Is there really a law requiring window etching? Use our tips and tricks to rebuild your credit and get a loan faster. The bottom edge of the glazing is less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor. Consider whether theyre worth the cost before you go car shopping. 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. Auto Refinance Rates Deputy Attorney General Alina Wells in the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section of the Division of Law, is representing the State in this action. Issued by the federal government, your Social Security number is unique to you. One way to do it is to use a glass etching tool and hand-etch the number on the glass. Vehicles that have windshields are required to have working windshield wipers that clear rain, snow and other moisture from the glass to provide a clear viewing area. Where access through the door is to a closet or storage. You can avoid dealer fees by purchasing a vehicle from a private seller. Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file a complaint online at the Divisions website, www.njconsumeraffairs.gov or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200. 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. The suit alleges that Fuccillo Hyundai in Schenectady, New York, sold Seekamp a $295 warranty for VIN etching service. 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. var gaJsHost=(("https:"==document.location.protocol)?"https://ssl.":"http://www. If you look through yours, chances are good that youll see a narrow strip with the 17-character VIN. The basic fees are tax, title and license (TT&L) fees, but additional fees may apply depending on your state of residence. Short duration load resistance of the glass as determined in accordance with ASTM E1300 for Equations 24-2 and 24-3; or the long duration load resistance of the glass as determined in accordance with ASTM E1300 for Equation 24-4. The doc fee covers the cost of preparing and filing all the paperwork. 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. The Theft Prevention Standard, which was part of the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992, says that the VIN must be included in the following 18 parts of a motor vehicle: 1. Yes and no. Part of avoiding the purchase of a lemon is to learn what you can about the history of your potential car. If your information gets https://t.co/bBZRt0j7oN, If you're being harassed by spam texts and/or robocalls, you should know that you're protected by the Telephone Con https://t.co/5l3xJvVNIb. They also reported that anit-theft window etching helps increase vehicle recovery rates. The key is to take your time. There are also companies who mark vehicle windows -- either by etching or with stickers they say cannot be removed -- with their own numbers. I asked Toyota Bountiful's sales manager about the massive markup. Sliding or cargo door(s) 11. The primary rationale for VIN etching is that it is a theft deterrent. When its time to sign the final paperwork for your new car, chances are good that the words in the contract are blurring together and you just want to go home. Keep in mind that some etching kits are intended for a single use, while others give you everything you need to etch VINs in several places on each of two vehicles. Stripping away the unwanted add-ons could save hundreds, even thousands, off your total cost. to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Window etching is one of the more ridiculous scams auto dealers F&I folks have concocted over the years. The value for patterned glass shall be based on the thinnest part of the glass. It depends on who you ask," says Pete Karageorgos, Ontario Manager, Consumer & Industry Relations, with the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Unfortunately, I've seen this happen many times and it might surprise you as to how many people will see that their payment is the same as quoted on the sales floor and will sign away. Glass in elevator cars shall be in accordance with this section. The NHTSAs rationale is that a VIN is important for identifying vehicles that may be subject to recalls because of automotive defects. BUT, with a vehicle that has its window glass VIN etched, the thief . Your contract will still show that $100 fee for legal reasons, but youll be saving the money off the total cost. An alternative to buying protection products is to keep a rainy day fund; this way, the money stays in your pocket, not the dealers. Heres how to buy a car on Craigslist. The theory behind VIN etching is that if the VIN is permanently engraved on a car's windows, it will deter thieves from stealing that particular vehicle. 