Truncated VIN is causing me headaches with the CT DMV

The 82 XJ1100J I bought yesterday failed the CT registration because in NY, they used the truncated stamped numbers on the side of the fork head for this title and registration. Sure enough the numbers are stamped into the fork head and they jive with the 17 digit VIN which is on white plastic in the dfront of the fork head but CT wants it their way.

Now I've bought it & have the title signed to me but CT cares not abut the truncated VIN, they want the full 17 digit VIN and told me to contact the NY DMV about the problem. I can't imagine how they're going to deal with this as I'm at the least going to have to take the bike back to NY so someone with knowledge can correct the old omission and generate a title with full VIN. I'm far from NY so this is a hassle and there's no telling what might happen though I have the sales receipt saying the truncated VIN. I can't imagine NY would issue me in CT, a corrected NY title.

UGH...

Anyone else had to deal with this DMV BS?

 

I don't remember the thread, but this has come up before somewhere.... I just can't find it. Hopefully someone can find the threads for you, Gary!

Dave Fox

 

Hi there,

Thans for checking in. It might have been this threadhttp://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=10651/highlight=truncated+vin.html

But I didn't see anything about how to deal with this. Do your titles use the 17 digit or the truncated VIN?

I've got no idea what I really should do with this.

ug...

 

Good old government... even with computers and the internet they still care about a pice of paper. I never even knew there was a longer vin for bikes. Wisconsin also uses the smaller VIN... My titles show 9 digits. I really hate the DMV anyways. I use to try to be up front and fair with them but most of the people that work there are pretty brain dead and unwilling to help. Then I even had one guy tell me the state would come after me because I had down that I bought a bike for a dollar. (it was given to me for free after its owner passed away). On the otherhand, the DNR here is great.


Oh and I forgot to say... I would contact some bike dealers in your state. I'm sure they have bought items at auctions and had to deal with the title problems before.

 

i had the same issue all i did was apply for a lost title

 

I'm sure part of this issue is the bike is from NY and I reside in CT & CT has nothing on hs bike in their DMV computer. NY used the truncated version and CT wants the full number.

I'm caught in the middle with a valid NY title but not with a good vin in CT's eyes.

 

well i live in nyc and last 5 bikes i took to the dmv required the true motor vin and i had to include a picture of this vin to get the bikes on the rode let me ask a buddy of mine today he'll know what to do

 

KA1J, let me see if I have this straight... NY used a truncated VIN# on the title. CT wants the full # so you have to get NY to adjust the title with the full vin#?
This might be a solution (not having ever dealt with CT or NY DMV this could worthless info..)

First I would try to contact someone in the NY dmv and explain the situation. Ask them exactly what they need to resolve this. The idea is to get someone in NY that can run point for you and knows what is going on. Try to get an email address if you can or at least a fax#.
Next, draw up an affidavit. Something like...

(Or what ever it needs to say , based on your conversation with NY DMV...)

Then take a pic with you and the bike/title. Heck...throw the notary in the pic too!!
Then fax/email/snail mail all the info to your contact in NY....

That might save you that hassle of taking the bike back to NY...it's worth a shot anyways...

 

In MA, I needed a cop to verify the vin number for me. The issue is of course that the VIN number was standardized and all motor vehicles in america had to comply in 1982, but your bike was manufactured (and stamped) in '81.

I didn't even see the plastic sticker on mine until after I registered it (and it was missing some numbers), but was able to title it under the 9 digit VIN as mentioned above. The MA RMV had to put the year in as 1981 so their system would except it, then put in for a year change on paper. I actually just moved to MD, so we'll see what happens when I try to register it here...

 

In Washgington state the easy way would be to license the bike with a lost title. 2 years with a lost title WA issues a title. In the mean time you just ride it like it is titled. As long as no one declares the bike stolen during the 2 years there is no problem. Best of luck to you.

Loren

 

I had a similar issue in PA and mine is registered with the short vin. PA DMV doessn't like the shorty vins either, but AAA accepted it after I traced the #S on the engine block and head, with pencil and paper, and had it signed by a certified mechanic.

Get another dmv rep... Or better yet, go to your closest AAA office.

 

You can try writing-in the "Short" VIN at the end after filling-in the blocks in front of it with "Zeroes"

Or adopting the Zeroes when you write the VIN 0000000123456789

 

...or you may have to fill the zeros in at the end.........? Guess either is worth a try. I will take a look at all of my titles and see how they are done.

Dave

 

zeros wont work in CT, if there is a title already present for the bike with the full vin.

i actually got my 82 from NY and when i went to old saybrook the guy looked around for a full vin but just shrugged it off and used the stamp on the neck for the last few numbers and signed off on it. old saybrook is a haul from groton but i often have good luck with them, they are always great to work with whenever there is a problem.

 

Resolution!

I went to a different DMV office and this time they only wanted what was stamped on the frame so it went seamlessly. Perhaps this 2nd inspector knows bikes better than the other one.

Not really a resolution to the overall issue but it was common sense on the 2nd inspector's part.

In my 40+ years of buying & registering vehicles, this was a first for me.

Thanks for the helpful ideas & thoughts.

 

nice, wich one did you end up going to?

 

I went to Weathersfield. I figured if anyone would know what is reality & the end all regarding registration, it would be them.

 

my boss' wife works there, and yes they are the top of the chain!