Removing the Trim Tag and Vin Plate
 

So, I need to remove the Vin Plate and Trim Tags without damaging them at all. What are the best ways to do this?
What tricks/tools have worked for you?
Thanks in Advance

I imagine the VIN tag is coming off because the entire W/S frame is coming out? Why the trim tag?

I just want to remove them off of the parts car, for nostalgias sake. That way when the wrecker comes to take the hull away, ill have something left over. Im assuming that you have done this correct?

Nostalgic reasons, eh? :D R-i-g-h-t....

Hi

Those are riveted on. Is drilling off the rivets not a method ?

Rgds. Günther

The simplest is to drill the rivets off - go slow and you shouldn't damage the tags. However, do a search on the forum for "VIN tag rivet" and I think you'll find quite a lot of information about it. Summary: the rosette rivets on the VIN tag are expensive to replace, not to mention the legal issues involved in removing the tag.

Go in from the back side to remove and save the rivets. Both tags with rivets and title framed would make nice addition to a rec room wall. :D

Good idea actually. We will see how I end up getting them off lol

I think removing a VIN tag is illegal in most states......................

Hmmm, then maybe I wont do it. Learn something everyday:thumbs:

:iagree:
Leave VIN tag in place.

:thumbs:

even for windshield frame replacement?

Ive never seen it as a law...only what people say. From my understanding, it becomes illeagal when your purpose is to defraud.

no seriously. Some guy wants the windshield frame parts, and I wanted to keep the tag for myself. Is this sooooo bad?

Its probably illegal to remove the VIN tag from a "vehicle" just about everywhere.Now if you are removing it from a part that is laying on the ground and no longer part of a "vehicle" that is likely a different story...:crazy:

If I were replacing the windshield frame, I would transfer the VIN tag; likewise for the trim tag...but only if they stayed with the repaired vehicle that was already titled. But, I don't see any[good] reason to 'save' them. Maybe a nice photo of the whole car on your wall. :D Of course, if your intention is completely honest, keeping them would prevent someone else from "salvaging" them from your scrapped frame and re-creating your car....again.

yes, if the VIN tag is TAMPERED with.. that is the problem.. look up the word 'tampered'

if no fraud or 'ill gotten gain' ( too quote Gomer Pyle ) then no problem.. of course getting your junk man to haul it away without a VIN tag might be a problem?

an overzealous DMV may eventually come back to haunt anyone doing this and one may face long delayed registration trying to prove lack of intent to defraud. you are guilty until proven innocent by the DMV.. Don't give them a reason.

You're not trying to defraud anyone or fake a car, drill them out and make your decoration already.

:cheers:

Just don't ever remove the tags from your mattress! :willy:


If you're scrapping the car shell as a whole to a salvage yard, they may require the title and vin tag in order to take the car from you though. :thumbs: I'd check with the salvage yard first to see if they care. One way around that is to dismember the car so that it is no longer a car, just a bunch of scrap metal. :thumbs:

Hi

If the windshield frames are cut off and the rest of the car is given to salvage, I can't see a problem with the VIN tag. What does the salvage jard need the VIN tag for to recycle a car ?

Over here in Europe, we don't even need to proof that the car belongs to me when handing it over for salvage. Just a signature and good is.

It is the owners responsibility to de-register a car and declare it salvaged, not the salvage jard . Is it different in USA ?

Rgds. Günther

On the other hand, maybe you’ll meet Bubba in there, and you can give him a good talking to.:rofl:

I followed a thread here somewhere where a fellow had removed his VIN tag so he could paint the pillar, etc. Story went he invited a fellow from DMV over to witness reinstalling it. Thought he as doing the right thing. Instead they confiscated the tag and gave him a new state assigned VIN. That must have dropped the resale value a bit.

DMV gets a bit upset at ANY tamerping with ID numbers...

It's best to play it safe. Contact your DMV, tell them what you want to do, and see what they have to say about it.

:thumbs:

:rofl:
You're kidding? right?????

I'll give you one guess what they'll say, wrong or right...

talk to 10 different DMV people, you'll get 10 different answers..

Assume that was a joke.
If the tags are being removed, not being reinstalled, doubt anyone would care other than an over zealous DMV type.

:iagree:

:iagree:
Ain't that the truth!

Plain and simple, If you are selling or giving away the part that holds the vin tag, Remove it. The vin is for the frame, not windshield frame. If you are getting rid of the car afterwards=salvage, they should not have a problem with it. If they do, Now this is just saying, if the frame is found laying around somewhere and there's no vin to identify it, then they don't know who it belongs to. LOL.

TITLE XXI
MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 262
ANTITHEFT LAWS, OFFENSES, PENALTIES, HABITUAL OFFENDERS, ARREST OF NONRESIDENTS AND ABANDONED VEHICLES
Offenses and Antitheft Provisions
Section 262:10
262:10 Removal of Vehicle Identification Plate. – It shall be a misdemeanor for any person or persons to remove or cause to be removed a vehicle identification number plate assigned to a vehicle by the manufacturer or the director for the purpose of concealing the identity of a vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to have in his possession for such purpose such a vehicle identification number plate.


