> Most people never think twice about the random mix of letters and numbers the DMV assigns them.

I started thinking about it when someone parked next to me in a nearly-identical model - same brand, year, etc, the only difference was some roof accessory - and a nearly identical license plate. (Think ABC D12 and ABC E12). I started trying to open their car door, and was confused until I noticed some things in their front seat that were clearly not ours.

Later that week, I was shopping around for car tires, and saw that some shop - PepBoys or something - let you punch in your license plate and let you know what kind of tires you need, and that their API response included the car make and model. I thought about poking around it, and seeing if there was a pattern to the way my state assigned license plates, but never got around to it.

(They live in town, too, and I've seen where they park. I should go introduce myself to our car twin.)

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giarc 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

https://www.pepboys.com/tires

They have a license plate checker on their site. I don't live in the states, therefore I don't have a plate to check. Or do I..... HY in Florida....

@lafond - do you own a 2010 Subaru Legacy with the 2.5L SOHC engine?

	▲	pavel_lishin 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		Yep. I wonder where and how they get this information.

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bombcar 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

When you realize the total combos of car key possibilities, you have a decent chance your key would work, too!

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MisterTea 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

Had two GM 3500 cargo vans, one a 2002 Chevy Express, the other a 2001 GMC Savannah. Same vehicle different badges. Noticed the keys were a bit similar and found that the Chevy key could in fact unlock the GMC with some wiggling but not the other way around. It did not work in the ignition lock.

	▲	bombcar 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		Ignition locks were always better machined - the door locks were the first to get loose enough for “alternative keys” Eventually a screwdriver works for both.

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dhosek 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Back in the 90s, I was on a trip and ended up parked next to a car which had a car alarm that responded to the key fob for my car alarm. It was very disconcerting.

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culi 4 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I borrowed my friend's Prius once and accidentally opened the door to the wrong one and got in for a second before slowly realizing things felt off.

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dhosek 3 days ago | parent [-]

Around 2009ish I parked our dark grey Prius next to another dark grey Prius while going to the Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market and when I came back to the car, there was a third dark grey Prius parked next to the two original dark grey Priuses.

	▲	bombcar 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		They were reproducing!

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pavel_lishin 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

It's a keyfob, and it didn't open his door when I tried to get in :P