california DMV blues

jeepdog · #1 08-08-2002, 10:29 PM

I live in California and bought a jeepster a few months ago from Nevada and recently tried to registered it in my name. The DMV insists that the car has vin numbers in two locations. As far as I know, the jeepster only has one vin number on the firewall. Is there another number?

dbricco · #2 08-08-2002, 10:47 PM

Thats a great question..It has been alleged that there are numbers on the frame. I think you will have an easier time sighting bigfoot.

ronster · #3 08-09-2002, 12:41 AM

Don, I read that there was a number on top of the left frame rail. I had to have read it here somewheres. I think it might have been one of toad's posts. Except if that was the case, I would expect you would have seen it already on at least one of your parts cars. How's that for no help? Ron

Mr Fast Bucks · #4 08-09-2002, 06:22 AM

1) Steel plate on firewall

2) Label on door jam, drivers side.

Caver Dave · #5 08-09-2002, 07:38 AM

And on a Commando, the plate is inside the drivers door jam. None under the hood (other than the paint/interior codes). I've also heard rumors of some type of stamping on the frame. Too bad the space between it and the tub is like 2" and covered with paint & 30 years worth of filth [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img].

Phytoplankton · #6 08-09-2002, 09:33 AM

Jeepdog, whats the problem with DMV? Is your VIN plate missing? If they say there is another VIN, they should be able to tell you where it is. There is a resource for finding VIN's it's the California Highway Patrol, they have a book that tells them where all VIN #'s are located (provided it goes back that far and lists Jeepsters). The other option is don't deal with DMV, if you have Cal. State Auto Assoc. auto insurance (and some other companies too), they can do the registration and title change at their office, they are much less bureaucratic than DMV, and you'll have an easier time of it. Let me know what the hang-up is, I used to work in law enforcement and I might be able to get you a contact number. I had a similar problem trying to register a boat with no HIN (hull identifiaction number), because the rotted transom had been rebuilt and the HIN stamped into the transom was gone. I was able to find the other "secret" HIN.

sidblumner · #7 08-09-2002, 10:22 AM

I personally just in April registered my Jeepster via the Southern Cal Auto Club. The guy looked on the firewall where the VIN number was(I told him it was there). Took data I filled out paper work and got plates in my hand. Go directly to your auto club DONOT stop at DMV. If you need aditional paper work they will help you with it.

sid

AndyM · #8 08-09-2002, 10:40 AM

If you have the VIN tag on the firewall, why isn't that enough? Even if its missing, you can usually get one assigned if you do a statement of facts. I don't have a firewall tag. Mine has a number stamped into the firewall itself which matches the title. Good enough for me. It was also good enough for the California DMV when I registered it.

jeepdog · #9 08-09-2002, 10:56 AM

Jim, great idea but will not work. I have AAA insurance and have registered many cars in there office as long as its a California car (no out of state cars allowed)
I have the vin plate on the car located under the hood on the firewall and have a title from the guy I bought it from and a bill of sale with the vin number on it. DMV insists that there is two places the number should be on the car.

I have 4 parts cars and two bare frames and can not find a number on any of them.

cherrypicker · #10 08-09-2002, 11:10 AM

Why not register one of your partsters and swap tags.