Conn. Car Dealers Hit with Class Action Lawsuits Over VIN Etching Fees

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Three Connecticut car dealerships have been hit with separate proposed class action lawsuits over the fees they respectively charge for etching a car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) onto its glass.

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The class action lawsuits against Ford of Branford US 1, Napoli Motors and Valenti Maserati say the dealers have charged either $199 or $299 to etch the VINs of thousands of vehicles onto the cars’ glass, purportedly as a theft deterrent. The cases share that auto glass with a VIN etched into it is “difficult for thieves to sell,” and it is harder for thieves to dispose of a stolen vehicle with VIN etching.

Although Connecticut law stipulates that car dealers shall charge reasonable rates for etching services, the fees charged by the three defendants are nowhere near commensurate with the actual cost of etching a VIN into a vehicle’s windshield and windows, the lawsuits argue.

The case against Ford of Branford claims the dealer, in some cases, improperly ties its $299 VIN etching service to a contract that provides certain benefits to be paid by third-party administrators should a consumer’s vehicle be stolen. The cost to Ford of Branford for the registration and placement of those contracts is roughly $25, the suit says.

All told, Ford of Branford’s $299 charge for VIN etching is unreasonable given the actual cost of the service and the cost at which consumers can do the job themselves, the complaint asserts.

“Consumers are able to perform VIN etching themselves at a cost considerably less than the $299 charge imposed by Ford of Branford,” the lawsuit reads. “VIN Etching kits can be purchased online for as low as $20.”

The case against Napoli Motors rings similar, alleging the dealer may improperly tie its $299 VIN etching to certain vehicle-theft contracts and that the charge itself is unreasonable under state law.

Lastly, the VIN etching suit against Valenti Maserati echoes the complaints against the other two dealers while alleging its $199 fee is unreasonable.

The three lawsuits respectively look to cover consumers who bought a motor vehicle from Ford of Branford US 1, Napoli Motors or Valenti Maserati and paid the VIN etching fee specified in each complaint against the dealers.

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