VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Hoping to contribute something soon...in the meantime...

My Dad gave me his 41 pickup restomod. He is 93 and cannot remember what he ate for breakfast, let alone the work he did 30 years ago on the pickup.

The VIN on the CA title ends in "CAL". I have a bill of sale from 1992 with the "new" VIN printed on it. However, the number on the frame does NOT match, not even close.

Possible that at some point when the previous owner began working on it that it may not have had a title so CA DMV assigned a new number? Anyone think of another reason why the VIN doesn't match. I'd have to remove some paint but I can clearly see where the number is stamped on the frame so wonder why they didn't use that number. Hmmm

Educate me my friends. Thanks in advance.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

In Colorado, I can go to the State Hwy Patrol and have them verify a VIN that I can then go to the DMV and get a title. Georgia should have something similar.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Thanks Steve. My issue is that the VIN on the title does NOT match the stamped VIN (or production number as some call it) on the top of the frame just behind the front axle on the driver's side. I'll call them tomorrow and see what they say...fingers crossed.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

ga. does have a similar process, $50.00 for the inspection verify dmv and the rest is easy

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Wouldn't fly in Nebraska.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

He's in CA, not any other state. Needs CA help

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

You've always got to remember that VEHICLE THEFT can be a reason.

Coop


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Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Sounds like but that's just a guess is that your truck has a CA assigned vin. There should be a metal sticker/plate riveted to the frame or body. Or at least that is what was on an OT MG I had years ago. Not exactly sure where it might be on your truck - if it has one at all. The local vin verifier at the CHP might be able to give you a clue as where to look. Regardless you need to get this sorted with the DMV/CHP. JMO



Edit: I found some paper work showing the CA assigned vin (from 1971) starting with DMV and ending with CA. DMV*****CA. Numbering has probably changed since then.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

You've always got to remember that VEHICLE THEFT can be a reason. You need to get the discrepancy straightened out for several reasons, like difficult to sell, won't be covered by insurance if involved in a claim, or even for legal ID purposes with your state.

Coop


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Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Local VIN verifier was already here and neither of us could find any sticker/plate. It seems kinda stupid to put it somewhere you cannot find it. Spoke to CA DMV and the guy I spoke to has never heard of a VIN ending in "CAL". Typical. I buffed the paint off the original VIN and, while the numbers to the left of the - are hard to read, it appears it is 18 and the VIN is 18-XXXXXXX and the last character is definitely an "I" which looks exactly like the font in quotes I just typed. Not a "1" unless that's how they did it back in 41. Sooooo....tomorrow should be fun at my local DMV. I'll keep y'all posted and thanks for the looks and comments.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

the GA VIN inspection is free. Already had it done on another vehicle. It likely won't be easy with a different VIN on the vehicle than on the title...but I've been wrong before...many times :o

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Here is the VIN plate assigned by the State of California in the early seventies. It is riveted to the door jam on the drivers side. Note the it ends in CA. I have blanked out a couple of numbers in the center.

Charlie Stephens

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Looks exactly like the one on my MG from 1971. Mine was on the frame just in front of the firewall. A buddy has one on a 1930 Model A 2dr. that is on the A pillar driver's side.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Yep; And vin numbers were entered into a Federal Data base some yrs ago. RG #10 in Oregon, V8er had a duplicate set show up- resolved finally. Trans numbers vs frame numbers situation. Newc

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Here is a thread on the HAMB, CA DMV help.Very interesting.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/posts/14834103/

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

In Minnesota, for a while back in the 70's/80's , if you titled a dead old vehicle they did not care about the numbers on the frame or motor, they just assigned a new VIN number like Charlie shows in the post above. It was an aluminum plate with adhesive on it, and two spots marked where you were supposed to drive in some twisty nails or rivots to make it permanent. Problem is many times the vehicle is under restoration, and folks want to wait until the frame is done, or whatever, and then it gets lost or forgotten about and never installed. I've had several old cars that show a modern 17 digit number on the title, and yet that tag is not present, because they never put it on. Probably left it in one of those "special places "where it wont get lost. Of coarse, I would never do that...well, maybe, well, only once...well, maybe more than once...end of discussion.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

what's the trans no ?

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

I bet the truck had one of those tags on it at some point, and someone thought it was ugly and took it off. Maybe it's in the glove box or something?

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Lake Lanier area, so Hall county or Forsyth?

All you have is the California title, no bill of sale?

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

The GA State Patrol, which typically does the inspections, wants to see a VIN/Serial stamped on a plate on the firewall secured with rivets. That is how they are trained. If you have a replacement VIN issued from another state but no plate on the vehicle with that new VIN stamped you are likely going to fail the inspection.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Good luck on your quest. Dealing with the DMV can be a nightmare.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

It has a Chevy 350 V8 engine and Turbo 350 tranny, so that won't help, but thanks for the idea.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Heading to DMV today to see what happens. Wish me luck!

