Car dealerships maintain a very professional listing, presenting every little detail neatly. Regardless of their extreme attention to detail, you will notice that dealerships usually blur the license plates. This is something that always confuses the buyers.
So, why do car dealerships blur license plates in photos?
Car dealerships blur the license plates in photos for a number of reasons. To begin with, blurred license plates protect the previous owner’s identity and protect the dealership from legal issues. Moreover, it prevents license plate cloning and illegal activities by criminals.
Stay with us while we reveal all the reasons behind a blurred license plate. Additionally, we will tell you how to blur the plates and give you alternatives to blurred plates. Without further ado, let’s have a look at the 8 key reasons why car dealerships blur license plates in photos.
1. Protecting the Privacy And Security of Previous Owners
Undoubtedly, the first and foremost reason is to protect the privacy of the previous owner. License plates can easily be linked to the previous owners. They can reveal sensitive information, disrupting their privacy and security.
So, even if the dealership legally owns the car now, they can’t just leave the plates exposed. Otherwise, people can access the previous owner’s personal history simply by abusing certain databases.
2. Blurring License Plates for Avoiding Legal And Liability Issues
The laws regarding sharing personal identification data, such as license plates, vary in every region. Some places are absolutely uncompromising about their privacy and data protection laws.
In such cases, dealerships are likely to be held liable for any sort of security abuse or negligence. The lawsuits resulting from such situations are never easy. The dealership would lose the majority of its customers as well as any future engagement.
Moreover, this isn’t just about government-mandated laws. This also applies to the platforms where the car listings are published. Some platforms are stern about their privacy regulations, which the dealerships must comply with.
3. Preventing License Plate Cloning
License plate cloning is a bigger problem than you realize. When dealerships don’t blur the plates, license numbers are replicated for various illegal activities. For example, they are often utilized on stolen vehicles, which are then used for theft or even toll evasion.
This puts the dealership at risk of legal complications. Hence, a blurry license plate can save a dealership from potential legal actions and protect its reputation.
4. Blur License Plates to Protect Against Scams And Frauds
In addition to license plate cloning, some scammers even take it to the next level by impersonating a dealership. They take the vehicles’ images that include significant details such as the showroom’s embellishment or license plate numbers to gain the buyer’s trust.
If the plates are blurred, the scammers are less likely to use them. In their minds, a blurred plate doesn’t allow them to fake a legitimate listing.
5. Maintaining A Professional Listing
Other than security or legal issues, car dealerships prefer blurring the plates for a more professional look.
The license numbers often prove to be distracting or unappealing to the buyers’ eyes.
Hence, dealerships blur the plates to cater to the customers’ gaze. It helps make the listing more polished.
Moreover, it keeps the buyers’ attention focused on important features of the car, and not irrelevant numbers.
6. Blur License Plates in Photos: Reduce Confusion For Customers
Visible license plates are a common reason behind customers’ confusion and hesitation. The plates can lead the buyers to think that the dealership is showcasing a car that’s already registered.
Alternatively, some buyers confuse the license number with their local vehicle number plates. Eventually, they end up thinking that the dealership is using fake images to scam the buyers.
These are the potential disadvantages of a visible license plate. Hence, the safer decision is to blur the plates.
7. Facilitating Proper Image Management Throughout Platforms
Dealerships don’t just post their listings on a single platform. They work throughout multiple platforms, each with its own individual data regulation laws.
Thus, when the license number is concealed from the start, it ensures the images comply with all the policies from every platform. Thereby, reducing the hassle of adhering to individual regulations and saving time and effort!
8. Build A Lasting Relationship With Clients
The overall impact of blurring license plats is a trusted relationship with the clients. When clients realize how it maintains anonymity across platforms, they can trust the dealership better.
Through this small step, dealerships make previous owners and buyers feel more protected from all sorts of online harassment, including unauthorized tracking. This reflects on the dealership’s credibility and creates a lasting impact on buyers.
How To Blur License Plates In Car Photos: Two Proven Methods
Now you know why do car dealerships blur license plates in photos. However, have you wondered how these dealerships blur the license plates?
Well, there are a couple of ways to blur a license plate. Let us break it down for you.
1. Using C-AR App
One of the most common methods for blurring license plates is using AI-powered car photo editing apps, such as C-AR.
This app has various powerful features that can do so much more than blur license plates. For example, you can edit the backgrounds for a showroom-style look, add logos, create realistic reflections, and polish the rims.
However, the license plates are our main focus today.
Here’s how you can use C-AR for blurring the license plates in just 4 simple steps.
- Download the C-AR app on your phone.
- Using the app’s visual alignment guidelines, take a neat image of the car.
- Then, select the app’s built-in license plate blur feature.
- Save or share the image directly, and you’re all done!
2. Using A Photo Editor
Apps like C-AR are typically the first choice among dealerships. However, there is a second option too, which is using a photo editor tool such as Photoshop. Here’s how you can use Photoshop to blur license plates.
- Open the image in Adobe Photoshop and select Duplicate Layer for non-destructive editing.
- From the left panel, select the second tool from the top. It is the rectangle Marquee Tool.
- Create a rectangle over the license plate with the tool.
- Then, from the menu at the top, select Filter.
- Once you hover the cursor over Filter, you will get the options Blur followed by Motion Blur. Select Motion Blur.
- Then, a pop-up display will show up on your screen. It will give you the options to adjust the blur settings. Increase or decrease the number of pixels as per your need. And, that’s it!
Alternatives To Blurring Plates
Maybe you own a dealership and do not want to blur your license plates in the car photos. So, what do you do in such an instance? Well, there are a few alternative options to conceal the license plates. Let’s take a look at them.
1. Replace The Plate With The Dealership Logo
You can hide the license plates with your dealership logo for better security. So, use a photo editing tool to insert your logo. This maintains professionalism, keeps the composition, and showcases your brand, too.
2. Selective Focus During Shoot
When taking the photos, you can put the plate deliberately out of focus. This requires more control during the shoot. However, it reduces the hassle of editing the photos afterwards.
Nonetheless, don’t compromise too much on the angles. Opt for angles that hide the plates while still showcasing the vehicle properly.
3. Covering The Plates
You can simply cover the license plates before the shoot. Just put a removable cover or blank plates over the original plate.
While this doesn’t look as professional as blurred plates, dealers prefer this as it eliminates post-edit work. However, make sure to check your jurisdiction’s laws beforehand.
FAQ
Q. How to enhance a blurred number plate?
To enhance a blurred number plate, use a photo editing software such as Photoshop. Some even prefer using a video redaction tool for a more controlled effect.
Q. Are blurring plates legally required?
No, not always. Some regions mandate blurring the license plates. However, in other places, it’s simply a good practice rather than a legal necessity.
Q. What app blurs number plates in photos?
Use C-AR to blur your license plates. It’s an AI-powered mobile app that comes with various features that simplify car photo editing.
Conclusion
So, why do car dealerships blur license plates in photos? Well, there are many reasons for this, but most importantly, it’s done to protect the privacy of the previous owners of the car.
Other reasons include the prevention of scams and license plate cloning, as it can completely tarnish the dealership’s reputation. However, blurring the license plates is not simply done for protection, it also helps maintain a neat and clean listing, making the dealership appear more professional!