Get a price in less than 24 hours. By etching all the windows on a vehicle with the VIN the thief then has to replace and dispose of marked glass. Also, if your car is stolen, police will have an easier time identifying and recovering your vehicle -- even if the VIN plate is missing -- since the VIN is now available on multiple parts of your vehicle. They’ll put your vehicle’s VIN on the windshield, back glass, and side windows. Check out our VIN Etching Kits on sale for $14.95.. Our new Glass Etching Kits let you put your artwork on glass in minutes.. How to Tell if a Used Car has Flood Damage. Afantti Electric Micro Engraver Pen Mini DIY Engraving Tool Kit for Metal Glass Ceramic Plastic Jewelry with Scriber Etcher 30 Bits and 8 Stencils. First of all, some people question the value of this service in the first place. While etching vehicle windows is not an outright scam, the practice is of dubious value. $19.99 $ 19. It’s often an option when you purchase a car from a dealership, but be wary — prices vary widely, and some dealerships charge hundreds of dollars for the service. Dealerships typically offer VIN etching on new cars, but this option tends to be pricey ($200 or more). The same statistics also prove that cars actually stolen that have VIN Etching are recovered 60% to 85% more often and returned to their owners than non-VIN Etched cars. Consumers may spend perhaps $100 or more for a service that costs the dealership perhaps $10 – $20 to perform. One of our domain experts will have a price to you within 24 business hours. $4.49 shipping. Choosing one or the other depends on personal preferences, machine selected, and also the kinds of surfaces you will be working on. Personally I find VIN etching to be more trouble than it's worth. The thief sees the etching and then moves to an easier vehicle. That is just about what you would pay if you were to do it yourself. VIN Engraving Vs. Etching. Conveyance or documentation fee: This covers the cost of the dealer handling the paperwork. It's a misleader!!! automobile/vehicle VIN number onto your vehicle's windows. If they’re investigating a suspected ‘chop shop’, they’ll be able to trace any stolen parts back to your vehicle. Don’t pay for this, instead…. Many studies have proven the effectiveness of VIN etching at reducing the likelihood of auto theft. Bottle Etchall ® Etching Cream W/ Applicator Brush 8-Stencils with YOUR VIN Number Imprinted On Each Stencil By Us 2-Warning Decals so Thieves Know Your Car is Protected 1-Rubber Glove for Etching Hand 1-Sponge for Clean Up 1-Alcohol Wipe Packet for Cleaning Glass 1-Insurance Certificate for Your Premium Refund Stolen vehicle’s are valuable for three reasons: As passive as it is, VIN number etching can actually save you money on your insurance. While many car dealers charge up to $250 to provide this service, ‘VINetcher’ offers a Do-It-Yourself Kit for $24.95 + shipping and handling. Only 2 left in stock - order soon. The idea is to deter vehicle theft by limiting the thief’s ability to sell a stolen vehicle, or its parts. Where to get a VIN etching and cost. But, most dealerships charge well over $100 for the service, and $189 seems to be the going rate in Connecticut; some dealerships charge even more. When a vehicle is stolen to be resold, the first things thieves generally do is remove the VIN so the car can’t be identified. The Etch-O-Matic Marking System is an inexpensive alternative to laser etching and laser engraving. GT Scratch Hog. But, it doesn’t cost a dealership nearly that much to perform this “service”, and consumers can buy a … More importantly, however, VIN etching only costs the dealer less than $25. There are several ways to get VIN etching done on your vehicle, including: Dealer – In many cases, when you purchase a new vehicle, the dealer will offer a certain number of VIN etchings for free as part of the purchase. It also won’t stop the large percentage of thieves who simply steal vehicles for a joy ride. VIN Etching may be the most profitable add-on that a car dealership offers. 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