This is for a smartphone app that allows you to snap a picture of the VIN on a vehicle and instantly get a CarFax report on it, as well as owner and expert reviews for the year/make/model.
-- 21 Quest, Jan 01 2010

One of many UK services http://www.cartextcheck.co.uk/
Uses reg. number, not VIN, though. [MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 01 2010]

Carfax Vehicle History Reports http://en.wikipedia...cle_history_reports
[21 Quest, Jan 01 2010]

I don't know if this is what you mean, but in the UK you can text a registration number (licence plate number), and get information on the model, value etc. A more detailed report (eg, outstanding finance, crash history) can also be had, but I think you pay more for that.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 01 2010


Sounds similar, Max. Got a link, though? I'm not really sure if there's something like that on this side of the pond. Only trouble with that is that most vehicles in used car lots don't have tags on them, and the VIN makes it harder to simply swap out hot plates. The picture ability also makes it quicker and more convenient.
-- 21 Quest, Jan 01 2010


My phone has an application that lets me take a picture of a business card, then OCRs it to turn the thing into a contact. It does a very credible job, too.

That said, I think this would be very straightforward albeit fairly specialized.
-- phoenix, Jan 01 2010


//Got a link, though?// No, but it's advertised frequently on TV here. If I see the ad and remember, I'll post details.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 01 2010


Also, Googling "car text licence value" threw up various links, including the one I've linked here.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 01 2010


//think// - [21], I think what the ballistic bread griller means is, imagine somebody snaps a picture of the VIN of *your* car, which didn't happen to be for sale. Privacy issues?
-- lurch, Jan 01 2010


The VIN is already visible to anyone passing by. This just makes it easier and quicker to get the information that's already available to the public.
-- 21 Quest, Jan 01 2010


More than anyone needs to know. Too many nuts on the road.
-- outloud, Jan 01 2010


How could anyone use a Carfax report in a manner harmful to the owner?
-- 21 Quest, Jan 01 2010


okay, guess I misread it: I thought a CarFax would include all owners' personal info. anno deleted.
-- FlyingToaster, Jan 01 2010


//but in the UK you can text a registration number (licence plate number)//

I remember using one called mtxtreg.co.uk. It's a bit daft though, all the company does is check the DVLA info, so you can just surf to the DVLA website yourself.

In the US however, the number plates do not stay with the car for life. Number plates are kind of a tax/reg combo. Cars move states and so on fairly frequently, so the plates have to change. The VIN is probably to most solid number to go off. I remember I had a nightmare finding the VIN on the motorcycle I was buying. Turns out they stamp the # on the head tube, which was buried behind the fairing, under the fuel tank with half a wiring loom in front of it.
-- bs0u0155, Feb 23 2016



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