Thursday, March 19, 2009
Consumer Tips
- Keep your vehicle permit and insurance certificate in a secure place on your person so you can provide this information, if requested, to law enforcement.
- Avoid putting it into an open purse or large pocket where it may be easily stolen or fall out.
- When at home and not operating your vehicle, carry your vehicle permit and insurance certificate in a secure place.
- Never leave your vehicle permit and insurance certificate carelessly lying around, especially if you employ outside help or where thieves or strangers looking into your house can easily see it.
- Placing it in the glovebox of your vehicle is not particularly secure either, in case the vehicle is stolen.
- Never leave originals or even photocopies of your vehicle permit or insurance certificate inside your vehicle, particularly not in plain view.
- Thieves may be tempted to steal these and use the information they contain to perpetrate fraud.
- Store your vehicle permit and insurance certificate securely on your person so if your vehicle is stolen they cannot be used to perpetrate additional fraud.
- Never leave briefcases, purses and duffel bags in plain view inside your vehicle.
- Regardless of what these actually contain, thieves who think these may contain valuables could be tempted to break into your vehicle.
- Never leave your vehicle running or leave the keys in the ignition unless you are in it.
- Thieves could not only steal your vehicle but may also use any personal information they find, to steal your identity or perpetrate other fraud.
- Lock the doors of your vehicle when you leave it.
- Auto theft does not just happen in large urban centres.
- Thieves may steal an unlocked vehicle, or rummage through it looking for valuables and documents containing personal information (i.e. vehicle registration and insurance information).
- Do not store a set of keys, vehicle permit and registration information or other documents containing personal information in your vehicle.
- Never put your vehicle permit or insurance certificate in the trash or recycling bin without first cutting it into small pieces or shredding it.
- Never provide information about your vehicle (in particular about the Vehicle Identification Number or "VIN" information) in response to an unsolicited Internet or telephone request, regardless of the apparent source.
- The VIN is a unique series of 17 letters and numbers used to identify a vehicle. It contains valuable information about the manufacturer, make/model, equipment and class of vehicle that helps law enforcement, insurance industry, consumers and government and others, identify it.
- If you are asked to provide it, find out who will have access to it, why it is needed and what safeguards are in place to prevent unauthorized use.
- If you are not satisfied with the response, ask more questions or consider not providing the information being requested.
- Remember, it's your identity - you must protect it.
- Before you make a decision to buy a used vehicle privately, ask to see the sellers Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) and review it closely.
- For more consumer protection tips on buying and selling a used vehicle in Ontario, see Buying and Selling a Used Vehicle in Ontario at www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/used.shtml
- If you are victim of vehicle theft/fraud, report the incident immediately to your local police.
- For more ideas on preventing vehicle theft and fraud, contact your local police or visit the website of the Insurance Bureau of Canada at www.ibc.ca
posted by transport blogs
@ 11:11 PM
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