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Registration issue in California

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by paranoid56, Oct 22, 2014.

  1. Oct 22, 2014
    paranoid56

    paranoid56 New Member

    San Diego, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2006
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    11
    Good afternoon all,
    in the process of trying to get a 1975 jeep cj5 registered, i went to AAA to do it, they wanted to inspect it but denied me because they could only find one vin location (on the firewall under the MC) looking online i see a lot of contradictions of if there is another vin location. they also said it was missing some emissions stickers. however being a 75 i don't have to smog it so not sure what they are looking for.

    so my questions are
    is there a second place for a vin? can i just stamp it and take it in?
    as for the sticker can i just buy one and put it on the hood?

    they said i have to take it to CHP and have them inspect it, however its not really running all that great and chp near me is booked up till late november lol.

    any ideas?

    oh, and this was bought with a out of state title which is why they wanted to inspect it.
    Thanks
    Shane
     
  2. Oct 23, 2014
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The sequential part of the VIN (the serial number) is stamped into the frame, near the right front shock mount I believe.

    If AAA wants a second serial number location, the only other location would be the black and yellow sticker on the dash. You can get a duplicate of your original sticker, if that is missing. Someone here makes stickers ... Bear Creek? Yep - http://www.bearcreeksurvey.com/NOSRepro.htm
     
  3. Oct 23, 2014
    rusty

    rusty Well-Known Member

    norfolk,va
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    Dec 16, 2006
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    Tim is correct. On my 75, it is on top of the frame rail. Open hood and look down , these numbers can be hard to see, given the amount of paint and or rust on the rail.
     
  4. Oct 23, 2014
    paranoid56

    paranoid56 New Member

    San Diego, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2006
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    yea i found that one, but it was only a partial vin and the lady wouldn't accept that. i almost just went home and used my metal stamps to add the rest, but wasn't sure how legal that would be.

    damn thing drives like **** so driving it anywhere kinda sucks. still trying to get the steering working correctly lol
     
  5. Oct 23, 2014
    Unkel Dale

    Unkel Dale delivery on my Jeep from Ft. Campbell, Ky.

    Pittsburgh, Pa.
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    Have the rules defined by AAA, ask very specific questions. I am on the edge about the next step, AAA is a business and offer services for a fee. Did the lady mistreat you or was she factual and proper. Only you know, we do not have too hear about that part, If she was stating facts based on experience then continue only with that person, because she is already knows the deal.
    If not ask for her supervisor too in private. What does the state require, know the rules to play this out. Good luck with this. I have been an AAA for 30 years and am always satisfied there.
    Dale
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2014
  6. Oct 23, 2014
    uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    Greeley CO
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    Jun 2, 2009
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    Go to another person at the counter next time. Too many of the people working there only know how to send the paperwork down the line. Or at least, have them go ask their suporvisor for more info.
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2014
  7. Oct 23, 2014
    paranoid56

    paranoid56 New Member

    San Diego, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2006
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    yea that was my fault for not knowing the rules/laws, she was old, but did seem new. i am trying to get my ducks in a row so i can go back and get it setup
     
  8. Oct 23, 2014
    Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chico CA
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    When I bought mine, I bought it at auction. Pink and bill of sale included. Took papers to AAA. Left Jeep at home. Because the vin (from a '69) was not 'standard' the guy (younger than I) had to call 3x to DMV. they have a 'hotline' to DMV across town... they kept copies and such of my paperwork to send to DMV. I have a clean title and non-op in my name, waiting for me to get it on the road. G

    The AAA guy bird dogged it until he found the right stuff. I went in with smile and a lot of polite which I think it helped.
     
  9. Oct 24, 2014
    El Cazador

    El Cazador New Member

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    Oct 5, 2014
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    Cali, man, you have my deepest condolences. Id say move. But thats me.


    True story.

    Went to get plates/title for El Cazador. Had the Utah title signed and Notary Stamped, hell, I went with the owner and watched. WHAT I didnt do was check the title and the VIN plate!!! Title was missing 2 middle #'s HOLY HELL! My county employee went above and beyond, supervisor was awesome!! Utah DMV wouldn't help 1 bit, they denied any wrong doing, "We Dont Make Mistakes" !! I ended up getting 2 LEOs to inspect the VIN and sign off on it. Then, I got my plates and Title!! in under an hour...... It did help i had 10 years of paper work from Cali on the rig with the right VIN......
     