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. Note that the data above does not include destination fees for new cars. But taking one last look could save you money. Conceivably, charging customers for this is a way to increase car dealers profits at the time of the sale. For monolithic glazing systems, the glazing material of the single light or layer shall be laminated glass with a minimum 30-mil (0.76 mm) polyvinyl butyral (or equivalent) interlayer, wired glass, light-transmitting plastic materials meeting the requirements of. "It's not mandatory, it's an option," Karageorgos says. There are required fees, including those payable to your local or state government, and then there are add-ons that may or may not make sense, depending on your situation. Front bumper 12. The exception is that used cars do not have destination fees. Rear bumper 13. The justification is that an auto thief will be less likely to steal a vehicle with VIN etchings because it means replacing all the vehicles windows before the thief can sell the car, and that expense eats into the thiefs profit. Seekamp vs. Its Huge, Inc. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, Case No. For multiple-layer glazing systems, each light or layer shall consist of any of the glazing materials specified in Item 1 above. 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. With vin glass etching, you will be able to offer your customers added benefits of up to $5,000 for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance if their vehicle is stolen. 1067 0 obj <> endobj A number of NJ dealers add tons of "profit" items on cars totaling $1,200. Additionally, dealers sometimes add junk fees to the contract. 1098 0 obj <>stream This often means carrying as much insurance as one can afford. The engraving service is not required by the State of New Jersey. A call to the dealership confirmed that he'd been charged for glass etching a security add-on in which a code number, often the vehicle identification number (VIN), is etched into each of the vehicle's windows. Shop around before taking an offer. your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. Then, dealerships pass that cost on to you. Join AARP Today Receive access to information, benefits and discounts. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly Where required by other sections of this code, glazing shall be tested in accordance with CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201. Call Lem https://t.co/AbWZWqnjkW, Background check errors are common and costly, particularly for people with common names. Most companies that I see offering this coverage do not acid etch or engrave the vehicle, but simply put stickers on certain parts of the vehicle. Here is a state-by-state table showing the estimated amount you can expect to pay in required fees when purchasing a new or used car from a dealership. Nonfactored load in accordance with ASTM E1300. www.aarp.org/volunteer. That said, you will still have to pay any inspection, taxes and registration fees that your state charges. Investigator Kelly Fennell in the Division of Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection, conducted the investigation. While there are do-it-yourself kits on the market, controversy arises over the practice of car dealerships forcing customers to pay for a VIN etching service when they buy new cars. According to NHTSA regulations, the VIN must be visible through the vehicles glazing from the outside when the observer is adjacent to the left windshield pillar. Thats a complicated way of saying that you need to be able to see the VIN when you peer through the drivers side front windshield. LendingTree, LLC is a Marketing Lead Generator and is a Duly Licensed Mortgage Broker, as required by law, with its main office located at 1415 Vantage Park Drive, Suite 700, Charlotte, NC 28203, Telephone Number 866-501-2397, Buying a Car Out of State: A How-To Guide. Starting to lose faith in them, but I'll certainly try again. Leckington was certain he was never told about an insurance policy and had never received any supporting paperwork. 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. Systems like OnStar and LoJack can track a vehicles location in case of theft. You may well find that your insurance company does not discount premiums for vehicles with etched windows. 1986-2023. Documentation fees range from $85 to more than $895, depending on the state and the dealership. Please enter a minimum of three characters. The value of VIN etching as a theft deterrent doesnt appear to be backed up by statistics, but car dealerships routinely incorporate fees for VIN etching into new car purchases. No "registration" fees at your VIN does not change and they give you 10 etching stickers foa all your glass. You could try to get out of it by saying it's technically not THE VIN but they did etch it. All new cars have ID numbers all over the vehicle. This might cost you $20 or so. Used Car Financing Guide: Glossary of Terms, How to Protect Yourself from Airbag Fraud, What to Do if Your Car Gets Stuck in the Snow, What to Put in Your Winter Roadside Emergency Kit. VIN etching is a process whereby a car's VIN is essentially engraved into the vehicle's windshield and windows. This article was published more than 9 years ago. Do Fuel Additives Work and Can they Increase Gas Mileage? Finding the Best Value for Your Used Truck. Save money and time with the AARP Auto Buying Program. That said, you can help protect yourself from excessive bonus items the next time you're kicking tires. Subscribe to the AARP Money Newsletter for more on finances, scams and consumer protection. 