I have just one more point to make.
I'm not an expert on licence plates, but a licence plate is used to trace a given vehicle--not necessarily based on its make or model--to an owner. It's the process of identifying the person who owns the car.
The vehicle identification number is the process of saying this car, for instance, was made in this factory, it is this make and model, and it is this year. It specifies that this 2008 Chevy Uplander is different from a physically similar 2008 Chevy Uplander. They are seemingly identical--but different.
Again, the VIN is used to trace the identity of the car, whereas the licence plate is used to link the identity of the owner with the car.