What to do when you lose your vin?

[John510]

New dash installed and the old one is missing....Is there a way to get a new one made if you can prove ownership?

If the shop did it can I file an insurance claim possibly?

Help!

[randy]

Looking for the same answer too. My dash vin is missing too but my other vin is still on the firewall

[fleetus macmullitz]

Well, I know a guy who knows a guy... :_paranoid


Seriously, sorry to hear that John.

[canrc]

maybe try these guys:

http://datatags.com/

[randy]

well now i might be confused. On a 67 there isnt a vin tag on the dash is there? Looks like i didnt lose it if it was never there lol. Can anyone confirm this?

[MarkM66]

well now i might be confused. On a 67 there isnt a vin tag on the dash is there? Looks like i didnt lose it if it was never there lol. Can anyone confirm this?

Right. It's in the door jam. There isn't one on the firewall either.

[randy]

Score !!!!!!! Lol

[DETON8R]

John, sorry to hear that you have that situation. Just one more thing to make an already complex build even more complicated. :headscratch:

Unfortunately if the entire fire wall and dash are replaced on first gen F-bodies all of the VIN plates and markings get are gone. There are partial VIN's on two places, one on the sheet metal on the vertical surface of the firewall under the passenger side fender, where the heater box resides, the second is under the removable cowl panel on the sheet metal near where the passenger side windshield arm mounts.

Did that sheet metal get replaced? If not you have a partial VIN, which should be enough to establish the VIN with the other ownership documents. Check this out for the location.

http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml

When I bought my car, I had a rather complicated ownership transfer. Working it out took almost 6 months. It could take less time though, you just need to start working it now.

If the below doesn't work out maybe you can do some sort of lien sale and use that process get a replacement VIN applied to the car. It will take the participation of the shop doing the work on your car. When they did a lien sale of my car it cost about $75, and it took care of the lost pink slip and any issues related to ownership.


Contact these guys and see if they can help. Cost about the same as a lien sale.
http://www.asapliensales.com/VV-Vehicle-Verifications.html

They are doing this for you instead of going to DMV or the CHP who do this for the state of CA.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/ol/ol_handbooks/ol301.pdf

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg31.pdf

[randy]

http://www.thecamaro.com/Decoding/VIN-Vehicle-Identification-Number-Decoding/1968-Camaro-VIN-Location-and-Decoding.php

[intocarss]

On 67's the vin tag is in the drivers door jam

[sixnina]

I had a similar issue when I got my camaro, but if you have at least one of those locations stamped you should be good. I was able to get a cop buddy of mine to verify the stamped vin and fill out the DMV paperwork to get mine all registered. Hope this helps. Good luck:thumbsup:

[James OLC]

I feel your pain. I don't know why anybody would remove a VIN from a car without immediately replacing it (in the case of changing or repair sheet metal) but I know that it happens. I hope that you can get is resolved.

[glassman]

Hey John, I had a "duplicate" vin # on my 66 chevelle, I took it to the chp not too far from your restraunt and they cleared it, it was the only thing to do. Pm me if you have any questions. They have other meens than the vin#.... It will take a while for the appt though....

[shaun8541]

New dash installed and the old one is missing....Is there a way to get a new one made if you can prove ownership?

If the shop did it can I file an insurance claim possibly?

Help!


Shop lost it? Rip them a new one.

[John510]

Thanks guys for the help. My cowl partial vin should still be there and title has been under my name for 8 years. Looks like ill call CHP and try to get a new one.

Will this kill the value of my car?

[71RS/SS396]

Will this kill the value of my car?

It's certainly not going to help it! The title is going to be branded forever and will always raise questions during a sale. I wouldn't touch a car with a 10 ft pole that has vin tag issues. NC is pretty tough about registration of out of state cars that are 35+ years old so vin tag problems make it even tougher.

[SLO_Z28]

The CHP will issue a new VIN, it will look like this:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/6R07C2262xxCalifretaged.jpg
It shouldn't affect the value much, if any. There are dozens of cars that get this every week at most CHP offices.

I would raise hell about that shop "losing" it, that's a pretty big deal.

[Tuske427]

I too had a replacement VIN on my '57 Plymouth. It was quite painless. Took the car to the CHP, they took it inside, and out it came with a replacement VIN.

Just be sure to clearly tell your insurance company. Mine questioned me about it a year or two later as the # differed from what they thought it "should be". After explaining it to them (again) all was good.

[qnitro]

John, if the shop lost it hold them responsible.. this will hurt you value for sure, getting a replacement tag will follow that car forever. Im not huge on litigation, but the amount of cash you have dropped on this needs some attention..I would sue.

[MarkM66]

Did you ever get your VIN plate figured out?

As for it affecting the value, I doubt it. It's not like you have a COPO, Yenko, z-28, or something rare and numbers matching.

Heck, they issue VIN's to '69 Camaro bodies made in Taiwan. :)

[geberhard]

maybe try these guys:

http://datatags.com/

from their site: Think of us if you have a corroded, heater holed, sand blasted, over sprayed, rusted, bent or missing problem tag.

Real cars only need apply!
We will not help with hallucinations or dreams!

Proof of ownership, pedigree check, required in some cases.."

John either way be careful, not sure if any legal issue with getting a VIN tag made. Good luck!

May be worth checking with them a they probably go through this all the time.

[Rick D]

from their site: Think of us if you have a corroded, heater holed, sand blasted, over sprayed, rusted, bent or missing problem tag.

Real cars only need apply!
We will not help with hallucinations or dreams!

Proof of ownership, pedigree check, required in some cases.."

John either way be careful, not sure if any legal issue with getting a VIN tag made. Good luck!

May be worth checking with them a they probably go through this all the time.

They do not make vin tags only the data tag on the cowl, or trim tag! Removing and replacing a vin tag is illegal. They would go to jail if they sold vin tags.

[MarkM66]

They do not make vin tags only the data tag on the cowl, or trim tag! Removing and replacing a vin tag is illegal. They would go to jail if they sold vin tags.

From the laws I've read, removing a vin in an attempt to misrepresent/tampering is illegal.

Removing and re-installing for repairing damage, restoration etc. is not illegal.


http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=146608

[waynieZ]

http://www.thecamaro.com/Decoding/VIN-Vehicle-Identification-Number-Decoding/1968-Camaro-VIN-Location-and-Decoding.php

Randy Thanks for posting. Good information for those in need .