Licensed and Bonded Vehicle VIN Verification
Due to recent efforts by the California DMV to license cars that meet all safety and emissions requirements, I can no longer verify
grey area vehicles made for foreign markets for registration in Montana under a Montana LLC. All such vehicles must have updated emissions systems to meed California law.
Introduction
I am a licensed by the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles and bonded VIN Verifier to help make it easier when registering an out of state vehicle or a vehicle that for whatever reason has fallen from the DMV's records. I do the verifications at your home or place of business and I have very flexible hours so as long as I am available and there is sufficient light to see in order to do the verification, the time or day of the week is not too important.
Every vehicle is different and not all can be verified by a licensed VIN verifier so to be assured of a successful verification, some groundwork on your part is required which will save you both money and time. For details of what you need to do, please select the applicable sections below and if you have questions specific to the verification, I cannot answer these questions via text or telephone so be sure to send me an email with as many details as you can about the vehicle(s), including Year, Make, Model, Body Style AND, very important, the VIN.
I am a mobile service without a physical location. Verifications are done only at your location.
It is an inspection of a number of things including the year, make, model, body type model (body configuration), GVRW (gross vehicle weight), mileage, the Federal Certification Label, an emissions label (for 1968 and newer vehicles) and, above all and most importantly the primary VIN and where and how it is attached along with the secondary VIN (1970 and newer) and its location. Part of the process is to make sure that the numbers and labels on the vehicle match the supporting documents so it is required that you provide either the title, registration card or MSO/MDO (Manufacturer's Statement/Document of Origin. Note that the DMV will require the original document but I can work with a copy or good digital scan.
It is your responsibility to know the location of the VIN plate, especially on vintage vehicles, where it may not be in one of the usual locations and make it accessible and readable if necessary by cleaning or removing anything that may be blocking a clear view. If you don't know where it is, send the Make, Model, Body Style, Year and VIN from your title so that I can research it for you in advance of the appointment. There is an additional fee for VIN location research.
If any of these things are not there, please tell me in advance as otherwise my verification fee and any mileage will be payable in full if I get there and am unable to verify the vehicle. Please read below and throughout this site for additional requirements and details.
- I must see the vehicle. This is a PHYSICAL inspection so I will need to personally examine the vehicle itself.
- I require full access around the vehicle including under-hood and, in some cases, in the trunk. Please completely remove any vehicle covers or tarps and place the vehicle away from any walls or obstructions prior to my visit and make sure that I have full access.
- Vehicle need not be in running condition but must be assembled with inflated tires, sheetmetal and driveline and at least the front seat and instrument panel with readable odometer.
- The vehicle must have the original VIN tag affixed from the factory. If the VIN tag has been removed or obviously reattached, I cannot verify it. In addition to the VIN tag, 1970 and newer vehicles must also have the VIN on the FMVSS certification sticker intact and factory affixed.
- 1968 and newer vehicles must have the California emissions label. On early vehicles, it is often missing so if yours is missing or unreadable, be sure you contact the manufacturer or club source for a replacement before setting up an appointment.
- Supporting documents, such as title, registration certificate (even if expired), factory/manufacturer Statement of Origin (MSO/MCO), U.S. Government SF 97-1 or Salvage Certificate. A bill of sale or other informal, DVD fee payment receipt or non-state issued document is not sufficient.
- Readable odometer as I must record the current mileage. If electronic, power must be available to display it.
- Out of state vehicles with proper supporting documents, such as title or registration card.
- Any vehicle, trailer or motorcycle (with some limitations *), with non-foreign supporting documents for which there is no California record. This may include vehicles previously registered in California but which have fallen from the DMV records due to a non-operational status having not been filed or vehicles from another state.
* Motorcycles must have the original engine with frame, engine number and federal certification label in readable condition. Trailers MUST have both the federal certification label with VIN and the VIN stamped onto the frame. The label alone is not sufficient.
All other vehicle verifications must be referred to the DMV or the California Highway Patrol for inspection. See Vehicle requirements for other details that apply to all vehicles.
- Vehicles with no supporting documents, such as title or registration card. I cannot accept bills of sale, DMV receipts or other non-official documents as supporting documents. If you have no supporting documents, you may have to request something, such as a Statement of Origin, from the manufacturer or a copy of the title from the dealer.
- Any vehicles with supporting documents from a foreign country.
- Motorcycles with engine changes.
- Automobiles, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles with an unladen weight of 8000 pounds or less whose Federal Certification Label (Safety Label) is missing, altered, unreadable or does not match the primary VIN.
- Trailers without BOTH the Federal Certification Label containing the VIN and the VIN tag itself either stamped into the frame or into a permanently affixed metal plate.
- Revived salvage or revived junk vehicles. This refers to a vehicle for which a salvage title has been issued in California or any other state.
- Incomplete or disassembled vehicles. To clarify, the vehicle does not need to be in running condition but it needs to look like it could be made runnable reasonably easily. It must have the engine and drive line, all sheet metal, tires, a front seat and the odometer installed.
