ottawabarber

I am watching CorvetteMike2004 great paint job on his formerly red, now beautiful black with ghost flames paint job.

This got me wondering, and it is probably a dumb question - but here it is:

When you change the color of your car, do you have to notifiy your state DMV of the change? Does a change on the title have to take place? Or ????

I know my title says white 1988 Chevrolet Corvette. My license plates are for a white Corvette. If I would repaint it black, or whatever wouldn't that, or couldn't that, cause confusion legally? I mean if you get stopped and the plates come up for a white 1988, and it is now a red one wouldn't it be a problem to prove to the officer it is legally the same car?

Maybe it isn't a problem, but it crossed my mind and I have never seen anyone ever mention it. I know the RPO codes show the orginal color, but what about registration informaton?

Thanks for any input to help my old brain get this straight.

Steve85

VIN, your car has one no matter what color it is.

L82shark

Most states dont care as long as you dont jack around with the VIN plates....

lushdrunk

No you don't have to inform anyone, And I'm not sure they would listen if you did. The only time laws come into effect when changing color is removing the door jamb stickers. By law you can't remove any factory placed decal that displays info, Like the VIN, Tire size and pressures, or load rating.
Your only legal option is to tape over the decals. But almost every time ive taped a door jamb decal it bleed through the edges of the decal (not the tape) OR when you remove the tape it can take the clear plastic off.

For my own cars I remove them completely. For customers cars I give them the option of removing them, taping them or having a vinyl decal made to replace the original.
Ive looked many times and have not found anyone that sells the original style decal's. I found some blanks on ebay once but you needed some kind of rare IBM typewriter to fill them out.

Ive prob removed 20+ door jamb decals and nothing has even been said about it.

Joe C

this site was posted a couple of month ago. it's the only place i've seen that can supply door jam VIN decals/stickers, as well as other types of OE tags/labels/decals/stickers...

http://www.ecsvin.com/index.php

1800Wing

My Nawf Kalina registration just has Chevy-Coupe, could be a Metro for all the fuzz knows....unless they decode the VIN. No color is designated....as long as the state collects the tax, they don't care.


later, tiny

Jake Dragon

I asked this the last time I got my tag renewed. I was told that they would like to be updated if the color changed when I renew my tag again.

JackDidley

Thats one reason, when I decide to change the color, I went from dark red metallic to bright red. The registration just says red. I kept it simple.

lushdrunk

Thanks alot for that! I looked for hours one day and it was dead end every time. Ive been taking a picture of the original door decals with a good quality SLR and having a vinyl lettering shop make one of of vinyl. But they are never good quality. Ive have 2 or 3 come back upset because they peel or fade real quick.
You solved a rather big problem for me. Thanks !

vettebuyer6369

Not in Illinois, although Jesse White's office would just love to sell you a corrected title if you want to anyway.


I used the ebay company for those blue GM door jamb decals for my '69 when it was completely done last year. I took off the original and they input the VIN on the new one, and the replacement was dead-on.

joesgulfstream

I would never change my Dark Red Metallic ! A bright red vette is like a cherry,everybody has had at least one.

lushdrunk

Does the early corvettes have the metal tags in the doors? Ive never had the chance to paint any pre 70's GM's. But I once had to paint a 66 mustang and it had a metal plate that was blue in the drivers door jamb. The owner brought the new plate but I had to buy the rivets. They used a special stainless steel rivet that used a hammer and punch to seat them rather then a gun like a normal rivet. It took me forever to track down the right punch needed. I finally found one on ebay for $50 shipped Not even two week later I received a new Eastwood catalog that had the punch set that included four rivets for $19.99

Thats what happens when you search for a tool under the name people form the south call it rather then it's correct name.

L82shark

My 78 has the metal tag mounted on the inner door frame. Includes all the paint and trim codes on it.

SunCr

We (CA - where else?) were going to ban black, but cooler heads prevailed.

Steve85

SunCr

CARB would simply prefer that all of us leave regardless of color . . .

JackDidley

Great color, but I had 2 dark red C4s in a row. 13 years total. Needed a change.

kenv

x2 I never even knew some states actualy put the color on the title

kimmer

cool site