TITLE XXI
MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 262
ANTITHEFT LAWS, OFFENSES, PENALTIES, HABITUAL OFFENDERS, ARREST OF NONRESIDENTS AND ABANDONED VEHICLES
Offenses and Antitheft Provisions
Section 262:7
262:7 Changed or Removed Vehicle Identification Number. – Any person who buys, receives, possesses, sells or disposes of a motor vehicle or an engine for a motor vehicle, knowing that a vehicle identification number of said motor vehicle or engine has been removed, defaced, obliterated, or changed shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, however, if upon discovery by any person that a vehicle identification number has been removed, defaced, obliterated, or changed, he shall report the same to the nearest police station and shall not be charged with a violation of this section.

Source. RSA 260:7-a. 1967, 214:1. 1973, 528:132. 1981, 146:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982.


TITLE XXI
MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 262
ANTITHEFT LAWS, OFFENSES, PENALTIES, HABITUAL OFFENDERS, ARREST OF NONRESIDENTS AND ABANDONED VEHICLES
Offenses and Antitheft Provisions
Section 262:6
262:6 Identification Marks. – No motor vehicle shall be registered unless it shall have permanently cut, impressed, or embossed on some portion thereof a factory, serial, or vehicle identification number or mark. Any person who shall knowingly have in his possession any motor vehicle from which such number or mark shall have been removed, defaced, obliterated, or changed, shall forthwith file with the department a sworn statement giving the reason therefor, a description of the vehicle, and the source of his title. If satisfied as to the facts the director may grant permission to cut, impress, or emboss permanently into the motor of such vehicle a special identification number or mark which shall thereafter be deemed sufficient for the purpose of registration of such vehicle.

Source. 1931, 79:1. RL 116:5. RSA 260:7. 1981, 146:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982.


more info............

Source. RSA 269-A:20-a. 1969, 504:6. 1981, 146:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982.


Google it:D
Todd

Just do what you want. It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.

Here's the Federal Code

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 25 > § 511

Here's the penalty phase.

Hey Ben. You are young so ten years should be no problem.:D Are you going to have the car hauled off with body on frame? Is frame not salvageable? There is a vin stamped on the frame right? If you remove the window frame from the frame then you are removing the vin tag one way or the other. mike...:smash:

This is related, so I'm really not trying to hijack the tag. If you remove the rivets from the back side, squeeze the expanded sides back in till you can push it thru the hole. You should be able to get the rosette rivets out without deforming them. If you can do this, then simply take the shank out of a new pop rivet and put it thru your old rosette rivet, put it in your pop rivet gun, and you can re-use it. I've done this a few times when I wanted to refinish a dash, needed to paint under the tag or needed to R&R the tag for some reason. Like everyone's said, don't do it for fraudulent purposes.

Nope. Not kidding. No harm in asking first. Could save you bail money.

:thumbs:

Quote:
18 USCS § 2321 (2003)

§ 2321. Trafficking in certain motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts

(a) Whoever buys, receives, possesses, or obtains control of, with intent to sell or otherwise dispose of, a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part, knowing that an identification number for such motor vehicle or part has been removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

Many Chrysler cars have the VIN on every body part , wouldn't this mean you can't sell a fender to be used on another car ?

If the tag is off a 72 Vette and the 5th digit is an "L" you could really have something valuable there:D

I would say keep the trim tag and leave the vin on the car no sense risking getting into trouble!!

I am not an attorney. :D I do know that the laws are subject to interpretation. If they were not subject to interpretation we would not need attorneys or judges.
262.10 You are not removing the VIN tag to conceal the identity so you are not violating 262.10.

262.7 Call the local police and let them know you are removing the VIN tag for the purposes of parting the car. Odds are they will not care. You're covered.

262.6 Refers to registration of the vehicle. It does not sound like you are planning to register the vehicle so this does not apply to you.
Good luck! :cheers:

:iagree: violation of these laws depends on intent and purpose. Nothing stated wrt intent to repair.

Bingo! :thumbs:

Sure you can sell the fender, but don't grind out the theft control markings. Almost all manufacturers have id's on major parts these days, and it's important to keep the paper trail.
Not much interpretation needed, it's pretty clear, and if your own interpretation differs, the judge will straighten you out with his interpretation pretty quickly.:smash:

The vin plate on the pillar is the only legal id for the vehicle and the proper installation of the rosette rivets validate the vin plate.
All other numbers and markings including the frame derivative are just theft control numbers.
Been thru changing vin plates countless times the legal way.

“Removing the Trim Tag and VIN Plate ” As my mother used to say “These are things we do not speak of in this house”. :nono:

:iagree: See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil......