Vin tag

[mtuck]

I have a big problem with my car. I sent the car to the body shop and they have lost the vin tag for the car. They replaced the cowl and never reinstalled the vin tag. What are my options, is the car worthless now? Can I get a replacement? I can not register it or sell it without one.

This is the worst day ever

[gordonquixote]

When they say they lost is I'm sure they mean they 'lost' it....It's probably already on another car by now.

May not be a big hassle: http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=407791&page=2

I would bill the shop my time for fixing their mistake though.

[SLO_Z28]

Immediately inform your local highway patrol/state police's auto theft task force. This is a HUGE deal. I would get the police involved immediately.

[kochevy67]

Immediately inform your local highway patrol/state police's auto theft task force. This is a HUGE deal. I would get the police involved immediately.

Couldn't of said it better myself and I am a LEO. Make sure you inofrm them of what happened.

[toxicz28]

I would raise holy high hell about this. VIN tag removal is a federal offense.

[chuckd71]

Call the cops. Yesterday.

[rfalker1]

Call the police... no question!!

[SLO_Z28]

Also, shouldn't need to be said, but just in case, don't tell them you're calling the cops. I wouldn't want them messing with your car or giving you a run around.

[vintageracer]

Call the cops and they will impound the car and chop holes in it to find the correct and legal VIN of the car. Is that what you want? Before you do that see if you can get a friend or someone with access to run the VIN and see if it is still registered to you.

There are vendors out there in the hobby that will legally remake a correct VIN tag for a car. You must provide a lot of information and prove ownership but it can be done.

That beats the hell out of getting your car impounded by the cops and not knowing when and IF you will ever get it back!

[kochevy67]

I would raise holy high hell about this. VIN tag removal is a federal offense.

Absolutrely not true.

[SLO_Z28]

Call the cops and they will impound the car and chop holes in it to find the correct and legal VIN of the car. Is that what you want? Before you do that see if you can get a friend or someone with access to run the VIN and see if it is still registered to you.

There are vendors out there in the hobby that will legally remake a correct VIN tag for a car. You must provide a lot of information and prove ownership but it can be done.

That beats the hell out of getting your car impounded by the cops and not knowing when and IF you will ever get it back!

None of this is true. Not in CA anyways. You cant duplicate a VIN legally, but you can get your secondary verified and get a new "blue tag" vin:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/11/mustangreplacementvin-1.jpg
its a fairly painless process. As painless as going to the DMV can be anyways.

[vintageracer]

None of this is true. Not in CA anyways. You cant duplicate a VIN legally, but you can get your secondary verified and get a new "blue tag" vin:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/11/mustangreplacementvin-1.jpg
its a fairly painless process. As painless as going to the DMV can be anyways.

It's true in Tennessee.

All motor vehicles must have a proper VIN affixed to the vehicle either original or state assigned. Any vehicle without a VIN is subject to immediate confiscation by the authorities. They have and will confiscate a car without a VIN if so prompted and they will chop holes in the car if needed to find the "hidden VIN's" to properly identify the car.

Remember that vehicle registration is the domain of each individual state and as such their state laws govern vehicle registration. The above can be done and HAS been done in Tennessee. Just like the border patrol who also chops holes in cars to find drugs and other illegal contraband the authorities can do the same thing to find a VIN number.

A state issued replacement VIN is available from any state if needed. It is also legal to purchase a "restoration VIN tag" from several suppliers. Buying the VIN is not against the law. Affixing that restoration VIN to a car may certainly be illegal in many states. Of course if the owner keeps his mouth shut who will know? The owner that's who and it's then his conscience he has to deal with along with any legal issues down the road that he created!

California is a whole nother country so what goes on there has little relevance to the rest of us!