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Just Curious, What are you trying to accomplish? Do you have a registration from CA DMV. If you have a Registration, just keep paying the yearly fee. Asking the DMV to get involved can create more issues. Like you father, I forget what happened on my vehicles and I try to write good notes. I think my Dodge Power Wagon did not have license plates but there were some plates on the registration that were place holder numbers. Once I got it up and running, 3 years later, I ordered some "special" plates that were in an older CA style (Yellow on Black) and they switched to those on the registration and pink slip.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

If the pickup still has the original motor check to see if that number is stamped on the motor. That sounds like a number that may have been stamped on a motor. California used motor numbers many years ago. I've seen Model A motors that were rebuilt with a number and the CAL at the end of the number. It was an assigned number by the DMV.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

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ALL You's Guys ..... Pay attention here! If you have any sort of discrepancy with the numbers matching on your title and frame, there's a reason and ya need to get it fixed! If you have found a way around all this that SEEMS to satisfy the state DMV, you're only fooling yourself. The bomb is gonna drop if you ever have an accident, theft or loss of any kind and need to make a claim. And what you have going on through some "cutesy" maneuvers to fool the DMV into giving you a title for your 'numbers-mess' is likely to turn-out to be deemed ILLEGAL in some form or manner. Remember, insurance companies don't like paying-out their 'profit monies' if they can get around it. When you make a claim for some sort of loss on your vehicle and the insurance company finds that the numbers don't REALLY match, your claim will more than likely be denied, which could also leave you high & dry when it comes to any lawsuits brought against you in a liability situation. Not only all of the above, but most smart and legitimate buyers of a vehicle won't want any part of purchasing the vehicle with goobered-up numbers. You'll finally realize that you've fooled nobody but yourself when the shtuff eventually makes contact with the rotating blade (when the crap hits the fan) in one form or another.

Coop


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Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

The tag with the California vin is your vin number as far as Cailfornia is concerned. It is assigned by the state of California. You will need to ignore the Ford stamped vin.

I built a trailer from the back half of a 3/4 ton truck. Had it inspected and was assigned a vin on a riveted tag just like yours.

I would just transfer to Georgia as is to avoid lots of potential headaches.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

You might have a situation like mine. In Alabama and I thought also in Georgia, cars over 30 years old cannot be titled, only registered with the serial number. So in my case, my original ALabama vehicle did not have a title, so the person who owned it previously in SOuth Carolina bought a "1932 Ford" South Carolina title and titled the car there with a title that did not match the frame number. So you might just have a title someone bought from one of those guys in a swap meet that sells "collectable vintage paperwork". Since the title I got with my car was useless to me, ALabama would not accept it, I sold it to one of those vendors and had my car registered with the state with its original frame number.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Ultimately you want to get it registered in Georgia right? How about if you just take the truck and have Georgia title it right with the frame number? A VIN verifier should be able to search for the frame number and see if it is already used somewhere. If it's clear, just have your dad sign a bill of sale, tell them he's misplaced the paperwork long ago and go forward with a GA title.

It may be that the reason for the swap is that someone long ago replaced the frame under the truck. It's common that people would separate bodies from frames to put a modern (like a TCI frame) under a body, keep the old title with the body, and sell the frame which now has a titling problem to someone who needed a new frame cheap. The person who bought the original frame as a replacement might've covered up the frame number & acquired a CA assigned Vin number to title it. Titles are supposed to follow the frames not the bodies but nobody looked that carefully and it was pretty easy to do this title dance in CA back in the day. Not any more, California is real strict on frame numbers, assigned tags, etc. You don't want to mess with the CA DMV if you can avoid it if everything doesn't match up. Wherever that original title with that frame number went it may be long gone out of the system so you'd be good to go to re-title that frame with it.

I'd keep it out of the CA DMV hands if you can because CA can sure mess that up for ya.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Where is the vehicle currently registered? California or Georgia? Who is the current registered owner according to that state?

It appears Georgia's lax titling and registration for vehicles older than 1986 would simply require a bill of sale from the previous owner.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

:DSheriff's deputy came over today and completed the VIN verification form with the original frame stamped VIN. Went to DMV with my driver's license, proof of insurance (which I had updated to the correct VIN), bill of sale ($1). Since the CA title VIN did not match the frame stamped VIN, GA will only register the vehicle but not retitle. They don't require a title here on vehicles older than (can't remember the year), and it will be easily transferable to my son when I'm tool old to enjoy the pickup. My dad had a custom "GARYS41" CA plate on the pickup so, to respect the restomod he performed, I ordered a GA plate with the same. Left with temp plate and temp registration with originals to follow in the mail.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Georgia would not accept a State of Washington title for my 36 when I registered it 8-10 years ago but did give me a registration. The explanation was that Georgia didn’t title vehicles back in 1936. I don’t know if that is true or not. Georgia will now issue title older vehicles. Go figure.
John

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Glad you got it squared away all above board and legal like.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

In Georgia, all you need is a bill-of-sale on a pre-1963 auto. Some metro area counties add the T-22 form due to the rampant auto thefts. Sell the car to a friend from a county outside the metro area for $1 and let him register it in his name and apply for a Georgia conditional title, he can just sell it back to you for $1 and you can transfer the new title to yourself. I've had to resort to this a number of times over the years I am in Fulton county which is the pickiest of them all.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

After you get your tag registration in GA you can apply for "vanity/collector car" title.
Not sure what's it's called but it looks pretty mch like any other GA vehicle title.
It's not very documented by the DMV - cost me about 30 dollars a few years ago for 57 Chevy.
Not a requirement to have one.

Re: VIN on title doesn't match VIN on frame
 

Hmmm...I'll have to check it out. Thanks