# Where should I put VIN stickers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 26, 2023, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-put-vin-stickers/981661 "2023-03-26T01:46:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-put-vin-stickers/981661/1 "2023-03-26T01:46:57Z")
I just bought a new car and it came with 7 replacement VIN stickers. Just regular plastic, nothing special (I think). I thought about putting one on my catalytic converter but wouldn’t it just melt, or the adhesive melt, or the catcon thief just peel it off? So question number one is would this sticker be permanent if I put it on my cat? And I have 7 total so where should they go? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-put-vin-stickers/981661/2 "2023-03-26T02:01:25Z")
Aren’t these meant to be held onto in case any of the parts that already have VIN stickers need to be replaced? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-put-vin-stickers/981661/3 "2023-03-26T03:08:58Z")
I believe everything that’s supposed to have a VIN plate already does. As @Dewey_Finn says, they’re replacements labels for replacements for parts that originally had a VIN tag. > Why would I need a replacement VIN label? > VIN labels contain safety information individual to each car. In order to make sure your car is recovered if stolen and to protect you from VIN cloning, it is important to have all VIN tags, labels, stickers and plates that came with the vehicle. People need replacement auto labels when they have been in an accident and need to replace or paint parts such as the door jamb or hood of the vehicle. > **[Replacement VIN labels - What are VIN labels, where to get replacement auto...](http://www.vinslabels.com/what-are-replacement-vin-labels-order-vin-sticker-replacement.html)** > > VinsLabels.com makes Replica OEM replcement auto information labels. which includes but is not limited to - Replacement VIN stickers - Replacement Tire Pressure EPS labels - Replacement VECI emissions decals - Replacement A/C, Mercury and Air bag... A catalytic converter would be too hot for any type of adhesive label, and there would be no point in putting it on there anyway. Catalytic converters are serially numbered and that’s all the traceability they need. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-put-vin-stickers/981661/4 "2023-03-26T08:26:42Z")
Do they really serve any purpose that matters to me? If my car is stolen, sent to a chop shop and parted out its not like I want the front left quarter panel back if they recover it. ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-put-vin-stickers/981661/5 "2023-03-26T15:00:57Z")
Replacement VIN stickers??? That doesn’t make any sense. Why would you remove the original VIN number (I doubt the DMV would like that) and replace it? Now if it some sort of sticker to place in various locations on the vehicle in case it was stolen then that would make more sense. But the chop shop/thieves would just remove them and if placed in a hidden spot, like above the HVAC housing under the dash, law enforcement isn’t going to look there anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-put-vin-stickers/981661/6 "2023-03-26T15:30:50Z")
Imagine that there is an accident and your car needs to go to the body shop to have a door, body panel or other part replaced. The replacement VIN sticker would be useful to the body shop to replace the sticker on the part needing to be replaced. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-put-vin-stickers/981661/7 "2023-03-26T23:26:10Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The replacement VIN sticker would be useful to the body shop to replace the sticker on the part needing to be replaced. My VIN is permanently mounted to the dashboard at bottom of the windshield as well as printed on my ownership and insurance slips. It’s not like it’s hard to find it without having it on every part for replacement purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-put-vin-stickers/981661/8 "2023-03-27T02:05:26Z")
I’d stick them in the envelope in the glovebox that holds the owners’ manual, copy of insurance receipt, etc. They’d be handy there, if ever needed. Like others said, I think the only likely use is if a repair shop has to replace one of the parts that has a VIN plate on it.