What's the issue? The class-action lawsuit makes the argument that the New York State Insurance Department considers these services to be insurance policies, and that the law says sellers must be licensed to sell insurance in New York. All the windows have this old looking etch mark with a phone number, definitely not a VIN. How do Hydrogen Fuel Cells Stack Up Against the Competition? The States Complaint alleges that the dealerships: The initial violation of the Consumer Fraud Act carries a civil penalty to up $10,000, with each subsequent violation assessed at up to $20,000. Glazing 36 inches (914 mm) or more measured horizontally from the walking surface. The engraving can be done by either laser, chemical or mechanical process and usually takes as little as 10 to 15 minutes. Many of the "car buying tips guru's" on the Internet tout this as one of the biggest car buying scams dealers pull on customers. 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. `p/zQr@R,:HY10/c(c` .c Please enable Javascript in your browser and try Buying VIN etching from a dealer can be expensive. This might cost you $20 or so. If youre in the market for a used car and want to learn about its ownership and repair history, you use the VIN to research the car with a service like CARFAX. In the meantime, you are welcome to call us right away at 855-301-2100. They include any applicable taxes, registration charges and other fees required by law. Are Motor Vehicle Commission fees taxable? You can avoid dealer fees by purchasing a vehicle from a private seller. Note that the data above does not include destination fees for new cars. You can etch the VIN on your windows yourself by using an etching tool or an inexpensive glass-etching kit, which you can find online or at some autoparts retailers. If youre unsure about a certain fee, ask for information before you sign. Dealer prices may be higher or lower, but we recommend not paying more than the guidebook value. Now weigh the cost of the etching be it $20 or $200 or even more against the value of the insurance discount you will receive from having it done. Is there really a law requiring window etching? In structures where acid fumes deleterious to metal are incidental to the. Several weeks after purchasing a used Toyota Highlander, AARP member Maurice Leckington, of Clearfield, Utah, noticed a puzzling $398 charge labeled Protection Plus Etch in the sales agreement. The NHTSA also says that the VIN needs to be on a certification label (usually on the edge of the drivers door). Window etching used to involve the actual physical act of acid etching or engraving a serial number onto the windows, frame and other major components of a vehicle. That said, you can help protect yourself from excessive bonus items the next time you're kicking tires. A number of NJ dealers add tons of "profit" items on cars totaling $1,200. Front bumper 12. It appears that, although do-it-yourself kits VIN etching kits are readily available starting at twenty dollars, dealers often charge between $100 and $300 for the service. More specifically, if the bottom edge of the glass is not more than 18 inches above the ground, and the glass top edge is more than 36 inches from your floor. 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. A VIN is like a Social Security number or fingerprint for your car, and etching it on the windshield or other places can make it more difficult for thieves to resell your car or sell off the parts. Acting Attorney General Hoffman noted that this lawsuit is the third legal action brought this year against car dealers related to the sale of motor vehicles. 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. All in all, I think this is a good coverage, but you want to make sure that you are not over paying and you understand the exact coverage you are paying for. Total load on the glass as determined by Equations 24-2, 24-3 and 24-4. window sill is more than six feet above grade, or b) a hazardous condition exists necessitating the installation of window guards. Piling on extras such as etching, undercoating and extended warranties is an American car-sales tradition with little chance of changing. We have also seen many instances where a consumer is charged for VIN-etching for used cars even though the VIN had already been etched onto the windows before the dealership acquired the vehicle by trade-in or at auction. The top edge of the glazing is greater than 36 inches (914 mm) above the floor. Got a complaint? They apparently failed to provide a service valued at $400. Engine 2. Do Overinflated Tires Really Boost Gas Mileage? Answering the first part of that is easy, but answering the second part is much more challenging. Why? It is truly these little scams which result in auto dealers being so universally despised. 0 NEWARK The Office of the Attorney General and State Division of Consumer Affairs have filed suit against JDN AA, LLC, which operates Newton Audi and Newton Volkswagen, for alleged violations of the Consumer Fraud Act, Used Car Lemon Law and related regulations, and the Motor Vehicle Advertising Regulations in connection with its sale of motor vehicles. I think that is fair for the potential payoff in the event of a total loss. Jaguar Land Rover to Pay $26,500 for Lemon Law Violation. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. The doc fee covers the cost of preparing and filing all the paperwork. You could ask a dealer to reduce the price of the vehicle by whatever amount the fee costs. The engraving service is not required by the State of New Jersey. Nonfactored load in accordance with ASTM E1300. In Florida, the median doc fee is $895. 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 Any tips? lbh5k8RV(#Rq,we/HqA(xHI %% @By90UI9H>b`z0 "13;5'0J8B ^ How Does the CFPBs Debt Collection Rule Affect You? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The fees you may have to pay to a dealership when you buy a car can add up to 8% to 10% of a cars price; however, not all of these fees stay in the dealers wallet. Part of avoiding the purchase of a lemon is to learn what you can about the history of your potential car. