VIN label
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2013
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VIN label
HI - I need help. I bought a 1986 corvette from California (I live in NM). When I tried registered the vehicle, I found that the label on the door jam was missing. There was no evidence that the corvette was repainted, and the seller assured me that the car was not repainted. The number on the dash label and the number on the frame rail do match. Does anyone have any idea why that label was not there? Has anyone had experience with the people that offer a replacement label? Can you show me a picture of these labels - what they look like and exactly where they are located. Thanks, JMF48
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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If you don't have the 'original' it CAN NOT be duplicated. Find any GM Vehicle of the same or similar year and look inside door on the jamb for Certificate. If you have windshield VIN and the frame rail is a match you have what's required to obtain a vehicle title and registration.
Any number of reasons why it might be missing! Maybe a previous owner just liked 'clean jambs'!
The complete VIN would also be on the SPID label that for a 1986 should be on the backside of the console door. Is that there?
Here's a thread with very good example of what's expected:
New member ZR-1 questions - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Any number of reasons why it might be missing! Maybe a previous owner just liked 'clean jambs'!
The complete VIN would also be on the SPID label that for a 1986 should be on the backside of the console door. Is that there?
Here's a thread with very good example of what's expected:
New member ZR-1 questions - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
yes - the parts label is on the glove box door on the driver's side, but the DMV would not accept that as the necessary confirmation of the dash VIN. I had to take the paint off of the frame rail and found the VIN there below the battery (I had to remove the inner fender panel to find the number.) That got the title transferred to my name. It was just a hassle, - I was looking for a replacement label so it would be easier to anyone I might sell it to in the future. If those replacement labels are bogus then I will pass.
thanks
thanks
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: Mays Landing, NJ
Your State sounds like a royal pain in the butt. In NJ all that is needed is the properly completed title, pay the tax (based on sale cost) and you're good to go. Also, vehicles 95 and earlier are no longer required to have inspection every two years.
Team Owner
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Required 'Safety Inspections' save lives !!! 2 years might be fine for newer models less than 10 years old but maybe annual for older than should be required!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,787
Likes: 579
From: Mays Landing, NJ
That could be speculation regarding NM being 'pain in butt' ! We don't know what he presented to the DMV in his state. He has though confirmed that the VIN and the 'derivative' are a match. That's a tremendous plus for the future.
Required 'Safety Inspections' save lives !!! 2 years might be fine for newer models less than 10 years old but maybe annual for older than should be required!
Required 'Safety Inspections' save lives !!! 2 years might be fine for newer models less than 10 years old but maybe annual for older than should be required!
The reason 95 and older are no longer required to go through inspection is because they are OBD 1 and State only has OBD II test equipment. Your point about the possible issues of safety of older vehicles is very true. Maybe the State believes that municipality police departments and State Police can and will stop any vehicles that appear to be a danger.
Last edited by CorvetteRules; Jan 6, 2026 at 10:34 AM.
Melting Slicks
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From: MA/NH Seacoast
