VIN Number

[chrisponter]

I'm ordering my chassis soon and I'm looking about getting the new VIN number and having engraved on the chassis.

My question is what is the difference between the chassis number and the VIN number?

And where is the recomended place to have them/it engraved?

[carlknight1982]

Check the IVA manual if i recall correctly it has to be on the front left hand side of the chassis i stamped a plate then welded it on as the chassis tubes deform when you stamp them. not sure if engraving is sufficent.

[Spikehaus]

I recently wrote to the local DVLA office requesting allocation of a VIN for my Roadster. I have received back an official number starting with SABT.

The letter indicates that to facilitate registration, it is necessary for the garage / dealer to confirm that the VIN has been stamped onto the vehicle. It also states that the letter must be authorised by the garage and returned to the Vehicle Registration Office.

As this is a home built car with no dealer / garage. Who can sign / stamp the letter as the dealer? Can this be undertaken by the IVA inspector? (Ammended 26.01.2012 - I meant to say stamped by me and inspected at the IVA as per Cybereej comments)

[Cyberbeej]

Surely if you stamp the chassis correctly and send it back stating that who you are etc, then there won't be a problem with registration as the IVA/VOSA man will check it.
Surely this is just a paper pushing exercise so there is a file open against your Chassis number?????

At least you got your chassis number, i wrote to the glasgow office in august and i've never heard anything from them.:confused:

[Tatey]

I wrote to VOSA and got a VIN number back from them, it took a while but it came through eventually. You don't need to go to a garage to get it checked, the IVA man will check it.

[skov]

I got a similar letter from my DVLA office when I applied for a VIN.
However the bloke that sent it phoned me up to warn me about the strange wording. He said the problem is they don't have a standard letter template for supplying kit car VIN numbers, so they use the closest template they have.
He said just use VIN the number, stamping it on myself if I so wish, and ignore everything else on the letter.

[Spikehaus]

Great, that puts my mind at rest on this one.

[eSteve]

Chris

to answer your questions:

My question is what is the difference between the chassis number and the VIN number?

The numbers are the same.

And where is the recomended place to have them/it engraved?

The number (VIN/chasis no.) needs to appear in two places on the vehicle.
The chassis number needs to appear on the chassis itself. That is, engraved in to the fabric of the chassis (e.g. a chasis rail) or engraved in to a plate that is permanently fixed to the chassis (e.g wleded)
The chassis number needs to appear on a plate (normaly made from aluminium) alongside the various categories of weight for the vehicle (e.g. kerb side weight) also attached ot the vehilce but not with not such pernamente fixings e.g pop rivets.Have a look at your 'every-day' vehicle: It will have a plate, most probably in the engine compartment, with the chassis number, engine, number, weights etc on it, attached to the chassis. Also, it will have a chassis number imprinted in to the fabric of the chassis itself. On a Sierra this is under an little plastic flap in the carpet to the right of the driver's seat. Which opens up to allow one to view the imppressions of the VIN number made in to the chassis floor.

As always, have a look in the IVA manual for M1 vehicles for the definitive requirements for location of these numbers.

Hope that this is useful. Please comment if we have answered your question satisfactorily or in deed we have not.

Regards,

[chrisponter]

Thanks Steve, that pretty much answers the question :)

I've got some emails from VOSA which they have just today given me permission to share on the forum, they're quite useful and cover a few things aswell as well as whether the chassis/vin number are the same thing (which they are :D )

I'll get them up as soon as I manage to chop them down abit to get rid of the fluff.

[eSteve]

You're welcome.

This thread has covered the inspection of the chassis number aswell. This is inspected for form and fit as part of the IVA test. The confirmation that the number and the vehicle match is carried out by the DLVA (at a local vehicle licensing office aka LVLO) when the V5 is issued.

I started a thread prior to Christmas, in which I raised my concerns that the DVLA (at a LVLO) inspection will not be able to be carried out at a LVLO (as it is at present) since they all are closing, and the DVLA will have to specify another process. My paper work when my VIN number was issued has been returned to me by my local office which I presume, in the fullness of time, when I register my vehicle, will now have to be sent to the DVLA at Swansea.

LVLO thread: http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=7532

Getting my VIN thread: http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=5188

[Davidbolam]

Do you need to have a vin number AND a chassis plate or is this optional?

David

[chrisponter]

Off the top of my head this what I think the man from vosa told me. The vin number goes on a plate in the bulkhead under the bonnet, along with the manufacturer name, which is you and the max axle weights I think. Then the vin number also has to be marked on the chassis itself in some sort of non removable way in a place that won't be removed or replaced in normal service. I'll dig up the emails tomorrow and put them on here, in the mean time if someone whose car has already passed knows?

[nilocp]

Following on from what people are saying about a VIN, I contacted Leeds DVLA office to get a VIN, so I could weld on the plate before powder coating.

They said I couldnt have one until it was ready for inspection!!! In fact they said they would have to inspect it to give me a VIN before the IVA inspection.

What's that all about then?????

I explained about powder coating and welding etc, but the numpty said that wasnt his problem!

He did say the chassis manufacturers were issuing chassis numbers now.

So does that mean if I 'make' a chassis I can allocate my own 17? digit number??

Any ideas anyone?

Colin

[Davidbolam]

send arequest to newcastle office. i got mine return of post

David

[chrisponter]

You can make up your own VIN number if you want to provided it fits within the format, but it's 'not recommended', in their words

[rapidtornado]

Well I'm at the point where I need a VIN so I copied the letter in the announcments section that I think ASHG compiled or at least used... I just filled in the blanks sent it off to my local office (Bristol) 2 days later had a letter from them with VIN number starting with SABT.....

Happy days! thanks Ash or whoever wrote the original... worked for me

Rapid :cool:

[mgglep]

Just thinking outload but do you think it would be ok to letter stamp the number on the ally floor

[rapidtornado]

prob not as it's riveted to the chassis not part of the fabric of the chassis

[alga]

IVA manual section 18 requirement 7:

The Stamped in VIN must be marked on the chassis, frame or other
similar structure which is not easily removable, on the right hand side
of the vehicle when viewed from the rear.


I wouldn't say that the riveted floor is easily removable... Any other structural member bearing the identification might be cut out and rewelded with about as much effort.

[rapidtornado]

Then I guess you make your choice and take your chances... I can see your perspective and you could probably argue it with the tester and be sucessful..... question is... what does he/she typically see when people present their vehicles and would it be easier just to conform to what he/she is used to seeing?

Not saying it is wrong but personally I would opt for the path of least resistance ;)