Make an informed global strategy with this incisive report ...

Vehicle manufacturers are faced with a challenge - what level of vehicle identification to offer in order to

meet varied global legislation and insurance requirements, but without incurring cost and often in the

absence of clear customer benefits. To make the right decision, manufacturers will have to consider the

benefits and features of various methods and techniques, understand the cost of implementation and to

know what investigators prefer, and what thieves dislike.

This report is a single authoritative source to ensure you are fully informed about different vehicle

identification strategies, including global overview of performance and approval criteria and what thieves

are doing to remove or replace the carefully placed markings. All mandatory and optional markings are

explained, including additional techniques available to vehicle manufacturers as line fit or aftermarket

products. Cost, tamper resistance and usefulness to an investigator are evaluated and compared.

For additional information please email ABallatore@sbd.co.uk or

telephone Alessio on +32 478 765506 and he will be happy to deal with

your enquiry.

A strategic guide to Vehicle

Identification - how to deter

thieves, meet legislation and

control costs

SBD Secure Car researchSBD Secure Car research

This report will help you:

Ensure your vehicle remains secure by understanding how thieves

overcome existing identification techniques

Learn about legislation for Vehicle Identification across the world

and how to meet the varied requirements

Decide on which technology to invest in by analysing the different

methods and their features and implementation costs

Gain SBD expert recommendations to build a successful strategy

Thieves are skilled in changing common identification marks ...

What is the best method of vehicle identification to improve the

chances of recovery after theft?

Some vehicles are stolen for use in a further crime, some stolen for their

spare parts, but a large proportion are stolen to be resold.; either sold within

the same country, or shipped overseas as part of wider Organised Crime

Group (OCG) activity.

When a vehicle is stolen to be resold, the criminals need to change the

vehicle identification if they are to avoid being traced or caught handling a

stolen vehicle. This means fooling any second hand buyer of the vehicle,

and potentially police investigators, into believing that all the identification is

genuine.

Thieves have therefore built up a large awareness and skill level in changing

the common identification marks such as the VIN plate, chassis stamp or

additional VIN labels that are required by legislation.

Insurance companies provide some market drive for alternative identification through the offer of insurance

premium discounts for approved marking systems. National governments also investigate alternatives such as

microdots for new legislation, but these schemes rarely reach the market due to the cost implications.

The pressure is therefore on vehicle manufacturers to provide improved identification on new vehicles, but this comes at huge cost

to the manufacturer, and it’s the manufacturer that gains least from the benefits—no vehicle is sold to a customer on the strength

of its identification markings.

Manufacturers, and thieves, also know that not all forms of identification will be checked in any investigation—especially where

covert markings may be difficult to reach or require significant time and specialist equipment to read.

If the markings aren’t checked then they give no benefit to the police, insurers, vehicle manufacturers or vehicle owners. Police

expertise is falling as a result of stolen vehicle investigation units being closed down around the world and thieves know they only

need to make basic identification changes to avoid capture.

It’s getting easier for the criminals.

The challenge is therefore to find and fit vehicle identification

that thieves either don’t know about or can’t easily change,

that investigators and the public can easily check, and that

proves cost effective for the vehicle manufacturer.

This report analyses the various types and forms of vehicle

identification, from simple vehicle registration plates or chassis

stamps, to sophisticated electronic traceability of parts, rating

each in the areas of additional cost, tamper resistance and

usefulness for investigation, building a clear strategy for vehicle

identification that satisfies the demand.

What Strategy?

Vehicle Ringing—

Thieves changing the identity of a

stolen vehicle. THE

PROBLEM

Vehicle Identification— Tamper resistant, easy to read and cost effective techniques.

THE SOLUTION

...know what tomorrow brings...know what tomorrow brings

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Executive Summary 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Report Overview 1.3 Main Conclusions

2. Background 2.1 What do Thieves Try? 2.2 Insurance Companies 2.3 Law Enforcement 2.4 Vehicle Manufacturers 2.5 Vehicle Owners

3. Legislation and Insurance Criteria 3.1 Global Requirements 3.2 Australia 3.3 Germany 3.4 South Africa 3.5 Sweden 3.6 USA 3.7 United Kingdom 3.8 Global Summary

4. Identification Analysis 4.1 Analysis and Recommendations

5. Basic Identification 5.1 Vehicle Registration 5.2 VIN Based Solutions

5.2.1. VIN Plate 5.2.2. Additional VIN Labels 5.2.3. Chassis Stamp 5.2.4. Visible VIN

5.3 Glass Etching

6. Sophisticated Identification 6.1 Microdots 6.2 Covert Markings 6.3 Barcodes

7. Electronic Identification 7.1 VIN Storage 7.2 Alternative Traceability 7.3 RFID

Overview of Vehicle ID criteria across major markets

LIST OF FIGURESLIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Market Drivers for Vehicle Identification Figure 2. Global Summary of Vehicle ID Criteria Figure 3. NMVTRC Approval Criteria – Microdot Locations Figure 4. RCAR New Vehicle Theft Resistance Assessment Scoring Figure 5. AZT 5 Star Certified Security – Vehicle ID Relevant Criteria Figure 6: South African Microdot Standard – Marking Locations Figure 7. Thatcham NVSA Requirements – Vehicle ID Figure 8. Matrix Of Mandatory Identification Types By Market Figure 9. SBD Categorisation of Vehicle ID Figure 10. Overt Versus Covert Security Figure 11. SBD Analysis Of Vehicle ID Figure 12. VIN Composition

VIN plate Chassis

stamp VIN label Microdots Visible VIN

Electronic

technology

Engine

number

Glass

etching

Globally Mandatory Mandatory

Australia Mandatory Mandatory Voluntary

Germany Mandatory Mandatory Voluntary

South Africa Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory

Sweden Mandatory Mandatory Voluntary Voluntary Voluntary Voluntary Voluntary

USA Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory

UK Mandatory Mandatory Voluntary Voluntary Voluntary Voluntary Voluntary

How to make the right decisions with your product and market strategy?

Want to analyse the impact of the latest industry developments on your current or future products, or what changes you may need to

make in your designs in response? When you need answers to complex questions, SBD offers bespoke, confidential strategic sessions

to address your specific needs and give you direct access to technical and market experts on those issues affecting your business.

If you would like to learn more please contact our Secure Car team at security@sbd.co.uk.

The SBD Commitment...

From technical trends reports to conducting end user surveys, SBD has over 15 years of experience of providing strategic advice, insight and expertise to the automotive and associated industries globally.

At SBD, we help vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers bridge that gap between system design and actual market needs. Our diverse team of experts understand global market and technical requirements and how to plan cost-effective systems for the future that customers value and are willing to pay for.

About the report author...

For a quotation or further information please contact

Alessio Ballatore on:

Email: ABallatore@sbd.co.uk

Phone: +32 478 765506

Fax: +44 (0)1908 305 106

Pricing:

Report Electronic pdf copy

SEC/2313 - A Global Strategy for

Vehicle Identification €1,400

David Green (Project Manager – Consulting Division)

David graduated from Cardiff University with an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has worked on many projects focused on vehicle security and cost of ownership and is currently responsible for managing the UK insurance group rating process for one of SBD’s major clients. He is also responsible for monitoring all the latest news developments in vehicle security and insurance requirements across the globe. David specialises in Smart Key technology and has authored several SBD studies on the subject.

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