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. There are kits that can be purchased for the "Do It Yourself'ers" out there and I believe they run in the $30 range. Theres a good chance that you can recover damages. 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. Like GAP insurance, you could look to your own bank or credit union dont feel pressured to buy through the dealer. Sometimes car dealerships sell VIN etching as a warranty, saying that the buyer will receive a discount if the vehicle is stolen and deemed a total loss, although it can be argued that it is essentially an insurance service. Join AARP Today Receive access to information, benefits and discounts. Pennsylvania couple facing multiple car dealership fraud charges, Red flags to look for when buying a used car. The firms main office is located at 43 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut. It may also include installing an anti-theft system, such as an alarm, to deter would-be thieves. 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. ", The law does require cars to be branded with their VIN -- a code unique to each vehicle -- but by the manufacturer, not the dealer. He may see a large decal that announces that the car has VIN etching and then avoid stealing it; if thats the case, it may be more valuable to have a decal than the actual etching. Car buyers may be surprised to find a charge for VIN etching on the list of fees for the purchase of their new vehicle. How Will My Credit Score Affect My Ability to Buy a Car? 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. Now they are saying that i still get the benefit of the etch because my car is covered for $2500 lost or theft coverage bc of this policy WTF. It's a good coverage for the right customer, but you'll want to be sure you're not getting raked over the coals to buy this anti theft vehicle protection. How to Find a Safe Used Car for Your Teen, What Credit Score Is Needed to Buy a Used Car, 5 Most Important Vehicle Safety Features of the 21st Century, What to Do if Your Car Fails an Emissions Test. LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). 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. 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. You will be asked to register or log in. 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. Getting a car loan after bankruptcy is definitely doable if you wait a little while. 09-cv-00018-LEK-DRH). Total glass thickness, inches (mm) of glass panes and plies. Make sure the company behind the extended warranty is reputable, and read the fine print to see exactly what type of labor and parts are covered and for how long. %%EOF The key is to take your time. They didn't charge you more than agreed upon. VIN etching is always optional. In addition, there dont seem to be any statistics to back up the claim that vehicles with VIN etching are stolen less often than other types of auto theft deterrence. Fully tempered glass installed without protective screens where glazed between intervening floors at a slope of 30 degrees (0.52 rad) or less from the vertical plane shall have the highest point of the glass 10 feet (3048 mm) or less above the walking surface. Conceivably, charging customers for this is a way to increase car dealers profits at the time of the sale. So now they are going to email me a form with all the info on it. Some information may no longer be current. "The Government of Canada does not require the Vehicle. Offered for sale a used motor vehicle by representing that it possessed title to the vehicle, when such was not the case. the etching looks like trash, and barely helps, im still annoyed at this. 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. 30 Two Bridges Rd., Suite 240 Fairfield, NJ 07004 Phone: 973-575-7171 . 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. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails I honestly don't know who would pay $2,000 for a benefit, that you "might" use, that will only pay $500-$1,000 more if a claim is filed. If you work or go to school in the United States, you almost certainly have a Social Security number. For example, if the dealer document fee is $800, you could ask the dealer to reduce the car price by $800. But taking one last look could save you money. Glass doors shall remain intact following a test impact at the prescribed height in the center of the door. However, if theres a $100 fee you dont like, you could ask the dealer to take $100 off the cars price. Newton Audi and Newton VW are located on Hampton House Road in Newton. VIN etching is a process whereby a car's VIN is essentially engraved into the vehicle's windshield and windows. Well help you differentiate between whats necessary and what isnt, and what to expect in your state. Return to Insider Car Buying Tips home Dealers are charging market adjustments fees over the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) that are not regulated and are completely negotiable. A more elegant way is to make a stencil of the VIN and use glass-etching paste to affix the number to your windows in unobtrusive places that wont hinder visibility. Notification in a lease or renewal lease satisfies one of the two required notices. Consumer Reports says dealers spend maybe $90 on it, but charge up to $1000. . Simply typing How do I etch the VIN on my car's windows? into Google will give you access to several VIN-etching kits and other information about accomplishing the task. It depends on who you ask," says Pete Karageorgos, Ontario Manager, Consumer & Industry Relations, with the Insurance Bureau of Canada. As we mentioned earlier, this can tack on about $1,000 to the cost of your car. 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. again. The value for sandblasted glass is for moderate levels of sandblasting. It's the next most expensive thing I own after my house.". Other times, however, a car dealership might disguise VIN etching as a warranty. VIN etching is a process whereby a cars VIN is essentially engraved into the vehicles windshield and windows. Left front fender 5. Seekamp vs. Its Huge, Inc. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, Case No. Once you finish the paperwork and drive off, it could be considered a done deal. Yes. 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