B. Nicely

I found a great place to get a reproduction VIN tag. It requires a little DIY and proof of ownership. Excellent service and reasonable price.

http://www.boxweed.addr.com/collecto...lateserial.htm

53 Blue Flame Brett

vettebuyer6369

Not to mention the whole State's DMV/potential felony thing.

56 Texas

any idea where to get blank VIN plates like original?

53 Blue Flame Brett

Ebay....but they are NOT correct. Dead giveaway, thankfully.

al89

the way i read this its the body tag with raised letters not the VIN tag which has stamped numbers

53 Blue Flame Brett

The vin tag has raised numbers as well as stamped numbers. There are blank, non stamped, vin tags on ebay. The look very close but are NOT correct. This just opens the door for bogus cars.

al89

i love to see them do you have a link, all my chevy vin tags have chevrolet in raised letters and vin # stamped in no other info .

Nicola

This is one of the reasons I would NEVER pay for #s of any kind, paper whatever...just show me the car
just my $0.02

53 Blue Flame Brett

No link. I saw them for sale after searching the "1958 Impala" keywords.
They were around $80 or so.

vettebuyer6369

Doesn't make #'s worth any less in the market, however.

JohnZ

C1 VIN tags (through '60, I think) had "Chevrolet" embossed from the rear (raised) and the number stamped from the front; from '61-up, both "Chevrolet" AND the number were embossed from the rear (raised).

B. Nicely

A wrecking yard is the best place to get a VIN tag. I got mine off the door post of a 1962 Chevy pickup. It's funny to see rusted and oxidized heaps with a very shiney stainless VIN tag. You can very carefully peen the original number down, sand and polish as boxweed explains. (http://www.boxweed.addr.com/collecto...lateserial.htm ) According to lots of lawyers (and reading the laws) this is quite legal as long as you are not trying to defraud.

53 Blue Flame Brett

What would be the motivation to do this Boxweed method, if not to be fraudulant?

vettebuyer6369

So you spoke to "lots of lawyers?"

That would never fly in this state.

B. Nicely

Reply to Blue Flame;
My motivation was to replace the VIN tag that fell off with as close to original as possible and not go through the hassle of getting a replacement VIN number.
Here is a copy of the law:

(a) A person who—
(1) knowingly removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters an identification number for a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part; or
(2) with intent to further the theft of a motor vehicle, knowingly removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters a decal or device affixed to a motor vehicle pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act,
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(b)
(1) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration by a person specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection (unless such person knows that the vehicle or part involved is stolen).
(2) The persons referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection are—
(A) a motor vehicle scrap processor or a motor vehicle demolisher who complies with applicable State law with respect to such vehicle or part;
(B) a person who repairs such vehicle or part, if the removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration is reasonably necessary for the repair;
(C) a person who restores or replaces an identification number for such vehicle or part in accordance with applicable State law; and
(D) a person who removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters a decal or device affixed to a motor vehicle pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, if that person is the owner of the motor vehicle, or is authorized to remove, obliterate, tamper with or alter the decal or device by—
(i) the owner or his authorized agent;
(ii) applicable State or local law; or
(iii) regulations promulgated by the Attorney General to implement the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act.

Pretty clear it's not illegal to remove the VIN plate and restore it if you are the owner, or the restorer and it's reasonably neccessary.

66BlkBB

Just how in the hell does that work. If you take a VIN tag from a wrecked vehicle and try to title another vehicle with that VIN number you usually have to present the title for that vehicle to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Under normal circumstances the wrecking yard usually holds the title till the wrecked vehicle is crushed or sold to another individual. If the vehicle is crushed, I believe that the title has to be submitted to the state for processing so that title and VIN number can never be used again. If they sell the VIN tag to you and give you the title to the vehicle, then they have nothing to submit to the state nor could they sell the vehicle.

It appears to me that the law is saying that you as the owner can replace the VIN tag with an approved state tag or a duplicate of the original (if approved by the state). Not by putting a complete different serial number tag on the car.

"a person who restores or replaces an identification number for such vehicle or part in accordance with applicable State law;"

I believe that you are committing a fraudulent act by doing what you claim is legal. JMO

Sean Dunshee

I think different states have different laws...here you CAN NOT remove a VIN plate

56 Texas

I have a '55 Chevy that was acid dipped 20 years ago, the VIN tag came off in the tank and never was recovered .. I could certainly benefit from this method ...

Sean Dunshee

I also don't think they are saying its OK to remove a VIN plate from a car in a junkyard and change the numbers to match your title.