I recently bought a bunch of parts and in one of the boxes was a Indiana title and vin plate. I did some research on the numbers and found it was to a 54 F500 COE. Now I've had my share of cars and trucks and never had a title problem so I don't know what I can do with this. I've been told I can sell it but I'm a little unsure about that. Anybody know if this is trash or treasure sort a speak to someone?

 

Personally, I would be very hesitant to sell the vin plate and title mostly because it is illegal if used improperly. Ultimately, what really matters is the VIN number stamped on the frame. That is what the DMV considers the true and accurate identification marker. I have registered dozens of old vehicles and the DMV looks at the VIN plate and calls it good but it takes just one time when they compare vin plate with frame stamp and then, oops. Do people sell plates/titles, sure, but it is illegal. Also, the SERIAL/VIN you have may have been reported as destroyed which would open a whole new can of worms if it was attached to a new vehicle. Just my .02.

FYI - Be careful, FTE frowns heavily on the suggestion of illegal activity. Put the title and vin plate in a nice frame and hang it in the shop.

 

I don't know about it being "illegal" to sell a vehicle title. People sell all kinds of historical documents; stock certificates, marriage certificates, and vehicle titles would probably fall into that same category. As a seller, one would have no control over the buyer's use of the product. It could be they collect these things like people collect coins or stamps. Certainly not illegal. Now, if the buyer were to restamp a frame with a number that matches their new title, that would be illegal and against federal law, but again, not something the seller would or could be responsible for. That's my 2c.

 

Well in talking with a few folks in the car biz today selling it online can't be done however I could sell it privately. I think I'm gonna file 13 this as it doesn't seem to be worth the hassle just to make a couple bucks.

 

You can sell it online as a "historical document".

 

These state plates do not match any frame stamp. That is the danger.

 

That certainly is the best and most honest choice.

 

Actually, it depends. Most DMV offices do not have any one that even knows about the vin stamped in the frame. They check the windshield, or door sticker. As for titles to antique/special interest vehicles, they are worth more than garbage. When building an antique/special interest vehicle, you don't have to have a numbers matching body or frame. If you have a bill of sale for the frame, and a title to a cab that came off another rig, you take both to DMV, and they assign a new vin, or assign whichever one of the two they choose. It is not illegal to sell that information off a vehicle that old. It's called restoration. The industry knows that many folks have to aquire pieces from many sources to assemble an old car or truck. Take my rig for instance. I have the title to the frame, title to a '56, and bill of sale for another cab. I take all of it to DMV, and they issue a new title, in my name, as whatever the vehicle most represents. They issue a frame sticker, that they affix to the frame, and any pre-existing id numbers become void. The plate can be kept for show purposes, in its original location, and the difference is noted through DMV. The best thing to do, is check your states laws, or ask a DMV person from your state. You can have them stamp the title, or mark it in the system as non-existent vehicle, special interest value only, or some crap like that.

 

Or, you can mail it to me, and I'll put in on the wall along side some old trim pieces, and things like that in my garage. I've got several old vin plates, without titles, and they are just a decoration, and a reminder of the numerous old trucks that have passed through my fingers.

 

Kelley Blue Books for decades have listed the location of hidden VIN's. These are not the same Blue Books sold in book stores that any member of general public can leaf thru.

Used by DMV, Police, FBI, Banks & Finance Co's.

Here in CA the CHP does most vehicle inspections, not the DMV, and are well aware of hidden VIN's.

 

Your assumption are way off base - Having missed matched information is looking for trouble
Oh - Did you know that there are Law Officers here on FTE?

 

The "illegal" part comes in when a person utters a title as legitimate and belonging to their project instead of what the title was originally for. I was under the assumption, maybe falsely, that the OP wanted to know the value of his stuff for purposes beyond "historical document" use. You are correct, It is true there is nothing wrong selling a piece of paper and the seller may have no control over its eventual use if it is sold. I have seen many sellers at car shows, etc sell vintage titles. Nothing wrong with that. I would be leary however selling both items together even if its legal. If a buyer did something illegal with the items it still doesn't prevent legal hassles down the road for the seller. Sadly we are guilty until proven innocent in this world. By the time things get "sorted out", the seller is out more time/money that its worth. That's just my opinion.

 

I agree. Think of it this way . . . it might be your truck that gets stolen and illegally reregistered. Then it is harder to find.

It is kind of like buying a truck without a title. You just don't know.

Better safe than sorry.

 

No, it's not off base, and it wasn't an assumption. It was a statement based on knowledge of various state laws regarding vehicle paperwork. The metal vin tag is attached to the vehicle body. The body can be replaced. What I said, and I am very familiar with the laws in many states, is that if you have the title, and tag, to a body, and the title, or bill of sale to a frame, and bills of sale to most, if not all, of the vehicles you used, most states have an "assembled" vehicle category. Most states ask for the paper work to the many vehicles you used, and assign a new number, and title. By the way, I work with the police here daily, have the penal codes for most states on my computer, and almost all but the tax codes for the fed.

 

I was wondering the same because I am taking parts from different places and different years to build one truck. It can't be illegal to do this, and I don't see how having mismatched numbers could be that odd. I guess as long as none of them are reported stolen... As for the title...send it to me, I need one......LOL