Exchanging Details after a car accident

[Muppet501st]

The VIN is visible through the left bottom corner of the windscreen
- in Australia this means passenger side
- in left hand drive countries this means drivers side

my day job is a vehicle identity inspector.
I have inspected 1000s of cars. I think I have a good idea on VIN locations.

 

[Quickstatus]

I have inspected 1000s of cars. I think I have a good idea on VIN locations.

Great!. Can you confirm that the windscreen VIN location is bottom left hand side of windscreen.

 

[Forg]

I have 5 cars well over 20 years old, and I don't believe any of them has this. You need to get your head under the bonnet to find the VIN. Good luck with that.

While I’m not willing to claim the VIN is always visible in a little window within the black backing at the base of the windscreen; I’d be fairly confident in saying “most”!

Outta interest, what’re the cars you’ve got which don’t have that?

 

[Muppet501st]

All modern (as in - last 30-odd years) cars I’ve seen have a window at the base of the windscreen where the VIN is stamped. Elsewhere too, different locations for different cars, but that under-windscreen location’s always been there when I’ve looked. Engine-number is a different identifier than the VIN.

No Falcon ever had one on the dash.

 

[clifford]

No Falcon ever had one on the dash.

I have LTD's. Beats your Japanese/Korean/Chinese/Euro garbage anyday. Although I'm warming a little to BYD's (as a 6th car obviously).

 

[Quickstatus]

I have LTD's

I did manage to own an old Fairlane ZC as a medical student until it was stolen at Liverpool Hospital

 

[Maca44]

If you reside in NSW, you can open the Services NSW App, click on registration and either scan or type in the registered number of any vehicle. It will not show the owner of the vehicle, a description of the vehicle, it will show the expiry date, the insurer of the vehicle (no policy details) which will then confirm whether the vehicle has fake plates etc.

 

[SOPOOR]

Nrma website says

Exchange information with all parties​

Once you’re safely out of harm’s way, you will need to collect the following details from the other driver/s involved in the accident (or their representatives) in order to claim on your car insurance:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Car registration number
• Insurance details.

It may also be useful to collect the following information:

• Driver’s licence number
• Car make, model and colour
• Vehicle owner’s details (if different from the driver).

By law, you must also provide your details to others involved in a crash (or their representatives), as well as to the police if they attend the scene and to anyone whose property was damaged as a result of the incident.

Refusing to provide this information is a criminal offence in all Australian states, so call the police if a driver leaves the scene without divulging their details. In Victoria, if someone is injured and police don’t attend, you must report the crash to the nearest police station. The same applies if there is any property damage and the owner (or police) is not there.

So the license is not compulsory,
But name, address ,phone and reg is......

 

[Quickstatus]

which will then confirm whether the vehicle has fake plates etc.

It should also have the last 4 digits of the VIn number.

name, address

I would rather confirm that against the DL. Phone number is easy to confirm - just ring it.

 

[Quickstatus]

I have 5 cars well over 20 years old,

But if a car with a vin number in the windscreen hits my classic car then I would want to check the Vin.



My 2005 Chrysler Voyager has a VIN in the spot I mentioned..
But the Jag XJS stored for my friend at my place does not as the windscreen is the old style with the chrome surround

 

[Muppet501st]

But if a car with a vin number in the windscreen hits my classic car then I would want to check the Vin.



My 2005 Chrysler Voyager has a VIN in the spot I mentioned..
But the Jag XJS stored for my friend at my place does not as the windscreen is the old style with the chrome surround

American cars have had the VIN on the dash for decades, My 1971 Mercury Cougar has it.