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Stealpad › Cars › VIN etching

VIN etching is optional

VIN etching puts the vehicle identification number on the windows. On a California dealer quote it is a dealer charge, not a government fee, so it is optional. Optional dealer add-on.

VIN etching is optional. Ask for it to come off the price. A dealer may not charge for an add-on you would not benefit from, and pricing and add-on disclosures must be clear and conspicuous.

Source: California's CARS Act (SB 766, Stats. 2025 ch. 354), checked October 25, 2026.

The words to send the dealer

I don't want VIN etching. Please remove it.

Check your whole quote

Paste the dealer's email or type the lines. Every line is marked required, negotiable or optional under California rules, with the message to send back.

No quote handy? Try a sample:

Free. No account. We don't keep your photo.

Questions

Is VIN etching required in California?

No. It is a dealer add-on, not a government charge, so you can decline it.

What if the dealer says it is already done?

You can still ask for it to come off the price or be included at no charge. It is a dealer product, not part of the government fees.

Can a dealer charge for an add-on I do not benefit from?

A dealer may not charge for an add-on you would not benefit from, and pricing and add-on disclosures must be clear and conspicuous. (California's CARS Act (SB 766, Stats. 2025 ch. 354), in effect since October 1, 2026.)

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