NCT testers trying to polish the VIN number off my car

Ubbquittious

A strange one for ye. My car has a number written under the bonnet some place and a few times I have seen a NCT tester polishing at this for ages presumably trying to make the number more legible but I recon they are doing more harm than good and the day will come that no amount of polishing will make it visible. The fella today spent about 10 minutes at it.

But what happens when its no longer legible? Does it become a reason to fail the car? Is there something that I can do to prevent it happening in the future?

VonZan

If it's not readable you should get a form from the NCT centre that the Gardai can stamp. I'm not sure of the exact name of the form. You'd be best doing this ASAP before it's completely unreadable.

You could also go to a main dealer and get the scuttle replaced and stamped with the VIN.

colm_mcm

The chassis number is usually stamped into the body somewhere. Are you really saying they spent 10 minutes rubbing your vin plate?

Ubbquittious

colm_mcm wrote: »

The chassis number is usually stamped into the body somewhere. Are you really saying they spent 10 minutes rubbing your vin plate?

At least and it isn't the first time it happened. Had a look at it and maybe if the paint was removed it might be more legible it seems to be pressed into the metal in little dots

colm_mcm

What car is it?

dkd21

Lol at the thread title .

The tester was trying to do you a favour if he spent that long trying to clean it up . If its illegible , its a failure and your issued with a verification form to be completed by a Garda PSV officer.

You need to be proactive , if its still readable try to keep it that way by keeping dirt or rust away . Smear of engine oil , a coat of aerosol lacquer or a light spray of zinc primer all would help.

michellie

10 minutes seems like an excessive amount of time to be rubbing the VIN number.

Some can be difficult to read, but it has to be read because the tester inputs that into their system and it must match whats registered for that car.

Juwwi

If it's happened before why didn't you just have it clean yourself before brining it to the nct

Are you sure it was the vin he was rubbing for ten minutes?

the_syco

Ubbquittious wrote: »

The fella today spent about 10 minutes at it.

It must have been a nice car that the tester didn't want to see failed.

corks finest

Ubbquittious wrote: »

A strange one for ye. My car has a number written under the bonnet some place and a few times I have seen a NCT tester polishing at this for ages presumably trying to make the number more legible but I recon they are doing more harm than good and the day will come that no amount of polishing will make it visible. The fella today spent about 10 minutes at it.

But what happens when its no longer legible? Does it become a reason to fail the car? Is there something that I can do to prevent it happening in the future?

Take a picture obviously ( day date etc)

zilog_jones

Might be good to put some brightly coloured marker or paint or something over the VIN (i.e. colour on the surface around the letters but not getting paint inside the lettering) - something to give enough contrast between the bodywork paint. Maybe a grease pencil, or Tipp-Ex?