Vintage VINs

I wrestled with a similar issue when I bought a Sunbeam Tiger.

The registration papers had the VIN minus the leading letter and a bunch of zeros in the middle.

I used AAA DMV services. I had the clerk do a VIN verify and they corrected the paper work.

 

Unless you want some possible issues with future provenance, tell them the VIN is what the VIN is. Also remind them that altering or attempting to alter a VIN is a felony in the state of CA. They can 'believe' anything they want, but put the VIN down the way it was assigned by the vehicle mfg, and don't make **** up on the fly.

70 Espada - 4 digit VIN.

 

It blows me away that people who work at the DMV don't know when the VIN was invented. That's like working at McDonald's and not know that the food is fatty.

 

Sadly, most people at the DMV arew simplyu doing there job as trained. Unfortunately, in todays world, you get punished for thinking and using common sense vs. Following policy. Policy ALWAYS is defined, common sense has penalties

 

A completed CA VIN Inspection Form may solve your problem. California has DMV licensed, independent VIN inspectors called a "VIN Verifier". Go to a local used car lot and get the name of the one they use and have that person inspect your car and complete the VIN Inspection Form. They charge between $25-$75 and sometimes will come to your house for the inspection. A lot easier than taking the car to a CHP office for the inspection.

 

Standardisation of the VIN was in 1981. Cars before that date might use any system the manufacturer chose. Hopefully it will help convince them.

Onno

 

I'm in CA and register my GTC with it's 5 digit VIN. It was never questioned, but I have prior paperwork showing that's how the car is ID'ed. You shouldn't have to go through the trouble and expense of a verifier, etc
Tom

 

They need to read the manual that came with their job.

The 5 digit VIN is legal until the Law CHANGED to require 17 digits.
This isn't rocket science and it effects way more cars than "just Ferraris"..

You can add the frame designation stamping (and even the two stars if you want) but it still falls short of 17 digits and will not be recognized as legit.

Get a Supervisor. That's what I have to do....

 

This is also true, I have always played forward against the designation "AS TITLED"..(by previous documentation)...anything other than this and bells and sirens go off in the Lobby, the auto doors close, and the Security Guards throw down, with live ammo....

 

My first Ferrari 5 digit VIN in Texas took Police verification, TxDOT had to get on the phone to the County Tax Assessor, blah blah blah...about three days of my life, running back and forth across town between these entities...

In the end the Terminal Operator was STILL befuddled how to handle it, then over walked the Supervisor:

"Hit override, Honey...and sell this poor man some tags...."

 

It was the Houston Police Vehicle Theft Division here, that does that function......later the officer saw me in the grocery to say "Hello" and ask how it all went...good guys to have on your side, I suppose.....

 

You might want to try a different DMV office. When I registered my Daytona several years ago, the inspector was curious about the five digit vin, so he went inside and got the head person to come and take a look and she verified it was correct ,it was that easy. I went to the Costa Mesa office, on 19th street.