NOTE: licensed VIN verifiers may NOT verify motorcycles with foreign titles or other supporting documentation.
- Motorcycle must have the original engine. A licensed verifier cannot verify a motorcycle which has had the engine changed even if the replacement is the same as the original.
- The engine and frame number are required and must be made accessible before my visit. If there are fairings or other accessories covering these from a clear view, they must be removed and the areas cleaned as needed for easy reading.
- Although accessories need not be installed, the motorcycle itself must be assembled.
- See Vehicle requirements for other details that apply to all vehicles.
Recreational Vehicles often have more wear and tear than passenger cars from use and from outdoor parking for long periods of time. Due to their construction, the Federal Certification (FMVSS) label, Emissions label and VIN tag are often located in obscure places and worn or even unreadable. It is your responsibility to be sure that these things are located and are readable prior to my visit.
- 1968 and newer recreation vehicles must have the Emissions label intact and readable.
- 1970 and newer recreation vehicles must have the US Federal Certification (FMVSS) label containing the secondary VIN that matches the primary VIN. Both the VIN or VIN plate AND the FMVSS must be there.
- The FMVSS certification label must be intact and readable. On older recreational vehicles, this is often weathered away or faded so be sure to obtain a replacement if needed from the manufacturer before the verification is done.
- You must locate in advance and provide a clear view of both the primary and secondary VINs (see below) and the US Federal Certification (FMVSS) labels.
- IMPORTANT: Trailers MUST have the primary VIN factory stamped on the frame or sometimes on a metal plate that is riveted to the frame, easily accessible, cleaned as needed and clearly readable for the verification. This is NOT the VIN on a label but rather it is typically found stamped on the front of the frame or on the tongue but on some mobile homes it is on the front of the frame behind the skirting.
- 1970 and newer trailers must also have the US Federal Certification (FMVSS) label containing the secondary VIN that matches the primary VIN. Both the stamped VIN AND the FMVSS label must be there.
- The FMVSS certification label must be intact and readable. On older trailers, this is often weathered away or faded so be sure to obtain a replacement if needed from the manufacturer before the verification is done.
- Note that many trailer manufacturers seem to think that the VIN on the FMVSS is the only required VIN but it is not and they must still have the primary VIN stamped on the chassis. If yours does not have it, be sure to contact the manufacturer prior to setting up an appointment with us to have them rectify the situation.
- See Vehicle requirements for other details that apply to all vehicles.
Vehicles 1968 and newer must have emissions labels in place and vehicles 1970 and newer must have the US Federal Certification (FMVSS) label in place, both fully readable. Otherwise vintage car verifications differ only slightly from the later models so be sure to read the Vehicle requirements section too. It is your responsibility to be sure your car meets the minimum requirements before the appointment date and time and that you know where the VINs are located and make them available for viewing.
- As with any vehicle to be verified, it must be assembled. To clarify, the vehicle does not need to be in running condition but it needs to look like it could be made runnable reasonably easily. It must have the engine and drive line, sheet metal, tires holding air, a front seat and the odometer installed.
- The original VIN plate must be factory attached and readable. If painted over too heavily, the excess must be removed so that it can be read.
- If a reproduction VIN plate was installed during restoration and it does not appear to be factory attached, the vehicle must be verified by the CHP.
- For 1968 and newer, the vehicle must have the factory emissions label and equipment. NOTE: I do not check that the equipment is there but you might be asked by the DMV to have it checked by an emissions expert.
- For 1970 and newer, the vehicle must have the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) certification sticker with the VIN printed on it.
- All vehicles regardless of year must have some form of non-foreign state or factory issued supporting documents, such as title or registration card (even if expired). No verifier can verify a vehicle without one of these.
- See Vehicle requirements for other details that apply to all vehicles.
Although I do not have a complete list, so far I have discovered that there are other states which will accept a VIN verification from a California licensed VIN verifier. Most states do not advertise this fact so it will be up to you to determine if the state where you will be locating will accept the verification or not and all will require that it be done on their own form. In other words, I do the verification as usual using the California reg31 VIN verification form, then transfer the pertinent details to the form from the other state. You must provide a couple printed copies of the form or, preferably, advise in advance so that I can find and download a copy online. There is a fee for each additional form required. When submitting the Quote Request, be sure to select the number needed in the Additional Forms field. For example, if one vehicle is being verified, you would generally select one (1) in that field. Below are the states known so far that will accept my verification and possibly many others will too.
Affiliations
I am a private individual rather than a business and am licensed through the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) but I am not an employee or in any way related to that government entity. I am a vintage car owner and have been all my life but I am not affiliated with any business, such as a car dealership, lease or finance company, insurance, repossession company or anything else and I am totally and one hundred percent free-lance without any conflict of interest.
Disclosures
It is important to clarify that neither the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) nor the CHP (California Highway Patrol) charges a fee for a VIN verification. However, neither the DMV nor the CHP travels to your vehicle so you must be prepared to drive or trailer it to them.
