Frequently Asked Questions

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code that identifies your vehicle. It contains important information like the manufacturer, model year, and production number. Your VIN can be found on vehicle history databases, auction sites, and Google search results, which may affect your privacy and resale value.

Your VIN appears online because it's included in auction records from Copart, IAAI, and other salvage auctions. Additionally, car history databases like Carfax, AutoCheck, BidFax, CarsBidsHistory and AutoStat publish VIN information. Search engines like Google index this data, making it publicly searchable and accessible to anyone.

When potential buyers search your VIN online and find auction records, it can significantly reduce trust and resale value. Studies show that vehicles with public auction history can sell for 20-40% less than vehicles with clean records. Removing your VIN from these databases helps restore buyer confidence.

HideMyVIN removes your VIN and vehicle data from multiple sources including BidFax, CarsBidsHistory, AuctionAuto, Google Search results, BidCars, AutoStat, and other unregulated VIN databases. We also remove associated photos, auction records, and any personally identifiable information connected to your vehicle.

Most VIN removal requests are processed within 24-72 hours. However, removal from search engines and some databases may take longer due to their indexing schedules. We'll provide you with regular updates on the status of your removal request and confirm when your data has been successfully removed.

Yes, VIN removal is completely legal. We use DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notices, GDPR compliance requests, and direct removal methods with database operators. These are legally recognized methods to protect your privacy and control your personal information online.

While it's technically possible to remove your VIN manually from some sources, it's extremely time-consuming and often ineffective. Many databases don't respond to individual removal requests, and the data keeps reappearing from other sources. Our professional service handles the entire process efficiently and ensures permanent removal.

Copart and IAAI are the two largest salvage car auctions in the United States. Both publish VINs, auction photos, and vehicle history publicly. The main difference is their pricing models and geographic coverage. Both auction platforms share data with search engines and third-party databases, making your VIN widely accessible.

Google indexes publicly available data from auction sites, car history databases, and other online sources. When someone searches for your VIN, Google returns pages that contain that number. We use Google Search Console removal tools and DMCA notices to get your VIN de-indexed and removed from search results permanently.

BidFax, CarsBidsHistory, AuctionAuto and BidCars are unregulated VIN aggregator databases that scrape data from auction sites. Unlike Carfax and AutoCheck, they don't have NHTSA oversight, meaning they're less accurate but much harder to remove from. However, we specialize in removing data from these sources using targeted legal and technical methods.

Yes, your security is our top priority. All data is encrypted with SSL/TLS technology. Payment information is processed through secure third-party providers and is never stored on our servers. We comply with GDPR and other privacy regulations to ensure your personal information remains confidential.

We only need your vehicle's VIN and a valid email address. We do not require personal identification, vehicle registration, or proof of ownership. This minimal information requirement protects your privacy while allowing us to efficiently process your removal request.

Absolutely not. We never sell or share your personal information with third parties. We only use your information to process your VIN removal requests and send you service updates. Your privacy is protected by our strict privacy policy and compliance with international data protection standards.

In rare cases, your VIN may reappear from new auction listings or scraped data from other sources. This is why we offer ongoing monitoring and re-removal services at no additional cost. We continuously scan the internet and automatically remove new instances of your VIN data.

After placing an order, you'll receive a unique order tracking link via email. You can use this link to monitor the real-time status of your VIN removal from each database. We also send email updates as each removal is completed.

Our support team is available 24/7 to help. You can reach us through our contact form, email. We're committed to resolving any issues quickly and professionally.