Maybe I'm just being (a little!) paranoid?

A question about : Maybe I'm just being (a little!) paranoid?

Hi, we currently have our car listed on ebay and the advert contains all the usual info re MOT, engine size, number of seats, year of manufacture etc etc. Someone has contacted me re the advert asking for the registration number to check if they can afford the insurance.

For whatever reason (and I'm not sure of the reason) it feels a bit of an odd request given that most companies I know don't require this info. So, before I make a decision whether to provide the info or not, I thought I would seek the collective wisdom, views and/or experience of the forum.

Specifically, do we put ourselves at any risk by providing the registration number and, if so, what is it?

As I said, maybe I'm just being a little bit too cautious.

Thanks in advance

Best answers:

• I guess the worry here is that someone might 'clone' the plate.
  Are there many other cars of the same make/model/age listed on Ebay showing the reg nos in the photos?
  If there are, a scammer would simply use one of those reg numbers - much easier than having to contact you.
  On the other hand, if it's an unusual car with no others listed it might be a slight worry?
  It is quite common for online insurance brokers to ask for the reg number to identify the car to provide a quote, although you can normally just enter the car details. Perhaps they are genuinely interested and are just seeing if the car details match the car you're selling?
• It could be they wish to carry out an hpi check to ensure that its history is 'clean' and there aren't any outstanding loans against the car.
• It does make me chuckle when people refuse to give out number plates - you can see hundreds just by walking down any street.
  I didn't buy a car because the seller wouldn't give me the reg either - I wanted to do a HPI check to make sure the car had no hidden history.
• It is easier to check insurance with the number plate. I was recently looking at vehicles and was unsure how much some of the insurance would be, so I checked a couple against vehicles with the number plate showing.
  The number plate gives all the spec of the car where in some cases you may just be guessing.
• All car insurance comparison sites ask for the number plate to get the exact car info. When I have used these sites I have always needed the number plate.
  They could have a car that is a similar colour and model. They can use this information to get a numberplate made up. You will then receive speeding and parking fines. They could use the car for worse.
  However as mentioned they could just stand by a busy road and wait for a car the right colour and model to come along. As a buyer I would be suspicious if I could not have the numberplate to check insurance costs and maybe do a HPI check.
  I guess it comes down to how much interest you have had and how much you want to sell the car. If there are a lot of similar cars then you are probably potentially losing a lot of buyers. If its quite rare or cheap then you will sell it eventually regardless of keeping the numberplate secret.
• I just bought a car yesterday and paid Parkers to get an online price guide prior to purchase. Also paid autotrader for a car history check...
  All perfectly normal.