Non-matching Dash VIN Experience - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

shade · 04-02-2008, 01:48 PM

Around 8PM last night, a friend and I got pulled over by a police officer for supposedly streetracing(heard my friends super loud exhaust at 6500rpm). He followed us for about a mile from this highschool and finally decided to pull us over once we got to our houses(our houses are next to each other). Then comes the usual questions and trying to self-incriminate ourselves, he was just going to give us a warning anyway.

Everything went all gravy until he started checking for VINs. He asked me to take my school parking permit off my dash so he can look at my VIN, I told him my dash VIN wasn't going to match the rest of the car since I replaced the dash for another one that I bought from the junkyard. The officer then asks a dispatcher to run my dash VIN and it comes out to be in fact a junked car. He was sorta confused how I replaced the whole dash and proceeded telling me that he can impound my car for the non matching dash VIN. He asked me to pop my hood and I do so so he can see my VINs. The officer was pretty cool about the whole situation and since I was being a good cooperative little boy, he tried helping me out by refering me to a detective that handles such cases. The officer gives me the detectives number so I can talk to him and see to it that I get taken care of and hopefully get myself another identification number the legal way. My friend and I get a warning and the cop goes merrily away.

This morning, I called the referred detective and left a message. He then calls me back and we talk about my problem. He was another cool cop going out his way to help me out by handling my case instead of me trying to figure everything out through DMV with their six months process. The detective is going to call me again so they can look at my car again. He also asked me to email and fax some information such as copies of registration, dash purchase receipt, pictures of the VINs and my car. And so here I am on the computer trying to scan everything so I can send him all my information. The detective told me that he won't take away my dash but will take away the dash VIN and get me another identification number.

Please do not respond with "you should've replaced the dash VIN from your old one" because the nice cop answered me with "you cannot alter or mess with any of the VINs at all because that is illegal." Yes, swapping them out counts. I lost my old one and I was planning to the DMV route until last night happened.

Hope this helps some of you guys out. I will update later and see what happens from here.

drftwerks · 04-02-2008, 01:51 PM

has happened to me before, got put in back of cruiser, and held for 30 min, before i was listened to, after telling cop to look at all the other vins.

Bobafreak · 04-02-2008, 01:53 PM

hmm intresting i need to take care of mine as well. i dont have a vin plate period.

*exitspeed* · 04-02-2008, 01:56 PM

Sounds like a nice cop. I'm going to just keep the VIN from my old dash in the glove box. That way I can say "here it is. I swapped dashes".

I'm sure different, states, cities, municipalities have different laws about this. I'm honestly not worried about it.

shade · 04-02-2008, 01:57 PM

^^^Did you get a new VIN?

dori_sil8t · 04-02-2008, 01:58 PM

isnt there some body shops that are legally allowed to do so. if all the papers and what not are in order?

racepar1 · 04-02-2008, 02:02 PM

You need to go through the CHP (if you're in cali) to straighten it out. I had the same situation except they did impound my car! I have since replaced the dash AGAIN as I changed the interior color from blue to charcoal and the dash I got has no vin plate on it so I need to get that straight before it gets impounded again.

Bobafreak · 04-02-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exitspeed

Sounds like a nice cop. I'm going to just keep the VIN from my old dash in the glove box. That way I can say "here it is. I swapped dashes".

I'm sure different, states, cities, municipalities have different laws about this. I'm honestly not worried about it.

Thats what im currently doing right now i have it in my coin stash. I still thought they would hassle me about it.

Suk02Si · 04-02-2008, 02:22 PM

This happened to me a couple months ago. They will stamp a new VIN plate on you door jamb and they will keep the one on the dash. CHP impounded my car for a week because of this.

I asked the detective what the correct method was, he said to bring the car with its original dash in place and bring the new dash, so they can stamp the new dash or the car itself before it can be changed.

Bobafreak · 04-02-2008, 02:24 PM

well so much for that i junked it 3 months ago...sigh

vvtisupra · 04-02-2008, 02:27 PM

you're suppose to take that vin plate off and get a replacement vin plate put on your door. It has been done on my car.

shade · 04-02-2008, 02:28 PM

Wait, they just stamped your door jamb but didn't give you a dash VIN plate?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suk02Si

This happened to me a couple months ago. They will stamp a new VIN plate on you door jamb and they will keep the one on the dash. CHP impounded my car for a week because of this.

I asked the detective what the correct method was, he said to bring the car with its original dash in place and bring the new dash, so they can stamp the new dash or the car itself before it can be changed.

