The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How to stamp vin into new vin

I got one of those repo vin tags from Jim Carter a while ago but I don't know how to stamp my vin into it?

For those thin vin tags a decent set of letters/numbers would do the trick....even a cheap set from Harbor Freight.


EDIT: You can take it to a trophy shop as they do a lot of engraving/stamping. Most likely they will do it with laser as that's how they do the little brass tags on the car club trophies....for probably less than 5 bucks.

Not this again!? Hello? Earth calling, it's illegal to make your own Vin Tag. ILLEGAL! As in: against the Law. Having one made with your VIN? Illegal. Using one from another vehicle? Illegal. Just duplicating your actual Vin Tag? Illegal. Know somebody who did it and no problem? Illegal. Uncle Rufus gave you the truck so it's OK? Illegal. Getting one from other than an agent of the State? Illegal.
Grand Theft Auto. Fraud, Conspiracy, Impound, Fines, Jail, criminal record.

Ian, I have a similar situation. I'd suggest buying two tags one to stamp and the other to practice on. I think the stamp size is 1/4" but measure another one before buying. Harbor Freight has 1/4" on Sale

That sort of thinking is so last year Bartamos.
Get with the new programming cause we're all making our trucks really good again. Like new only newer!

So CASO, it is ok to violate the law if it suits your purpose? If you don't agree with a law just ignore it? The fact is, it is illegal in EVERY state to stamp your own VIN plate, no ifs ands or butts, plain and simple. That being said, is it done? Yes! Do most get away with it on antique vehicles? Yes! Do those who don't get away with it go to jail? Yes. So, do as you please but be ready to accept the punishment if you are caught.

Umm... turn my sarcasm 180* and try that on. I was on your side.

But to answer your question about following the law.
Untill Oregon made an honest man out of me a year ago I broke the law every couple of hours for 50 some years.
No regrets.

Is creating your own VIN plate illegal? Technically yes. Is it done anyway? Yes. Can you get in trouble for doing that? Yes, depending on the circumstances. If you're recreating a damaged, legal, data plate it's not as big a deal. Just keep the original in your glove box like I do in case you have to prove all is kosher to a LEO somewhere. If, instead, you're creating a data plate with numbers that are not legally assigned to your vehicle, that's a whole different ball of wax. THAT is where the fraud comes into play that bartamos refers to. THAT is why the 'bolt does not condone and will not allow the sale if titles on this site. Putting a VIN on your vehicle, other than the one it was born with (or legally assigned to it by the relative governmental authority), is fraud. If you do it be willing to pay the price if you get caught.

Now to the OP's question. Assuming you're replacing a damaged or missing original plate with legal numbers, I discovered when I did mine (to replace my damaged original) that Chevy used odd size stamps. I bought 1/4" and 1/8" stamps and they were both too large to be a perfect match to the original. They do serve the purpose though.

My original data plate.

Replacement data plate.

Ditto on everything Tiny posted.

Depending on whether or not the DMV official you're dealing with has PMS on the day you ask a question, you MIGHT get good information about how to get a LEGAL ID number assigned to a vehicle you're restoring. Most states have a method of getting numbers assigned to restored or home built vehicles, but the necessary procedures and hassles vary from state to state, and sometimes from one county to another. Just pray that you don't encounter some incompetent jerk who thinks his/her Civil Service job is a license to be rude and uncooperative.
Jerry

Guys I have a paper document with my vin on it, but my plate is gone on the truck. And if it's illegal the explain to me why these truck places sell blank ones. And for those of you throwing shade at each other it's uncalled for alright? Alright.

Now for those of you that kindly mentioned the harbor freight set and the trophy shop, thanks very much.

Just to make it clear I'm not assigning my own vin, simply taking the one on my title and stamping it in a new plate to actually mount on my truck.

That's actually the problem in a nutshell- - - - -people have been fabricating ID plates to match paperwork for decades- - - -including buying a junked or totaled-out vehicle with a good paper trail, stealing another vehicle, and falsifying the ID plate. We're not saying that's what you're doing, but there are serious legal consequences possible for what you're planning to do unless you have the original ID plate in your possession. There are LEGAL ways to accomplish the same thing, but simply stamping your own plate is not how to go about it.

Manufacturers usually used an unusual height, font, or both to stamp ID plates, plus Chevy used a specially-designed rivet to attach the plate in at least some cases.
Jerry

I know it sometimes doesn't make a lot of sense but the reason data plates can be sold but not used is for the reason I mentioned above. Replacing one with legal numbers is OK for the most part. Also the reasoning for selling them even if they aren't used legally usually runs along the lines of it's legal to sell booze but it's not legal to get drunk in public. It's legal to sell switchblade knives but not to carry one. It's legal to sell corn, sugar, yeast and copper but it's not legal to make shine. It's legal to sell a gun but not legal to shoot someone, etc, etc.

And good for you, keeping it legal. There are far too many who don't. Also it's a good idea if you keep your old plate in the glove box just in case.

OK, hypothetically ---if you have a good in-state title and a model year cab and/or frame that was not stolen but let's say abandoned. And you know the title can never be matched to another vehicle -stolen or non stolen. Your advice is to get a builders title for current year (vehicle will be listed as a 2017 or later) or go thru a judge and get the BMV to examine it for any info that shows what the cab or frame is and if they can, assign a new serial number probably non typical for year. Then for the in hand title keep for posterity,throw away, burn, shred, or take it with any old cab to scrapyard to get a higher scrap steel rate.

What would you do?

This debate got me curious. I called my states enforcement number to pose the question to them. I am in Kentucky. As far as Kentucky is concerned the legal/proper way to accomplish this is to apply for a duplicate VIN. They have a form for it. The alternative solution is to apply for a new VIN plate. They would send you an new modern VIN plate that you would attach to your vehicle someplace else. It would have a new VIN number and a replacement title with the new VIN would be issued. You could then change your repo door tag as much as you like. It is no longer the legal identification tag for your vehicle. It is simply a period authentic serial number for looks only.

As long as you know that what you are doing is illegal, that's all that matters. Everyone has given you their advice. The fact that someone sells the plates has been discussed all over the internet on dozens of forums. They are legal scum bags. The only possible use would be for the procedure Dgrinnan posted. This discussion is not throwing shade, it's an adult telling you something you don't want to hear. If you can tell me the reason people like you don't call the DMV and see what is required, I would be in the know.
Is it:
1. Lazy
2. You know you are doing something fishy (illegal)
3. Ignorant of the law
4. You want to be modern like Caso

Ian, in case you didn't figure it out already, you hit on a touchy subject. This subject has been discussed here hundreds of times in the past. The answers are always the same. The Stovebolt search feature can be a great help. Take some time and learn how to use it.
We are just looking out for your best interests. At 19 we would rather risk (upsetting) one or two members than see a future great in our hobby go to jail. Be carefull what you do and how you go about it.