Should I give out my VIN?

I'm about to purchase a replacement tailgate from a company that will paint it the correct factory color. They need my VIN to match up the paint color. Here's my question...

Does anyone have a valid reason to NOT give this company my VIN number? What could someone do with it if it got into the wrong hands? Is this common? Can't I simply give them the color name (Cobalt Blue Pearl) and the code (8K6)? Why would they need the entire VIN?

Thanks.

 

If they wont do it with that info find someone else.

 

They can't do anything with it...Dealerships use VIN to match parts and stuff all the time.
If the price is good- Go for it.

 

They said they will still paint it, but they can't guarantee the correct color. Something about how there are several color variations in the same calendar year with different manufactured dates. That's news to me. According to this link there was only one color code for that year of Cobalt Blue.

 

True, I trust dealerships with my VIN though.

 

Your VIN shows on your registration sticker (in most state) and can bee seen on dash from outside the vehicle.

Not really a secret worth keeping.

 

this...

and if your going to trust a dealership..why not another business..any business can have a bad employee.

 

Yeah, I suppose. I just wanted to get your opinions on this. Thanks for the help.

 

It's like people blurring out their license plates when they post pics. What's the point? We drive around with our license plates in plain view all day long.

Fink

 

I say go for it, don't see any harm in giving VIN. You can always look the business up on the BBB and check for a bad score or complaints before you move forward though.

 

Even with the same color code there can be variations within an individual color, sort of like how fabrics have a "dye lot" I believe different batches of the same color code paints have a similar issue. I have a pearl white G35 coupe and its really difficult to get any repainted portion to match perfectly with the original color.

 

Thanks everyone for putting my mind to ease. moving forward....

 

yeah, don't worry about it. you can get VIN numbers for most cars that are advertised online at autotrader.com. they can't really do anything with it unless they want, but if that's the case there's nothing you can do unless you're in your truck 24/7.

people make mistake all the time with paint codes and i'm sure they do this just to cover themselves to ensure a correct color match.

 

I agree for the vin number being not important because it is on the dash of a lot of cars. As for blurring out the license plates ...there is no point for most but for the guys who carry concealed weapons or have hidden expensive stereo gear... you dont want people who lurk to know where you live so they can jack you when youre parked at home...

 

People only blurr out license plates to keep people from tracing the plates, finding out where they live, and coming to steel their car... Not likely, but thats the only reason I could see.

 

That is definitely their concern, but you would have to have access to an NCIC terminal to run the plate. Hell, it was even tough for us in dispatch to get accurate info when we needed it.

No sense in taking this thread on a spiral, though.

Fink

 

^^ This is why I blurr my license plate number. As far as any one lurking on the internet can tell, I drive a white Tacoma that's located somewhere in New England. If they have my plate number, they can now see where I live and, because of build threads on sites like this, know exactly what's inside the truck, which accessories have been added and possibly how it's been wired in. Not to say I can't be found but I at least want to make it more difficult.

 

Props to you both for a valid point.

Garages FTW, eh?

Fink

 

Mine's too small for the Tacoma

It's packed with construction materials from my house renovation, motorcycle, lawn care stuff and a loaner table saw right in the middle. Eventually it will be cleaned out enough to where my girlfriend's car will fit but the Tacoma is too long. Garages FTW if you have one!

 

having a piece of shit truck nobody would bother stealing(besides the cat) ftw.