Hey,
Just bought my Nautical Blue TC on Tuesday, and it's supposed to get here in a week because it was already in the port. One thing the dealer mentioned was for $179 they would etch the windows with the VIN and if it were to get stolen they would pay me $5000 on top of what my insurance covered. I found a kit online reccomended by people that is $20 and you can etch them yourselves, I would still get the Insurance discount but not the $5000 if it *were* to get stolen. Do you think I should let the dealer do it and fork over the money, or is it not worth it and just do it myself for $20.
Thanks.

 

I never heard of the $5000 thing before. Sounds kind of shady. You should read the fine print on it first. B/c a car with window etching is just as likely to get stolen as a car that doesn't have it. It's probably just if they can't find your car after it's stolen.

Got a link to this $20 one?

 

Yea, I think you are right it was if it got stolen and they couldn't find it. Here is the link to the kit: http://www.vinetcher.com/

On a side note, does anyone know if they fixed the paint chip problem with the 06 models?

 

Another infomercial product to suck people into buying junk. Etch your VIN number? Huh?

 

Save your money....

 

this is a common scam dealers pull to scrape off a little more from you. The other guys are right, it's just as likely to be stolen. Tell them you will get your own kit and do it yourself.

I wonder, did you have them show you the document that states that if they etch the VIN, they will give you $5k if the car is stolen?

 

I just noticed mine had etching. I never paid for it either.

 

Thanks Guys, Yea ill tell them I'll pass on it and do it myself,

any ideas on if the '06 paint for the scions is any better or is it probably gonna chip?

 

I know that police departments in my city do the etching for free.

 

My dealer wanted to charge me $1,500 for the etching. I said, No Thank You! Got home that evening and the windows were already etched.

 

My dealer charged me $75...I just said okay...it equates to like $.80 a month if that over the life of the loan....plus I got $$$ off of my insurance.

 

If you look the tC has the vin number stamped in numerous places on the vehicle, even on the engine block itself. I doubt window etching would add any extra security.

 

Security, no. But insurance discount? Very likely and that's cool in my book... er... wallet.

 

yeah, I got a $20 per month discount.

 

From what I understand from what my dealership guy told me...ALL toyotas come with window etching from the factory. When you order the extra window etching...its really just the insurance you're buying.

 

my understanding and correct me if im wrong, its a policy that if your vehicle is stollen, they will refund the amount you paid into your car.......so if your car is 8 monthes old and stollen, you get back your payments for that amount, i have it in writing somewhere......i made the dealer do it for free on my accord.......

 

^^ no that is a totaly diff. insurance, this one, is if your car is stolen, they give you an extra 2,000 if you activated it at your dealership. the Insurance you are talking about is GAP insurance, were the company makes up the diff. of what the insurance company offers you for your car, and what is left on your loan.

 

I'm pretty sure your dealership guy lied. Or maybe that specific dealership has all vehicles with VIN etching. I know my tC certainly doesn't have it.

 

moved...