Vin Plate Wanted

gratefuldavidson · June 10, 2010

i have a 1977 chevy g20 van that has been exstensivley customized , it has been stretched 4 1/2 feet and a 2nd axle has been added , it has been level chopped 8 inches . the dash board has been thrown out and an all metal custom one was put in place , with no VIN PLATE . the passenger door was welded to the slider and the dogleg removed with the hinges on the raingutter .with electric/hydraulics . a hole was cut where there was no slider on the driver side and the same was done . . 8 foot gullwing doors , with no VIN PLATE . it has been titled in florida twice . i have had it over ten years . there is only what looks like a sticker under the original hood that has VIN # on it and other factory info ,and on the bottom it says IMPORTANT keep this plate as a permanent record . its about 6 inches square . but i can't find the vin plate itself about the size of a stick of gum cause of the door mods , and dash removal , there is no glove box , and there is no tag on radiator support . i am planning on selling and would like to get a replacement plate with the same numbers as on my title and registration and on what there calling a plate under the hood . does anybody have any info on this ,or has delt with this before ? are there gm plates available for situations like this ? any or all help would be appreciated . is that what they're calling a plate a legal vin plate . even though it looks like a sticker ?

Zembonez · June 10, 2010

Duplicate VIN tags would open up the possibility of changing the identity of a vehicle. Traditionally VIN plates are produced once and only once for this reason and no duplicates were sold. I don't think there is any way to purchase a duplicate. Since you actually have no proof that the vehicle on the title is actually the vehicle you are selling, I doubt one would be produced even if it was available. See the problem here?

Z45 · June 10, 2010

What you are wanting to do is against the law. You are going to have to get the state to issue you a VIN and that means they are going to want to inspect it and make sure its not a stolen vehicle being disguised as something else.

Only the state can issue a new vin, do not try to do this and you might just find yourself in jail. BTW - Its also against to law to remove the vin plate or anything to do with the VIN of a motor vehicle, engine, transmission, frame etc. Its assumed by law enforcement that something illegal is taking place when VIN plates are missing.

Zembonez · June 10, 2010

Technically tru but I don't think he's trying to break the law. If the vehicle matches the title, it is perfectly legal to sell it as is. A VIN tag is not a requirement.

nickvrebel · June 10, 2010

I would just have the VIN etched into the frame and possibly in the door jamb of the driver's door and any other place you might feel prudent. This would establish that you have declared this vehicle to be one matching that VIN and at that point it is what it is - if you have ANY doubt that this vehicle may not be what it is presented have it inspected by your State Police/ Highway Patrol or whoever has jurisdiction.

I know that when I wrecked my buddy's 4 month old Yamaha Rhino the frame had to be replaced, as such the repair shop had to produce proper paperwork and etch the VIN in the new frame (frame is one of the places a VIN is located on motorcycles and atv's) and State Police had to come by for a physical inspection.

gratefuldavidson · June 12, 2010

is etching legal compared to putting on a new plate ? where would one go for this type of work to be done ? is it laser or machinerd

nickvrebel · June 14, 2010

the law on this may vary from state to state. before you attempt anything contact your local state police/ highway patrol and tell them the situation.

to etch / engrave the VIN you can get any metal engraver and do this. The dash VIN is nice and all, but as far as I know (which could be incorrect) the only requirement is that the VIN be permanently "attached" to the vehicle. Riveted on, engraved, etc. My new travel trailer that I just bought a couple weeks ago is a former FEMA trailer, of course it's never been titled before (and La. titles trailers) so I had to have a state police "inspection" to get titled issued. The inspection report notes that the VIN is attached to the trailer by adhesive, meaning the sticker on the side of the body, so that was good enough.

Keep in mind, this can vary from state to state. Your state's authority may take your case and give you the benefit of the doubt and allow you to proceed or they may require you to submit to a full inspection in an attempt to prove that the vehicle is or is not what you represent it to be.

MAC88 · June 20, 2010

the law on this may vary from state to state. before you attempt anything contact your local state police/ highway patrol and tell them the situation.

to etch / engrave the VIN you can get any metal engraver and do this. The dash VIN is nice and all, but as far as I know (which could be incorrect) the only requirement is that the VIN be permanently "attached" to the vehicle. Riveted on, engraved, etc. My new travel trailer that I just bought a couple weeks ago is a former FEMA trailer, of course it's never been titled before (and La. titles trailers) so I had to have a state police "inspection" to get titled issued. The inspection report notes that the VIN is attached to the trailer by adhesive, meaning the sticker on the side of the body, so that was good enough.

Keep in mind, this can vary from state to state. Your state's authority may take your case and give you the benefit of the doubt and allow you to proceed or they may require you to submit to a full inspection in an attempt to prove that the vehicle is or is not what you represent it to be.

I did not check where you live but in massachusetts the law is that any vehicle built prior to 1979 doe snot need to to display a VIN # it is a law but one that is not widely known. I found out while trying to sort out my own title issue. I am not sure if chevy stamped the frame like ford does. If so this would be satisfactory to most rmvs.

Doug_Scott · June 21, 2010

I would just have the VIN etched into the frame and possibly in the door jamb of the driver's door and any other place you might feel prudent. This would establish that you have declared this vehicle to be one matching that VIN and at that point it is what it is - if you have ANY doubt that this vehicle may not be what it is presented have it inspected by your State Police/ Highway Patrol or whoever has jurisdiction.

I know that when I wrecked my buddy's 4 month old Yamaha Rhino the frame had to be replaced, as such the repair shop had to produce proper paperwork and etch the VIN in the new frame (frame is one of the places a VIN is located on motorcycles and atv's) and State Police had to come by for a physical inspection.

Difference here is that the had the wrecked frame next to the new one (so they had the original VIN stamping), and I would be willing to bet they had to cut the old frame up in front of the state police.