BoostedCoupe · 04-02-2008, 02:30 PM

this happened to me not to long ago to. Mine didnt get inpounded or anything the cop was really cool since all the vins matched but the one from the dash. i told him while he was looking at it that it was the wrong one. What would they do if i was away from the car like say in a store and they check the vin for a parking violation. Would they tow it away if the vin came back as a junked car? or would they just run the plates and get the vin and leave me a nice ticket.

rhs13 · 04-02-2008, 02:31 PM

that's crazy. i wonder what they'll say when they see that my car has no dash.

shade · 04-02-2008, 02:32 PM

^^Cop told me that they would tow it to the impound if it was missing or wrong VIN.

fromxtor · 04-02-2008, 02:32 PM

I just drilled out the rivets and rivted on my old plate to my new dash.

*exitspeed* · 04-02-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shade

^^^Did you get a new VIN?

No. I crashed my hatch. Took out the nice dash and put the nice dash in my coupe. So I'll just take the VIN plate off the shitty dash and put it in my glovebox JIC.

yudalicious · 04-02-2008, 03:37 PM

I replaced my dash awhile back. I just keep a document of the work did in my glove box, along with the old dash VIN plate. So far, no troubles with the law, except an emissions place did refuse to do it.

jackjack · 04-02-2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exitspeed

No. I crashed my hatch. Took out the nice dash and put the nice dash in my coupe. So I'll just take the VIN plate off the shitty dash and put it in my glovebox JIC.

thats what i did as well. never had any problems. sold the car to a friend and let him know what the deal was. most cops are fine as long as you explain everything.

Suk02Si · 04-02-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shade

Wait, they just stamped your door jamb but didn't give you a dash VIN plate?

No dash VIN anymore, they kept it. It was my original VIN plate from my old dash that I put onto the new dash. They took it off and stamped a new plate on the door jamb.

drift freaq · 04-02-2008, 04:54 PM

I have been there as well previous owner of my car replaced the dash but did not swap vins. I was handcuffed and told to stand on the side of the road till they figured shit out. They basically let me go when they realized the car was not stolen and that the dash came back to a junkyard. They did not say they would impound it and they did tell me how to correct it.
This was Rampart ( yup the storied) Division of LAPD. This happened about three weeks ago and they were just actually trying to find anything they could write me up for due to my loud exhaust.

trsilvias13 · 04-02-2008, 05:31 PM

Just carry paper works that trace back to the orgin of the dash. If you have a receipt for it from the junkyard, most officer would easily understand. If you want , keep a binder of paper works in your car to show anything that might be suspicious.

I did that with one of my old car - even include pictures and the cop said I was very professional and knew from just a page or two that I wasnt out there to cause any trouble, over looked my speeding and just told me to slow down. I keep my reg and insurance in the same booklet. Less than 5 minutes of running plates to verify car was not stolen, I was gone.

drift freaq · 04-02-2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trsilvias13

Just carry paper works that trace back to the orgin of the dash. If you have a receipt for it from the junkyard, most officer would easily understand. If you want , keep a binder of paper works in your car to show anything that might be suspicious.

I did that with one of my old car - even include pictures and the cop said I was very professional and knew from just a page or two that I wasnt out there to cause any trouble, over looked my speeding and just told me to slow down. I keep my reg and insurance in the same booklet. Less than 5 minutes of running plates to verify car was not stolen, I was gone.

This would be fine if the previous owner provided me with that stuff. lol

Jadeskyline · 04-02-2008, 07:08 PM

buying a coverlay would avoid all of the aggrivation.....plus it wont crack like a junkyard one eventually will....

Sad s13 · 04-02-2008, 07:17 PM

im in the middle of swapping dashes and i ask my aunt (she worked for the dmv for 20 yrs)and she said that if you go to the dmv theyll make a note of it on your registation. but i also talked to a guy at nissan and he said to just replace it and thats what they do all the time since its just the standard rivit and nothing special.

SinisterSntra91 · 04-02-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fromxtor

I just drilled out the rivets and rivted on my old plate to my new dash.

I dunno about you but that seems like the logical thing to do. Like the cops or anyone else for that matter are going to know.

240love^_^ · 04-02-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suk02Si

No dash VIN anymore, they kept it. It was my original VIN plate from my old dash that I put onto the new dash. They took it off and stamped a new plate on the door jamb.

Interesting.
When did they start doing this?
Ugh. I need to fix mine.
So CHP would be the place to go?

shade · 04-02-2008, 07:39 PM

One question for you people who have fixed this problem. In the process of taking the VIN off of your dash, did the cops damage your dash in any way? How did they take it off? My dash is super clean, I'd hate to have a scratch on it.

JRas · 04-02-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fromxtor

I just drilled out the rivets and rivted on my old plate to my new dash.

exactly, talking to a detective and what not is a waste of time IMO

it may be illegal but they aren't gonna be able to tell it wasn't your original dash

than in the event someone checks it... it will match up and you'll be on your way

xpl2007 · 04-02-2008, 07:54 PM

You touch the Vin in any way you can go to Jail quick! You can call the CHP and find out what they say. The right way is CHP stamps some place on your car.

04-02-2008, 01:48 PM	#1
shade Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego Age: 36 Posts: 509 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Non-matching Dash VIN Experience Around 8PM last night, a friend and I got pulled over by a police officer for supposedly streetracing(heard my friends super loud exhaust at 6500rpm). He followed us for about a mile from this highschool and finally decided to pull us over once we got to our houses(our houses are next to each other). Then comes the usual questions and trying to self-incriminate ourselves, he was just going to give us a warning anyway. Everything went all gravy until he started checking for VINs. He asked me to take my school parking permit off my dash so he can look at my VIN, I told him my dash VIN wasn't going to match the rest of the car since I replaced the dash for another one that I bought from the junkyard. The officer then asks a dispatcher to run my dash VIN and it comes out to be in fact a junked car. He was sorta confused how I replaced the whole dash and proceeded telling me that he can impound my car for the non matching dash VIN. He asked me to pop my hood and I do so so he can see my VINs. The officer was pretty cool about the whole situation and since I was being a good cooperative little boy, he tried helping me out by refering me to a detective that handles such cases. The officer gives me the detectives number so I can talk to him and see to it that I get taken care of and hopefully get myself another identification number the legal way. My friend and I get a warning and the cop goes merrily away. This morning, I called the referred detective and left a message. He then calls me back and we talk about my problem. He was another cool cop going out his way to help me out by handling my case instead of me trying to figure everything out through DMV with their six months process. The detective is going to call me again so they can look at my car again. He also asked me to email and fax some information such as copies of registration, dash purchase receipt, pictures of the VINs and my car. And so here I am on the computer trying to scan everything so I can send him all my information. The detective told me that he won't take away my dash but will take away the dash VIN and get me another identification number. Please do not respond with "you should've replaced the dash VIN from your old one" because the nice cop answered me with "you cannot alter or mess with any of the VINs at all because that is illegal." Yes, swapping them out counts. I lost my old one and I was planning to the DMV route until last night happened. Hope this helps some of you guys out. I will update later and see what happens from here. __________________

04-02-2008, 01:51 PM	#2
drftwerks Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: california Posts: 2,343 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	has happened to me before, got put in back of cruiser, and held for 30 min, before i was listened to, after telling cop to look at all the other vins. __________________ giantroboteyes.wordpress.com/

04-02-2008, 01:53 PM	#3
Bobafreak Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 909 Posts: 2,207 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	hmm intresting i need to take care of mine as well. i dont have a vin plate period. __________________ *VIOLENT RUNNING TRIBE* "Love is god, hatin is satin!"

04-02-2008, 01:56 PM	#4
exitspeed aWingThing.com Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 45 Posts: 20,900 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Sounds like a nice cop. I'm going to just keep the VIN from my old dash in the glove box. That way I can say "here it is. I swapped dashes". I'm sure different, states, cities, municipalities have different laws about this. I'm honestly not worried about it. __________________ What I do for a living...www.mhrussell.com

04-02-2008, 01:57 PM	#5
shade Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego Age: 36 Posts: 509 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	^^^Did you get a new VIN? __________________

04-02-2008, 01:58 PM	#6
dori_sil8t Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ontario Age: 42 Posts: 385 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	isnt there some body shops that are legally allowed to do so. if all the papers and what not are in order? __________________ unionautoclub.com

04-02-2008, 02:02 PM	#7
racepar1 Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Age: 42 Posts: 9,006 Trader Rating: (106) Rides Gallery: racepar1 Feedback Score: 106 reviews	You need to go through the CHP (if you're in cali) to straighten it out. I had the same situation except they did impound my car! I have since replaced the dash AGAIN as I changed the interior color from blue to charcoal and the dash I got has no vin plate on it so I need to get that straight before it gets impounded again.

04-02-2008, 02:22 PM	#9
Suk02Si Zilvia Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Los Angeles Age: 42 Posts: 831 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	This happened to me a couple months ago. They will stamp a new VIN plate on you door jamb and they will keep the one on the dash. CHP impounded my car for a week because of this. I asked the detective what the correct method was, he said to bring the car with its original dash in place and bring the new dash, so they can stamp the new dash or the car itself before it can be changed.

04-02-2008, 02:24 PM	#10
Bobafreak Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 909 Posts: 2,207 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	well so much for that i junked it 3 months ago...sigh __________________ *VIOLENT RUNNING TRIBE* "Love is god, hatin is satin!"

