6 hour drive to get truck and no vin tag?

[Fastfun]

The DMV could give you a vin# but it will always be a reissued tag and will not look original!!! When you go to resell it the buyers will always question it.

[1968SWBBigBlock]

Walk until the PO makes the truck complete and correct
1st car loan I remember the VP of the bank telling me "make sure you compare the title vin to the vin tag" "always double check them"
It has been a lesson that has served me well for 25+ years

[Dynomutt]

This is what a reassigned VIN looks like in TX. My truck had it when I bought it and I hate it, but it can be done. I'm going to try to get it reassigned again to move it to a location where it doesn't look so much like CRAP.

[teeitup]

I had one just about like that one from Nebraska, the title said builder title on it. My Kansas one was put back on where original vin was and was similiar to that one too, only all chrome

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by 1968SWBBigBlock

Walk until the PO makes the truck complete and correct
1st car loan I remember the VP of the bank telling me "make sure you compare the title vin to the vin tag" "always double check them"
It has been a lesson that has served me well for 25+ years

Amen to walking away until he makes it complete and correct. If his paperwork is correct he should be able to go to his dmv and get it inspected and get a proper vin issued that your state will accept. It may end up showing that the truck is a "rebuilt" on the title though.

A 1200.00 dollar truck might not get a guy too much in an uproar about things not being quite right but a 12,000.00 truck needs to have that stuff right from the get go with no excuses.

If he won't jump through flaming hoops like a circus poodle to get it done right before you buy it walk away and find another truck.

If he has documentation that he has had the truck for a reasonable amount of time and somewhat of a photo journal of before, during and after photos he shouldn't have that much trouble getting it straightened out if he wants to sell the truck.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

The fact that the guy never mentioned the missing vin tag over the phone is a red alert for any other part of the buying/selling process or the truck itself.

[71meangreenc10]

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

The fact that the guy never mentioned the missing vin tag over the phone is a red alert for any other part of the buying/selling process or the truck itself.

Bingo.....

Smitty

[special-K]

It`s the seller`s problem.Don`t make it yours.Either it needs to be priced as a donor or you better get it straight before handing over the money.You`ll be the one that paid to have a problem.The title is worthless w/o a matching VIN plate.Check with the BMV first.Here in MD,with the other numbers in order they`ll issue a new constructed title and they will affix the plate to your cab.Just like if you scratch-build a trailer,chopper,or street rod.I`d go the extra yard and get notorized letters from the seller and body shop explaining the reason it is off.The responsibility lies in the body shop`s hands right now.It was very irresponsible to loose such a vital item.It`s not a couple bolts or anything minor to misplace.I would have gotten them to compensate for such a blunder or see to it they got me straight with motor vehicles before I gave them a dime.The leverage is in the seller`s hands.He could make things very messy for the body shop if he wanted to.The state and Feds don`t take this stuff lightly.Auto theft is a major problem these days and that`s the angle the government takes when this occurs.You have to prove it`s legitimate.Talk to the BMV first!!

[69Special]

I had this issue with my '69 Camaro. The butcher who did "repair" work on it back in the day replaced the dash and the genius never swapped the VIN onto the new dash. When I brought my car to Arizona, I wanted to make sure the title was in my name and the VIN verified prior to it being sent to be media blasted.

On Camaros, there's a hidden partial VIN on top of the cowl and then on the firewall near the heater box. All I did was tow my car over to the AZ DMV inspection station. With my old title and the two hidden VINs, they were able to verify the VIN, provide me with the sticker that goes in the door jamb, and I was on my way. It didn't cost much money to do.

I assume your DMV should be able to do a similar thing with the truck.

[67chevemall]

ya mine was missing too. Here in Niagara a local throphy shop makes them for the MTO.

[hippie-46]

i bought my in ky took it to the dmv in ohio the first thing they did was go out and look at the vin she was looking in the windshild i had to tell her it was inside the door she didnt know. but they will want to see it and do a out of state inspection. thats done at the dmv here in ohio .

