Re-titling a car

[MaineShark]

What's involved in re-titling a car as something else? Obviously, you need to own the other car, and be able to physically transfer the VIN plate from the "donor" to your car, but what's the legal process involved? It might be nice to avoid emissions requirements by titling the car as something pre-emissions, but something tells me there has to be a trick to it, or else more people would do it.

Anyone know what the deal is (at least, in-general - each state would have its own rules, of course)?

Joe

 

[JohnZ]

The only legal process involved is a trip to jail; swapping VIN plates from one car to another is a felony Federal offense.:nono

 

[JonM]

Remember...there is more then one place the vin is posted on a car...frame has the same vin as the plate.

 

[6shark9]

What determines the identification of the car?

If you make 1 car out of 2 donors, would it be the frame?

 

[MaineShark]

There was a recent example posted about a Cavalier on eBay that was titled as a '53 Corvette.

And 6shark9 brings up the point of replacement parts. If you are doing an extensive restoration, you may indeed end up replacing many or even most of the parts of the car. Is it the same car? The VIN plate is attached to the windshield pillar. The drivetrain is attached to the frame. If I had a '74 with a damaged body, and a '75 with a damaged drivetrain, I could switch the '75 body onto the '74 frame. Would I then have to upgrade the emissions equipment to '75 specs (catalytic converter), or could I switch the VIN plate from the '74 onto the '75 body, and keep the '74 emissions equipment (dual exhausts)?

It's been done, and cars are sold with an "incorrect" VIN plate, so I assume there must be some legal avenue to accomplish it. And that's what I'm curious about. If there is a legal way to register the change, to avoid potential problems.

Joe

 

[JonM]

In Maine you would apply and get a "Rebuilt Titles": which means to replace any component part of a vehicle that is declared salvaged. A rebuilt salvage title is issued when two or more vehicles with different frames are joined or a salvage vehicle has five or more component parts replaced.



http://www.state.me.us/sos/bmv/registration/types.htm

 

[2tone81]

This is the kind of stuff that makes me glad that I grew up in the sixties.......and have a good knowledge of vin tags and how to spot a retag.


I am not saying that the majority of Detroit iron from the past is being rebuilt or remanufactured.....but there sure is a bunch of it.


Have a knowledge of what your dream cars VIN tag and ID stampings are supposed to look like before you plunk down those hard earned thousands on that car........recognize retag and clipped cars as something to stay away from. Jim

 

[MaineShark]

In Maine you would apply and get a "Rebuilt Titles": which means to replace any component part of a vehicle that is declared salvaged. A rebuilt salvage title is issued when two or more vehicles with different frames are joined or a salvage vehicle has five or more component parts replaced.

Actually, Maine won't issue a title for a car older than 15 years, so it's a moot point, in this state.

Joe