WHOLE VEHICLE MARKING: VIN-BASED MICRODOT TECHNOLOGY

Sub-program A: Reducing the Cost of Theft

Approach A1: Improving the Standard of Vehicle and Component Identification.

Background

The NMVTRC is working closely with innovative vehicle manufacturers and technology suppliers to encourage the implementation of technologies that meet the NMVTRC’s specified criteria for microdot vehicle security systems.

In 2004 more than 100,000 new vehicles sold in Australia will carry VIN-based microdots as a system of identification. The system consists of up to 10,000 microdots per vehicle, each carrying the vehicle’s unique identification number (VIN). The dots are sprayed on non-cosmetic surfaces throughout the car, including the drive line and suspension components. The “ blue” glow emitted by dots when they are exposed to ultra violet light makes the dots easy to detect and read with a simple magnifier. The sheer coverage of dots across the vehicle makes it uneconomic and virtually impossible to remove them all.

Click here for details of which vehicle manufacturers are applying VIN-based microdots to their vehicles.

Work Program

Criteria for microdot vehicle security systems - 2003

While the NMVTRC has no commercial interest in supporting any particular supplier or product and no legal authority to attempt to direct activities in the marketplace, it seeks to ensure that appropriate standards and protocols are maintained.

The NMVTRC’s criteria for effective vehicle identification were developed to facilitate the implementation of world-leading vehicle marking systems.

Click here for copy of the Criteria for Effective Vehicle Identification.

Evaluation of the VIN-based microdot system

The NMVTRC is undertaking a longitudinal evaluation of the impact of VIN-based microdot systems on theft levels of marked models. As of September 2003, BMW and HSV have been applying VIN-based microdots to their vehicles for a full two years. Subaru WRX vehicles were first fitted with the system in December 2002 with fitment to their whole model range following in February 2003. Notwithstanding the dynamics of theft, which suggest that professional thieves mainly target 2-5 year old vehicles rather than the very latest models, the lower theft and recovery rates for marked vehicles are to date very encouraging.

Click on the links below to view the reports:

Measuring the theft deterrence of VIN-Based Microdots on BMW, HSV and Subaru vehicles between September 2001 and March 2004

Evaluating the theft deterrence of VIN-Based Microdots on BMW, HSV and Subaru vehicles – December 2004

Next Steps