Change of VIN year

[mavguy]

Just curious, if I were to buy a 1975 car or motorcycle, radically  modify it or not, and then apply for a new VIN or have the year changed on the old VIN from 75 to 2019.Is it doable?

[m in sc]

only if its a custom chassis and has dmv approval. ive done it. otherwise, illegal. 

[mavguy]

And how hard is the DMV approval.

[m in sc]

has to be inspected by the dmv, depends on your state. some dont allow it.  I have to ask, whats the reason for this? I see -zero- benefit. i did it on a custom built frame. (not the one i've recently been working on either, that's registered as an rd) because i needed a title and they needed to see it, so the dmv made the year it was built (was '94 at the time)

[forexer]

If your a triple AAA member some of their locations are authorized license branches.

You can go there and get it inspected however if approved it usually ends up getting titled as a "special construction." I agree with Mike what's the benefit of changing the title?

If it were mine I'd just leave it as a 75 because it's not worth the headache 

[bracket maker]

Just curious, if I were to buy a 1975 car or motorcycle, radically  modify it or not, and then apply for a new VIN or have the year changed on the old VIN from 75 to 2019.Is it doable?

you cant change to a 2019 vin because they have 17 digits. you can change to an earlier year if it helps getting a transferable registration in your state. the holy grail of tags.

[m in sc]

actually, at least down here, the vin IS technically changed to 17. they add zeros to the vin after the original one. But, that becomes the VIN on record. 

[pdxjim]

I have read this thread a few times and still don't get it.

In almost all scenarios that I can think of, you would be much better off keeping the frame, and bike as a whole, titled as a 1975.

[m in sc]

AGREED. it is perplexing. 

[bracket maker]

I have read this thread a few times and still don't get it.

In almost all scenarios that I can think of, you would be much better off keeping the frame, and bike as a whole, titled as a 1975.

you want a transferable registration. in my state putting '72 will save you 50$ in title fees. thanks  h1pete.

[mavguy]

The deal is the vehicle needs to be exported, but the importing country has a requirement that the vehicle can't be older than 3 years, that means nothing before 2016.so was trying to find a way out if possible.

[m in sc]

I'm pretty sure any reasonably intelligent inspector will realize that the vehicle (and rd i assume) will be fraudulently labeled as newer than it is. that's SUPER risky and likely to be seized.   

[sav0r (CL MotoTech)]

In PA it depends on your inspection station.

My father for example has a '67 Mini that's mid engine and rear wheel drive using a VW Vr6 sitting in a full tube frame. When he took it get it inspected they inspected it as though it's a '67 Morris Mini.

According to the letter of the law he should have had an "enhanced inspection" which basically re-vins the car as a modern car. You might be able to exploit this.

Obviously, this is all hugely dependent on your state.