does anyone know the policy in california to get a new VIN plate if the original is missing, but the owner has the title with the original VIN on it ? Also isn't there another number stamped on the front cowl that should match the VIN on the title. The car is a 1967 Camaro. Thanks for your help.

look through the cowl vent on the passenger side. Pull the cowl panel, if necessary.
Please, guys, don't shoot me here, but if all the VINs match the title, I'd just renew the title, and not say anything. Then I'd get a new one from one of the VIN stamp vendors.

Unreal, I'm not going to shoot you but I would recommend removing the cowl panel to verify the partial VIN against the title. You also need to ask why the VIN plate isn't there anymore since is a violation of federal law to remove it. If you are satisfied that the car and title match, contact the highway patrol and ask them about the VIN replacement procedures. The replacement VIN issued by most states wiil be a number they generate, not the original one. It anything doesn't look right, walk away.

Nobody is going to shoot you Unreal!!!

In CA it's a felony to buy sell, manufacture, hold in your hand or tamper with the VIN tag in any way. Same for the rivits... That said, a sales transaction would also be against the law. The reason for all this is that auto theft and sales of stolen vehicles is out of control. This is not unique to CA, most other states deal with this the same as CA.

Two ways to deal with this, drop it like a hot potato or insist the seller go to the nearest DMV and have a new VIN and title issued to the vehicle. The DMV will attach their own special tag and send him on his way.

The alternative is all about "what ifs", lets say you give him the money and he signs the title and hands it to you. What if you go to the DMV and it turns out to be stolen? Get past that and you get on it one day and get the red light, what if the officer sees no VIN and impounds the car?

The cowl numbers are different than the VIN so don't mistake them for it. did you know the '67 VIN tag isn't on the dash?

I hear what you are saying, Dennis. How can it be stolen, if he has a clear title, and the hidden VINs match it. Does the motor VIN match, too?

Anyway, I would either walk, or I would have the current owner get the replacement VIN, or I would order a new VIN tag, myself. The second option absolves you of any potential legal liability. (Well, maybe conspiricy to commit)

I don't know about Iowa, but in Tennessee, you would not have a problem.

I just would not want the DMV's VIN tag. It would create too much suspicion when it comes time to sell. Of course, a fishy looking rivet job would do the same thing!

Maybe a way around it is to give the seller a Hemmings, and tell him, "I need to have a VIN tag in place, before I can buy this car."

If the seller is on the up and up, he'll go get the VIN issued by the DMV. If he won't, walk away and don't look back. The State issued VIN isn't going to raise any more eyebrows than a missing VIN tag. One way is legal, the other leaves you open to having the car impounded. Granted you can play the odds game but loosing the car is costly, can you afford it?

Here's how this could happen, the car is stolen and the hidden VIN is replaced. Numbers are restamped on the block to match the hidden vin and the VIN tag is removed. The title is from a totaled car that was parted out and junked. the numbers off it were used to restamp the hidden VIN and block. This is just an example, chop shops are sharp and the more a vehicle is worth the more elaborate they will get to make it look clean. It's easier to leave a VIN tag off then replace it to look real and orig. There are pros that can make it look orig though...

I think a car is stolen every 27 seconds in the US and only about 14% are recovered... Check this out from Orange County in CA.

http://www.ocatt.org/ocstats.html
http://www.ocatt.org/vinswitch.html

I personally would not buy this car no matter what the case. The missing VIN could cause you all kinds of headaches down the road. The VIN plate is the legal ID for the car in every state and when its missing, that should be a red flag to anyone. Right now its the present owners problem but if you buy it, it will be your problem. Maybe the car is legit but there always a chance something may not be. Why put yourself at risk.

BUYER BEWARE