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VINS
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is VINS?
2) How much does VINS cost and who pays for it?
3) Will the vehicle owner’s towing and storage bill be more expensive through VINS?
4) How long does it take to get VINS deployed?
5) Can other people see my towing information?
6) I don’t own a computer or have internet access, can I still use VINS?
7) What are the hardware and software requirements?
8) Do I have to replace my existing business software to use VINS?
9) Can you proactively notify me if my car gets towed?
10) What communities currently use your service?
1) What is VINS?
VINS is the underlying technology that enables cities, law enforcement and storage lots to share information regarding non-consent (i.e., accidents, illegally parked, snow emergencies) towed vehicles. It features a single, authoritative repository and role-based, web-enabled portal for the tracking and reporting of towed vehicles.
2) How much does VINS cost and who pays for it?
VINS is a subscription-based service whose cost vary based on the number of tows and additional features required (IVR, call center, etc). The service is typically paid for through an administrative fee that is added to the towing and storage bill and is paid for at the time the vehicle is retrieved from the lot.
3) Will the vehicle owner’s towing and storage bill be more expensive through VINS?
No. Our experience has shown that the average impound bill is lower because the owner is able to locate and retrieve their car in a shorter period of time. Secondary benefits of VINS include lower abandonment rates and operational costs for storage lots, more efficient operations, lower stolen vehicle reports for law enforcements and a positive image for cities.
4) How long does it take to get VINS deployed?
Because VINS is a hosted solution, setup is measured in days, not weeks or months. Implementation times tend to focus on process and procedure improvements and taking advantages of best practices offered by the system and other VINS users.
5) Can other people see my towing information?
No. Only information that is allowed by law can be shared with those who have legal access and that access is limited to only what they are allowed to see and take action.
6) I don’t own a computer or have internet access, can I still use VINS?
Yes. While the preferred method is electronic data communication, VINS can be accessed by fax or call center operations.
7) What are the hardware and software requirements?
None. VINS is hosted in a 24x7 data center environment and delivered as a service. The software is accessed through standard industry browsers including Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari. VINS Customers benefit from lower hardware costs, automated software upgrades and offsite data backups.
8) Do I have to replace my existing business software to use VINS?
No. On the contrary, VINS leverages the information reported and tracked in your existing software applications, spreadsheets and databases. VINS provides a robust web service API for integrating with other systems.
9) Can you proactively notify me if my car gets towed?
For citizens, the service is not available today. We are evaluating the delivery of this service on a community by community basis. Notification services for B2B (automotive, financial institutions, and the insurance industry) are available today. Please contact us for more information.
10) What communities currently use your services and solutions?
We are currently operating or planning to operate in various communities within Southeast Texas, Central New Mexico, California, North Carolina and Georgia.
If you feel that your community can benefit from VINS, contact us and we will help your community with improving the management your non-consent towing.
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5/29/2008
