Should I hide my car's registration number in an online advert?

I’m shortly planning to place an ad on Autotrader to sell my car (an Audi A2 for £2000). What is your advice regarding whether or not to display the car’s registration number in photos? Many private sellers blank it, presumably because of the fear of being the victim of cloning, but - on the other hand - buyers obviously want to know the reg number in order to check the car’s history (MOT, HPI checks etc). If I hide it and only disclose it when a potential buyer contacts me, aren’t I just as likely to be a victim of this kind of crime?

Asked on 6 August 2021 by Malcolm Burt

Answered by Andrew Brady
There are valid reasons for hiding a number plate but, personally, I don't think it's worth doing. Someone is just as likely to clone your car from seeing it out on the road. As you say, potential buyers will want the number plate for genuine reasons. If you hide it, it looks like you're trying to hide its history.
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