buying a car with no vin

[socalfandabodys]

WOuld you recommend buying a car without a vin plate if its currently registered and the owner has the title and registered

[toxicz28]

No!

[roadracer55]

that's HELL no.

[dharrod]

Depends on the state and the car. In some states not having a vin plate is no issue ... literally you just put one on.

[69TAPoser]

Best thing to do is check with your state laws regarding titles and VINs. Every state has a process, understand what your state's is.

I would certainly be asking "why" it does not have a VIN. Also, note that VINs were put in multiple places on some cars.

If it is a kit or replicar (like a Dynacorn shell), your state should have a process for getting a VIN for a home made or kit vehicle.

From what I know, CA is one of the strictest states when it come to VINs and titles. CA has set the tone for process and laws that many states are now following. I know this only because I built a replica Cobra in 1999 that did not come with a VIN. Laws and process have gotten much more stringent over the past 10 years.

To further complicate matters, I know that here in NH they will allow a commercial auto restoration business some latitude surrounding removal and replacement of a VIN. But I believe that is with the same VIN. Not a remove and replace with another # situation.

Phil

[03glide]

If there is no VIN how do you know the title and registration go with that car?

[rocketman]

or that its not stole. I wouldn't

[StRacerDuke]

WOuld you recommend buying a car without a vin plate if its currently registered and the owner has the title and registered

It depends on the current owner. Have you met them in person and do you believe the story on how it came to be missing from the vehicle? Is the ****** report on the vin clean (at least the one from the title)? As long as everything makes since I would probably consider it. It also depends how much $$$ I would be out. If it was a 1-5K project car, it's not that big of a deal. If it's a 25K project car, probably not willing to risk it.

[socalfandabodys]

The car is a 66 chevelle half way completed project car. He said when he took the body off the frame he removed the vin and misplaced it. Also Im located in N. Carolina now and the car is in S. Carolina.

[69TAPoser]

The car is a 66 chevelle half way completed project car. He said when he took the body off the frame he removed the vin and misplaced it. Also Im located in N. Carolina now and the car is in S. Carolina.

Hmmm. Possible but sounds a bit fishy. I would be asking the Chevelle crowd if there are any other VIN locations on the shell to help validate that it matches the reg.

Phil

[Bow Tie 67]

I'm not sure on the chevelle but the camaro you can verify vin with stampings on the firewall and cowl. If the chevelle is similar you can do some research and it should not be a problem. Also you can do a title search to further investigate his claims. Then use it as a negotiating chip.

[GetMore]

You might also want to bring it to a police station and have them check it out. There is a national database that should have the car in it if it's stolen.
The title search may give the same info, I'm not sure.
If he's willing to go to the police with you he's probably not hiding anything.

[LateNight72]

There should be a con-VIN stamp under the heater/ac box on the firewall.

[ProdigyCustoms]

The stamped number in the cowl / firewall controls the car, not the rivet on tag. When that rivet on tag is in question, LE will go right to the hidden numbers. I would not be surprised thought if you did not find that VIN registered somewhere else on a different body.

[MrQuick]

Yeah out of state and coming to California...don't even go there. Unless its free.

[68Formula]

Uh, removing the VIN is illegal even if it's your own car. Not a bright idea. Now it has to get a state VIN. Not impossible, but definitely hurts the value.

[redfire69]

Car fax is useless for anything pre-81 (and pretty much useless if repairs were made outside of insurance, etc)

[derekf]

In Texas (not that it's all that helpful for you in CA), when my 65 Chevelle was stolen and recovered, the thief had removed the VIN tag.

It was not acceptable to the state that we'd have a new VIN plate made. Their requirement was that they would provide a new VIN plate with a state-issued VIN number.

I don't doubt that that greatly diminished the value of the car when it was sold.

[johnny rockett]

I had the body shop lose my vin..........the state police came and looked under the fender on the cowl (66 Nova) Checked to make sure it was not stolen....made a new plate on the spot...riveted on the door post......done

[Nate_ERC]

I'd try to find out if it was stolen. If nothing came up I'd just stamp a new vin that matches my title and never say anything about it. :ssst:

[ProdigyCustoms]

I'd try to find out if it was stolen. If nothing came up I'd just stamp a new vin that matches my title and never say anything about it. :ssst:

Holy ****, did he say that out loud!

That is absolutly THE LAST alternative on my list

[socalfandabodys]

Well I am going to see if the owner can give me the vin off the title and see if its stolen. He says the car has been in his family for 15 years. Does anyone know where to find another possible location for the vin on a 66 chevelle? He says its no problem to call the dmv and get a state issued vin.

[Rhino]

My '68 was missing it's VIN tag when I purchased it. It wasn't too big of a deal getting a new state assigned VIN tag riveted on.

The only problem (in the state of KS anyway) is that the car will never be considered an antique. The state assigned VIN will also kill any value of a rare car. Since mine was originally a plain 6 cyl I wasn't too concerned.

[Nate_ERC]

Holy ****, did he say that out loud!

That is absolutly THE LAST alternative on my list

LOL I was half joking. Seriously though, I wouldn't even touch a car without a vin. You could get stuck with a car that you can't insure, register, or sell. 10 or 20 years ago it probably wouldn't have been a big deal, but these days it's hard enough to get them on the road even if you have all of your ducks in a row.