  10. Oct 24, 2014
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    You could also take the chapter from the FSM about identification with you. https://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/~reese/A_Vehicle_ID.pdf

    This is evidence that the firewall plaque and dash sticker are the proper identifying marks.

    I'd get that dash sticker from Bear Creek, if I did not have one.

    Regarding the emissions sticker, I can get you a photo of mine later. There was someone on one of the Wagoneer sites that was making them, or maybe it was one of the AMC boards. Search ... I will look later if I have time.
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2014
  11. Oct 24, 2014
    paranoid56

    paranoid56 New Member

    San Diego, CA
    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2006
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    thanks for the links, i dont have that dash sticker anymore, so maybe i will pick that up along with print off that pdf and try again at the aaa office. They have been great to work with, but will try a different person with more experience. I have also have been super polite when there as yes that does help. getting all bitchy at people doesnt help.
     
  12. Oct 25, 2014
    cookieman

    cookieman Member

    Colton,Calif
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    Jan 31, 2005
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    Forget AAA go the DMV and wait wait and wait but you will get done. The calif DMV has change, They are a lot friender than before. I have been going to DMV since 1966...and they change !!
     
  13. Oct 27, 2014
    Rozcoking23

    Rozcoking23 RUN & GET BIT! 2024 Sponsor

    Stockton, CA
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    The problem you are running into is that it is an out of state vehicle. You need to have CHP or other law enforcement verify the vin in order to to register in California. If you look on DMV web site there should be form for the vin verification. Print and contact CHP to have them fill out. (don't fill it out, let LE do it) they just need to see vin and registration from state it came from to verify. The numbers on the frame and the numbers on the engine need to match. Don't add to your frame numbers the numbers match a portion of the vin. (that's all that is needed) if you alter the numbers it will fail and will be flagged and confiscated.
     
  14. Nov 2, 2014
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
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    Mar 18, 2003
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    The way I registered mine was by getting an independent Vin verifier. The person came to my place, looked at the jeep, and signed the necessary form. I paid 80 dollars but that was many years ago. The guy was really cool. Over the phone, I was upfront about the out of state status of the Vin number and the engine swap... He didn't have any problems with it. The guy was a car enthusiast also and he was interested in the jeep.
     
  15. Nov 2, 2014
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    for some reason I never had a problem getting a title to jeep . in california , jeep was registered to me in alabama with plates , alabama only has bill of sale on vehicles 10 years or older ..DMV took my alabama registration and bill of sale . after checking that alabama did do vehicles by bill of sale granted this was 30+ years ago . put jeep in back of u haul and drove it cross country . by the way what is AAA
     
  16. Nov 2, 2014
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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  17. Nov 2, 2014
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    Ok my mistake again , didn't think we were talking about car insurance . just thought it was a new agency in california to register your vehicle . yes I know you have to show proof of insurance . just didn't understand why it had to be looked at . the most problems I had out there were.there smog laws , why is the reason I ask what AAA was , before I left . jeep had a waiver every two years for missing smog equipment . till before I left . there was a new smog program CARB that would supply missing parts run by the state . All used parts . and it still failed . but it was waiver again because I paid the state $400 for the parts . rip off . and again this was more than 24 years ago when I had to do this
     
  18. Nov 8, 2014
    jls456

    jls456 Sponsor

    Paso Robles...
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    I bought my CJ-5 in Utah. Brought it to the DMV in California with Utah Registration and Utah plates. Lady looked under the hood at the engine and said there was no smog equipment. I reminded he that it was a 1969,and she said OK. That was it. Took the old plates and got new ones.
     
  19. Nov 13, 2014
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
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    Whatever you do, do not alter the VIN. Or add to it. That is a felony, 10751 vc. Its worth it to wait for your local CHP office or take it to another office. You say it doesn't drive good anyway. Get it driving good while your waiting for your appointment. It might raise an eyebrow if you have a brand new sticker with the VIN on it...
     
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