04-02-2008, 02:27 PM	#11
vvtisupra Nissanaholic! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: SB and OC Posts: 2,118 Trader Rating: (16) Feedback Score: 16 reviews	you're suppose to take that vin plate off and get a replacement vin plate put on your door. It has been done on my car. __________________ http://www.fuckdrama.com/

04-02-2008, 02:30 PM	#13
BoostedCoupe Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Fulton, TN Age: 34 Posts: 1,043 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	this happened to me not to long ago to. Mine didnt get inpounded or anything the cop was really cool since all the vins matched but the one from the dash. i told him while he was looking at it that it was the wrong one. What would they do if i was away from the car like say in a store and they check the vin for a parking violation. Would they tow it away if the vin came back as a junked car? or would they just run the plates and get the vin and leave me a nice ticket. __________________ 92 vert converted 5speed and other little things

04-02-2008, 02:31 PM	#14
rhs13 Leaky Injector Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: 909 Posts: 145 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	that's crazy. i wonder what they'll say when they see that my car has no dash. __________________ cuz i dont give a fukk. that's why.

04-02-2008, 02:32 PM	#15
shade Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego Age: 36 Posts: 509 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	^^Cop told me that they would tow it to the impound if it was missing or wrong VIN. __________________

04-02-2008, 02:32 PM	#16
fromxtor Post Whore! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NC Age: 44 Posts: 3,012 Trader Rating: (23) Feedback Score: 23 reviews	I just drilled out the rivets and rivted on my old plate to my new dash. __________________ Seller feedback>>http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...light=fromxtor

04-02-2008, 03:37 PM	#18
yudalicious Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 700 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I replaced my dash awhile back. I just keep a document of the work did in my glove box, along with the old dash VIN plate. So far, no troubles with the law, except an emissions place did refuse to do it.

04-02-2008, 04:54 PM	#21
drift freaq R.I.P. Aya, always love Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Feliz/Hollywood Posts: 18,564 Trader Rating: (215) Rides Gallery: drift freaq Feedback Score: 215 reviews	I have been there as well previous owner of my car replaced the dash but did not swap vins. I was handcuffed and told to stand on the side of the road till they figured shit out. They basically let me go when they realized the car was not stolen and that the dash came back to a junkyard. They did not say they would impound it and they did tell me how to correct it. This was Rampart ( yup the storied) Division of LAPD. This happened about three weeks ago and they were just actually trying to find anything they could write me up for due to my loud exhaust. __________________ "Having a lot of tracks on a song is like putting stickers on a car to get more horsepower" New Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uebV1OnbRsw Buy my mounts! http://zilvia.net/f/sale-items/51531...ns-mounts.html http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/317539...e-mouts-6.html

04-02-2008, 05:31 PM	#22
trsilvias13 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,995 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Just carry paper works that trace back to the orgin of the dash. If you have a receipt for it from the junkyard, most officer would easily understand. If you want , keep a binder of paper works in your car to show anything that might be suspicious. I did that with one of my old car - even include pictures and the cop said I was very professional and knew from just a page or two that I wasnt out there to cause any trouble, over looked my speeding and just told me to slow down. I keep my reg and insurance in the same booklet. Less than 5 minutes of running plates to verify car was not stolen, I was gone.

04-02-2008, 07:08 PM	#24
Jadeskyline Zilvia Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 193 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	buying a coverlay would avoid all of the aggrivation.....plus it wont crack like a junkyard one eventually will....

04-02-2008, 07:17 PM	#25
Sad s13 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: founded by the germans in 1904 Age: 37 Posts: 350 Trader Rating: (15) Feedback Score: 15 reviews	im in the middle of swapping dashes and i ask my aunt (she worked for the dmv for 20 yrs)and she said that if you go to the dmv theyll make a note of it on your registation. but i also talked to a guy at nissan and he said to just replace it and thats what they do all the time since its just the standard rivit and nothing special.

04-02-2008, 07:39 PM	#28
shade Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego Age: 36 Posts: 509 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	One question for you people who have fixed this problem. In the process of taking the VIN off of your dash, did the cops damage your dash in any way? How did they take it off? My dash is super clean, I'd hate to have a scratch on it. __________________

04-02-2008, 07:54 PM	#30
xpl2007 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 1,490 Trader Rating: (15) Feedback Score: 15 reviews	You touch the Vin in any way you can go to Jail quick! You can call the CHP and find out what they say. The right way is CHP stamps some place on your car. __________________ http://zilvia.net/f/traderratings.html?u=57636 If i sold you something or gave you it for free post here! Thanks!