VIN Verification
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VIN Verification
Had a frustrating day at DMV. Bought a car (yes, another Imp) that was off the system but had copy of original 1965 registration showing VIN number.
Physical VIN plate says chassis number, this caused much consternation to the DMV brain trust. The whole Rootes versus Sunbeam matter was another can of worms. DMV has listed manufacturer as ROOTS(All caps, no”E”) on all the Imps I have bought. Clerk 1 was insisting that manufacturer was Rootes, model was Sunbeam. Giving the GM/Chevrolet/Corvette analogy for Rootes/Sunbeam/Imp was futile.
Outcome from the geniuses was that I needed CHP VIN verification because the SUN65 prefix was missing, This was a plastic plate that is held on same rivet that secures chassis ID plate. It inevitably falls off.
I called CHP - earliest appointment was 8th February. I only want a title to allow car to be exported for restoration.
Is there any higher office at DMV in Sacramento that has any sort of clue? I have lost my previous faith in Santa Paula DMV to be any better than any of the other offices.
Physical VIN plate says chassis number, this caused much consternation to the DMV brain trust. The whole Rootes versus Sunbeam matter was another can of worms. DMV has listed manufacturer as ROOTS(All caps, no”E”) on all the Imps I have bought. Clerk 1 was insisting that manufacturer was Rootes, model was Sunbeam. Giving the GM/Chevrolet/Corvette analogy for Rootes/Sunbeam/Imp was futile.
Outcome from the geniuses was that I needed CHP VIN verification because the SUN65 prefix was missing, This was a plastic plate that is held on same rivet that secures chassis ID plate. It inevitably falls off.
I called CHP - earliest appointment was 8th February. I only want a title to allow car to be exported for restoration.
Is there any higher office at DMV in Sacramento that has any sort of clue? I have lost my previous faith in Santa Paula DMV to be any better than any of the other offices.
- tannyo
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Re: VIN Verification
Can you purchase a replacement plastic plate with the SUN65 prefix to put on the car? I know with the MGB you can purchase a ID tag kit.
- Steve Simmons
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Re: VIN Verification
I've had VIN verification done at a CHP station before, but the number was there. Just needed to get the correct number on the title. I guess I don't really have anything that would help, but I'm surprised they're making it that difficult.
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Re: VIN Verification
try AAA as they seem much more reasonable for dmv stuff.
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Re: VIN Verification
I started at AAA. All they could do was give me the right paperwork and mark it up to show which details were needed. Reinstating car that has gone off system needs to be done by DMV now.
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Re: VIN Verification
The CHP office on Desoto (or is Canoga?) in Woodland Hills has a great officer, bike and car guy was very helpful to me on my Rover when other offices were (&*^^^%#). I can't think of the officer's name at the moment, but, there is only one doing Vin verification.
- Steve Simmons
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Re: VIN Verification
That's the same station I used about 15 years ago. He asked what I needed done, so I went into a long and detailed explanation of why the VIN was wrong and the likely reasons why it happened, etc, etc. The whole time he just stood there and stared at me. When I was done, he asked again what I wanted done. So I told him I wanted this number (pointed to car number tag) on the title instead of the one that was there. He said "ok", wrote it on the slip and handed it back to me. So much easier than I was making it!
- rally_x
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Re: VIN Verification
From my experience, calling Sacramento is even worse!
- Larry Kluss
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Re: VIN Verification
Mark, there are also private VIN verification services that are easier to work with. My dad used one from the valley about five years ago to correct a 35 year old VIN typo on the title of one of his Corvettes. Of course there's a fee. I might be able to get you a name if you're interested? Or you can look around yourself for someone closer to you.
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Re: VIN Verification
Had a good visit to Moorpark CHP station and met Officer Wood who does VIN verification.
Went back to using original chassis ID designation that cars entered States with. DMV accepted that and title should be here within two to four weeks.
Car will be going back to UK for full refurb and prep for BMW Flying Brick K seriespower )
When it is done it will look like this:
Went back to using original chassis ID designation that cars entered States with. DMV accepted that and title should be here within two to four weeks.
Car will be going back to UK for full refurb and prep for BMW Flying Brick K seriespower )
When it is done it will look like this:
- Steve Simmons
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Re: VIN Verification
Glad that's sorted out. All the way to the UK and back? You're devoted!
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Re: VIN Verification
Purely practicalities Steve. This was always going to be the next one Dave Wellwood was going to do. Rather than start with another non-Imp expert, I figured the labor saving and lack of shipping costs for individual parts would more than cover the car shipping cost.
I have bought a couple of billet aluminum BMW conversion kits. The Imp engine is great but temperamental and expensive to repair. Mike and I are both going to evaluate the K series in SoCal heat and see how it goes.
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Re: VIN Verification
And the title arrived today........
- VWNate1
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Re: VIN Verification
YAY ! .
I'm always stymied by the way the average DMV Clerk doesn't want to do their job, it's pretty simple : you give them $ and they look at what you've got and go forward .
I'm always stymied by the way the average DMV Clerk doesn't want to do their job, it's pretty simple : you give them $ and they look at what you've got and go forward .
-Nate
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Re: VIN Verification
yeah god help you if you ask them for anything not everyday normal. Took 3 trips to get the plates for my 67. Each time they would fill a bit of the DMV use only section of the form and send it off Sac. who would then return it to me as incomplete.
- VWNate1
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Re: VIN Verification
This is why I'm an Auto Club Member ~ many DMV things they can do with 1/4 the time and always less hassle .
I know folks here hate it when I correctly point out they're often welfare to work queens with bad attitudes that no one in Management cares to discipline but it's the fact .
I just finished a 32 career in Civil Service and I had captive customers who I could treat anyway I wanted but I have self respect so I treated them all, even the pissy 'I'm better than you 'cause I'm an LEO and you're not' jerkwads, got all the help I could muster because I was grateful to have a job, unlike most DMV Clerks .
I know folks here hate it when I correctly point out they're often welfare to work queens with bad attitudes that no one in Management cares to discipline but it's the fact .
I just finished a 32 career in Civil Service and I had captive customers who I could treat anyway I wanted but I have self respect so I treated them all, even the pissy 'I'm better than you 'cause I'm an LEO and you're not' jerkwads, got all the help I could muster because I was grateful to have a job, unlike most DMV Clerks .
-Nate