VIN Etching

[1st_nissan]

Is VIN etching pretty much a standard dealer charge these days? I went to sign my paperwork and noticed it said optional but how can it be optional if its already done?

[ctrlaltcoupe]

This is a B/S charge... I had a dealer try to charge me $300 for it, claiming it saves money on insurance (i ended up going to a different dealer). That may be so, but it can't cost them $300 for them to etch your VIN number on 6 windows. You go and make a great deal with the dealer, and then they go and add on these B/S charges and make the deal not as good as it seemed, and they end up making more money off of you.

This is from http://www.carbuyingtips.com...

Window VIN# Etching FeeA stupid fee for etching the VIN# or other anti theft information into your side windows. It costs next to nothing for the dealer to do it, and the average fee is about $300. You can buy same kit in auto parts stores for $20, and do it yourself.

Another common B/S charge is a $40 administrative charge for them to complete their paperwork to report that they sold the car to you. I'm not too sure on this one, but they just made X number of dollars on the sale, they can dip into that to complete their paperwork.

[Buzzman]

VIN etching is a total rip-off.It's nothing more than some flunky in the back shop with a $15.00 etching tool scratching your VIN number in the glass. Takes him 10 minutes. You pay 300 bucks, and the dealer pays the flunky $8/hr. If you really want it done, buy your own tool and do it yourself.If the dealer charged you for it, and you didn't agree to it ahead of time, then you have every right to have the charge removed. Don't pay for something you didn't ask for.

[Stateless]

Definitely a rip-off. Plus, if my car is in a chop shop and all they have to identify it is the etchings on the glass, I don't want the car back; I'll stick with the insurance money, thanks.

I once had a nissan dealer try to charge me that on a USED car and I later found out why they went to great lengths to pressure me to pay it—the glass had already been etched by the original owner and I had called their bluff! Needless to say, I'd never go back to that dealer (fishcreek, for anyone in Calgary). Oh, and they wrote this and other bogus charges ($450 on top of the etching) on the contract AFTER it had already been signed at the agreed price (luckily my copy of the contract showed the original pricing and agreement).

Bottom line is if you never gave permission for an "optional" charge, then you shouldn't pay it.

[NoReinsVA]

Etching = wax style carbon paper + old style typewriter + small bottle of glass etching acid found in any good arts and crafts store. Also kits sold in auto shops, online and at ebay petty cheap. I etched my last car's windows without any issues at all. I did save a few dollars on my insurance by doing it.