[hotrod 80]

In Texas any out of state title has to be inspected by the people that do the yearly inspections and a green form has to be filled out . If the green form is not filled out you can't get registration , but you can title it in your name . I am finding the ladies at the tax office don't know the laws on classics very well . " your 49' plates are rusty and can't be used without painting them " . Then " you painted those plates you can't do that " . The state will give you a state issued vin tag ,b ut it has to be inspected by a state trooper at the office .

[redbaron69]

like said before, when the seller "finds" the plate i would finish the deal. if he cant come up with it i would walk. but in the meantime i would contact your states dmv and explain the situation to them. if the plate turns up your state may want to be the ones that put it back on the truck. then every ones happy. good luck with this.

[kevmic28]

Originally Posted by hotrod 80

In Texas any out of state title has to be inspected by the people that do the yearly inspections and a green form has to be filled out . If the green form is not filled out you can't get registration , but you can title it in your name . I am finding the ladies at the tax office don't know the laws on classics very well . " your 49' plates are rusty and can't be used without painting them " . Then " you painted those plates you can't do that " . The state will give you a state issued vin tag ,b ut it has to be inspected by a state trooper at the office .

Yeah when I tried to title mine they refused stating mine had to be inspected first. I was like it doesnt run yet. I just want the title swapped into my name before I put any major money into it. No dice. So 4 months and a new engine later its finally titled and registered in my name.

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by kevmic28

Yeah when I tried to title mine they refused stating mine had to be inspected first. I was like it doesnt run yet. I just want the title swapped into my name before I put any major money into it. No dice. So 4 months and a new engine later its finally titled and registered in my name.

When you say "inspected", you mean someone has to compare numbers, not "inspected" as in the annual motor vehicle saftey inspection, correct? From my understanding, in Texas, the "inspection" being reffered to is to make sure nothing funny is going on with mismatched numbers, not safety inspection. As is stated aboved, unfortunately the people at the registration office/ courthouse don't know the laws concerning classics very well. Whn my dad wanted to use 1971 Texas farm truck tags on his GMC, but register it as an antique, they had to break out their book to see what to do. He was able to do it after a bit of their research. Of course, they wouldn't take my word on it.

[attack eagle]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

When you say "inspected", you mean someone has to compare numbers, not "inspected" as in the annual motor vehicle saftey inspection, correct?

It is both... the indie gets paid for doing the safety/emissions inspection, and in the course of that they fill out the out of state form and compare the vin number on the car to the one on the title. Good luck getting anyone to allow you to register the vehicle when it doesn't pass inspection. Until it does pass, it doesn't need registration as it can not be driven.

If that tag is the ONLY vin on the cab, yes, you need it, and you need it to match.
on modern vehicles, It is NOT the only vin on the body, there are numerous vins to verify the original identity of a chassis, cab, etc. The one on the dash is for show.
As far as removing and replacing them, legal or not, the vin tag isn't always attached to the vehicle itself... sometimes it is attached to the INTERIOR, LOL.
on Nissan Hardbody's it was attached to the dash plastic, so everytime you removed the dash overlay, you had just removed the vin, and when you replaced your rotted out dash with another, you had to swap the vin tags, or you'd fail your next inspection. It also mad it easy to replace a wrecked cab with an unwrecked one... jsut swap the dash pad.

[leddzepp]

How do you "lose" the most important piece required to identify/register a vehicle?

If it were an in-state vehicle, I might buy it anyway and skate around it, but out-of-state....fuhgetaboutit.

[no moa]

Maine doesn't require a title after the vehicle is 15 years old, I sold a mint 79 trans am to a guy out of state and the runnig I had to do was Terrible, because he had to have one.

And excuse my stupidity, but Where is the vin on a 72 c10? I got my truck and never even looked for it. I saw it on the glove box but not on the truck? And there is one on the frame to?

[extd56]

Originally Posted by no moa

Maine doesn't require a title after the vehicle is 15 years old, I sold a mint 79 trans am to a guy out of state and the runnig I had to do was Terrible, because he had to have one.

And excuse my stupidity, but Where is the vin on a 72 c10? I got my truck and never even looked for it. I saw it on the glove box but not on the truck? And there is one on the frame to?

Your vin on a 72 is on the b pillar, below the door latch on the drivers side under the vent. The number on the frame is by the steering box, usually have to clean the frame to see it.