The Ford Barn

Gerard · 07-08-2012, 07:18 PM

HI GUY'S JUST WANT TO KNOW, DOES THE DMV IN CALIFORNIA STILL STORE THE PLATE NUMBER DETAILS FROM 1963 ??.

Like to find out if a car is reported stolen in the past. Came across something ( model A ) with no title but with a 1963 black /yellow plate. car is for sale in Upstate NY

Thanks in advance

jrapose · 07-08-2012, 08:41 PM

No, they purge the data base after seven years, although if it was stolen I would think that the California Highway Patrol would have a record...those guys never forget....

JoeWay · 07-08-2012, 08:41 PM

If registration was paid on the plate/car within the last (I think) 7 years, it will be in the DMV computer. Now--if the plate WAS on a reported stolen car, I suspect that information would be more persistent. We've had several stories in the last few years of cars stolen many more than 7 years ago being returned to rightful owners based on vehicle ID, and I would imagine the plate numbers were recorded as well.

The 1963 plate is still in regular use in CA. DMV tries to collect them and issue new plates during transfers, but (in my experience) yield readily to those who know they can keep them. I have a '64 and a '65 car that have been continuously registered with and transferred with their original 1963 plates.

Joe

(on edit--gotta be quick around here. Hello, Joel--good to see you last Tuesday.)

Mike V. Florida · 07-08-2012, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWay

We've had several stories in the last few years of cars stolen many more than 7 years ago being returned to rightful owners based on vehicle ID, ...

VW returned after 34 years.

Gerard · 07-09-2012, 09:12 AM

Thanks for the info Gent's

d.j. moordigian · 07-09-2012, 05:32 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Mike, nice story on the VW.

Now, if I could just get back my 1976 Chevy dualie crew cab, chrome wheels, 6 new
radials and a new Diehard battery....taken in 1980...

Richard Wilson · 07-10-2012, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by JoeWay

We've had several stories in the last few years of cars stolen many more than 7 years ago being returned to rightful owners based on vehicle ID,

I wonder what happens when a Model A owner tries to register their new Model A, and it has had the engine changed out. The DMV inspector finds that the replacement engine serial number came from a stolen vehicle many years before?

For some Model A's the frame and/or the engine have been changed through the years. The original title serial number does not match the frame or the engine serial number as few if any owners in the past would have had their title changed to the new numbers. What happens if in checking, the serial number on the frame or engine turns up as being from a stolen vehicle?

I have an ideal that the new owner would loose his car.

07-08-2012, 07:18 PM	#1
Gerard Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Creston Canada BC Posts: 609	Dmv california HI GUY'S JUST WANT TO KNOW, DOES THE DMV IN CALIFORNIA STILL STORE THE PLATE NUMBER DETAILS FROM 1963 ??. Like to find out if a car is reported stolen in the past. Came across something ( model A ) with no title but with a 1963 black /yellow plate. car is for sale in Upstate NY Thanks in advance Last edited by Gerard; 07-08-2012 at 07:19 PM. Reason: ad text

07-08-2012, 08:41 PM	#2
jrapose Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 249	Re: Dmv california No, they purge the data base after seven years, although if it was stolen I would think that the California Highway Patrol would have a record...those guys never forget....

07-08-2012, 08:41 PM	#3
JoeWay Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy CA Posts: 752	Re: Dmv california If registration was paid on the plate/car within the last (I think) 7 years, it will be in the DMV computer. Now--if the plate WAS on a reported stolen car, I suspect that information would be more persistent. We've had several stories in the last few years of cars stolen many more than 7 years ago being returned to rightful owners based on vehicle ID, and I would imagine the plate numbers were recorded as well. The 1963 plate is still in regular use in CA. DMV tries to collect them and issue new plates during transfers, but (in my experience) yield readily to those who know they can keep them. I have a '64 and a '65 car that have been continuously registered with and transferred with their original 1963 plates. Joe (on edit--gotta be quick around here. Hello, Joel--good to see you last Tuesday.) __________________ 1929 Tudor since 1962 Feather River A's

07-09-2012, 09:12 AM	#5
Gerard Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Creston Canada BC Posts: 609	Re: Dmv california Thanks for the info Gent's

07-09-2012, 05:32 PM	#6
d.j. moordigian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fresno, Ca. Posts: 3,636	Re: Dmv california Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Mike, nice story on the VW. Now, if I could just get back my 1976 Chevy dualie crew cab, chrome wheels, 6 new radials and a new Diehard battery....taken in 1980...

07-10-2012, 07:48 AM	#7
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	Re: Dmv california Originally Posted by JoeWay We've had several stories in the last few years of cars stolen many more than 7 years ago being returned to rightful owners based on vehicle ID, I wonder what happens when a Model A owner tries to register their new Model A, and it has had the engine changed out. The DMV inspector finds that the replacement engine serial number came from a stolen vehicle many years before? For some Model A's the frame and/or the engine have been changed through the years. The original title serial number does not match the frame or the engine serial number as few if any owners in the past would have had their title changed to the new numbers. What happens if in checking, the serial number on the frame or engine turns up as being from a stolen vehicle? I have an ideal that the new owner would loose his car.