Why do people block-out their number plates?

[Doug-SRidirect]

Maybe I'm thick, but why do most people block-out all or part of their number plates when they post photographs to this (and other) sites?

Viewing cars on web sites, where no name, address or any other details are known is surely no different to seeing a car "on the road".

Or have I missed something? I was about to post some of my own, but am hanging on in case I too have to blot-out my plate!

Doug

[Green Growler]

It's just a precaution m8, for example, a lot of cars have been cloned simply to avoid the London congestion charge, if you wanted to do this and at least get the make, model and colour right, the internet is a very, very easy place to get this information.

[Doug-SRidirect]

Yes, but surely I could do this with any car I see on the road.

If I was a cloner, I think it would take no longer than ten minutes to find a similar car to mine if I drove in busy traffic.

Doug

[simonali]

That's kinda why I do it. If someone happened to have a similar car to you they could 'borrow' your plates and get up to no good. Speed cameras, filling with fuel and driving off without paying, bank robbery getaway car etc!

[kitchpoo]

I've never seen the piunt in blanking out plates, as you say - its easy enough to clone a car without all the hassle - A tip I had recently was when you put your car in a long stay car park - tuck your numberplates in the boot - its not uncommon to find your plates missing on your return 1 or 2 weeks later - whilst someone has been getting round the congestion charge.

All our company cars are identical and sequentially numbered - Maybe I should get a set made with a work colleague's numbers!

[Green Growler]

Yes, but surely I could do this with any car I see on the road.

If I was a cloner, I think it would take no longer than ten minutes to find a similar car to mine if I drove in busy traffic.

Doug

Yes m8, of course this is true, but it still makes it easy for people, if they have a specific model all they got to do is find the owners club online and they can take their pic.
It's not essential, just personal preference and most people/sites tend to do it.

[Duncan]

Basically it's common courtesy. If you're not bothered about your plate showing on any pics you post then obviosuly that's up to you. Other people may have concerns and so it's the courtesy, on this site and many others, to blank the plates.

You're quite right - anyone can see your plate in the street and jot it down/clone it or whatever. But bear in mind that having it on a website means that it's potentially viewed by a huge audience, some who may be viewing for alterior reasons. If someone wanted to find a suitable clone registration for their 54 plate, silver lightning, 2.2 SRi Vectra C, what better place to find a plate that matched that exact spec than a vectra C forum where thay can do it from the comfort of their chair! You see what I mean?

D

[black-sri-150]

hi guys

on a more worrying note it is possible to get owners details from the DVLA on request, you can print a form off on line, fill it in, and send a cheque off. You do have to say why you want the details but anyone with half a mind can do it.

somthing to think about eh

[cyb]

Speaking for my wife who has had her number plate cloned and recieved a parking ticket and other stuff for places she / we have never been.... its not the cloning its all the hassle that follows sorting, posting letters explaining its wasn't you etc.
I'm not worried about seeing my / our number plate on the www but anything that makes life little harder for those who do this has to be worth it.

[Ste]

Another reason is some people may claim to have done things that are illegal (eg top speeds etc), following links to number plates could give the old plod an easy line of enquiry.