please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

[tmenges]

Hi,
I have a boat that i have in the paper for sale, i got an email and they wanted my vin numbers on the boat, motor and trailer. Should i give this out? they said they need it for loan value, but i dont know why they want it? i would really appreciate some advice
thanks
tammy

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

I got the same questions when I sold my truck and then again my boat on ebay. I really don't see the harm in giving it out, if they want it for some mishievious reason, they are just going to find a boat left alone and write it down. Just my two cents worth.

Chris

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

I wouldn't give it to them. If they show enough interest in the rig to come put a deposit on it, and provide their own personal information, then I see no harm in it. Otherwise it just reeks of an attempt to get info that could be used to falsify info for another (possibly stolen) boat.

I also think the line about needing the info to get an insurance quote is bunk.

 

[tmenges]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

thanks everyone, it just freaked me out, they wanted all the vin numbers and it just seemed real wierd to me. i sent them the iboats value and 30 pics of the boat and motor, if they are interested i guess they will come in person and look.

 

[thunder219]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

I was going to go in half on a boat a couple of years ago and the bank wanted all the numbers from the motor,outdrive, and the hull.We went and got the numbers because they said they wont even process the loan with out it.After the second trip the previous owner started asking the same questions you are. after that I just paid for the whole thing because I didnt want to wait on the other person to get financed.

 

[cordell]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

They want the VIN number to do accident and major repair reports. Nothing odd about it just doing research on a investment.

cordell


http://www.boathistoryreport.com/

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

Maybe they did have a legit reason but I would still be reluctant to give info to someone who hadn't even come to look at the boat. Why would a person go through all of the trouble to shop bank loans, insurance a research a boat history when they hadn't even seen it. For all they knew, it could be something that they turned out to have no interest in.

This one still smells to me.

 

[Fu-Inator]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

I don't see any problem with giving out the numbers. My bank wanted numbers to start the loan process, plus there are "BoatFax" type of websites. I'm kind of the opposite opinion, if a seller would not give me numbers, I would think he/she is hiding something.

If your uncomfortable, maybe ask them why they want them.

 

[stevenw00]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

I'm always going to run the numbers to make sure the boat hasn't had any major accidents, been stolen, etc. before I drive somewhere to go look at it. Gas is much more expensive than doing research.

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

It's called a HIN not a VIN. Hull Identification Number.

 

[arboldt]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

I'm always going to run the numbers to make sure the boat hasn't had any major accidents, been stolen, etc. before I drive somewhere to go look at it. Gas is much more expensive than doing research.

x2

Without a check like that, I'm not going to waste my time and gas going to look at it.

 

[sandiegosteve]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

Buying a stolen boat will be a huge pain. Get the number and run them to verify the validity of the seller. That is whey they asked. Just like buying a private party used car.

 

[bhammer]

Re: please help, buyers asking me for vin? ok?

Ahhh, what's the problem giving it out? There shouldn't be any issue giving it out. Anyone can walk up to a boat and get the HIN from one sitting in a parking lot. If they were going to do something wrong, they would do that, not tie themselves back to you.

Banks do the same thing for autos as they run a background to make sure their asset is protected from being stolen or salvaged.