1086 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[1067 32]/Info 1066 0 R/Length 97/Prev 239554/Root 1068 0 R/Size 1099/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream What's the issue? Sloped glazing shall be any of the following materials, subject to the listed limitations. The value for sandblasted glass is for moderate levels of sandblasting. The dealer isnt your only option for this type of insurance: Many companies, possibly including auto insurance providers, offer GAP. Etching is a fairly simple process that doesn't take very long. 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. Left side assembly (multi-purpose vehicles) 17. 9. . It may also include installing an anti-theft system, such as an alarm, to deter would-be thieves. Second, it makes more sense that other strategies would be more effective in deterring car theft. The lower corner of the windshield and side or rear windows must be etched and component parts with regard to motor cycles. VIN etching uses a variety of methods, commonly a stencil and an acidic etching paste, to engrave a vehicle's vehicle identification number . It is truly these little scams which result in auto dealers being so universally despised. 9. Failed to provide vehicle license plates, title and registration prior to the expiration of the temporary title and/or registration; Failed to provide consumers with title and registration to used motor vehicles prior to the expiration of temporary title and/or registration; Failed to pay off loans on trade-in vehicles in a timely manner; Offered a used motor vehicle for sale upon which there was an existing lien; Failed to refund overpayment of Motor Vehicle Commission fees; Failed to honor the price negotiated with the consumer; Offered for sale a used motor vehicle from a location other than the licensed location; Charged a New Car Tire Fee to a consumer purchasing a used motor vehicle; Charged a previously undisclosed Online Fee to a consumer purchasing a motor vehicle; Sold an additional product (etching) to consumers by representing that it was mandatory, when such was not the case; and. 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. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, "We are not aware of any provincial requirements for window etching of the VIN. Maximum load on the skylight determined from Equation 24-2. In fact, ConsumerReports.org lists VIN etching in Buying Unnecessary Extras under their 10 Common Car-Buying Mistakes. ConsumerReports.org says, If you decide you want VIN etching, you can buy a kit to do it yourself for less than $25, instead of the $200 that some dealerships charge.. On the other hand, what harm could it do? Piling on extras such as etching, undercoating and extended warranties is an American car-sales tradition with little chance of changing. Fees charged by your state or local government are mandatory and cannot be disputed. That being the case, where is it etched and for what reason? Dealers may not charge you fees unless your sales contract itemizes each fee and states what each fee covers. Description. Transmission 3. "Does etching work? 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. And if you find yourself with a lemon, then there are several things you can do yourself to protect yourself while you build a case against the dealership that sold you the car. If your biggest fix over several years is a $10 plug for a one-time flat, it may not be worth the price of the policy. As if buying a car isn't confusing enough, now there are sneaky consumer cons to watch out for. Sometimes, the fee for etching or these services are already printed on the sales agreement -- but you're free to turn it down. The team of innovative design and etching specialists at SpeedPro South Jersey offers distinct, custom glass etchings. See the jurisdictions in which our lawyers are licensed, admitted, or otherwise authorized to practice. Chapter 3 Use and Occupancy Classification, Chapter 4 Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy, Chapter 5 General Building Heights and Areas, Chapter 7 Fire and Smoke Protection Features, Chapter 15 Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures, 2404 Wind, Snow, Seismic and Dead Loads on Glass, 2409 Glass in Walkways, Elevator Hoistways and Elevator Cars, Chapter 25 Gypsum Board, Gypsum Panel Products and Plaster, Chapter 30 Elevators and Conveying Systems, Chapter 32 Encroachments Into the Public Right-of-Way, Chapter 33 Safeguards During Construction, Appendix C Group UAgricultural Buildings, Appendix E Supplementary Accessibility Requirements, Appendix L Earthquake Recording Instrumentation, Appendix M Tsunami-Generated Flood Hazard, The provisions of this chapter shall govern the materials, design, construction and quality of glass, light-transmitting ceramic and light-transmitting plastic. Common Car-Buying Mistakes money off the total cost consist of any of sale... 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