Maryland Law - Covering Vin number?

Question

In the state of Maryland. Is it legal or illegal to cover up the vin number located on the dashboard of a car or truck.

Please provide proof to your answer. Thanks

Answer 1

If one is trying to avoid repossession, the VIN number is stamped on parts all over the car like headlights (Mercedes), windows, inside fenders, underneath license plates (BMW), etc.

One can remove the VIN from every visible place and people can still find the VIN elsewhere; hence, covering the VIN is not a moving violation.

Answer 2

I doubt there is a specific provision that requires the dash VIN to be visible. I found an annotated version of the Maryland vehicle code online which I put in sources.

I read through a few sections and found nothing. The chances of it being against a law is slim, and the chance of this kind of law being enforced is also slim.

The risk is, as described by another answer, that if your vehicle is stolen it will be a little more difficult for you or the authorities to identify.

I also agree that the VIN is stamped all over your car. The engine block, the transmission case, etc. There's also a bar code in your door jamb that can be read with a barcode reader to get the VIN.

Are cars older than 1980 legal in Maryland? Those vehicles don't even have federally regulated VINs, so there would have to be an exemption from any law about VINs in the state. I doubt any exist.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

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Answer 5

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Answer 6

I don't know, but why would you want to cover it? If it gets stolen cops wouldn't be able to check it.