Whether you’ve just stumbled upon a barn find, inherited a project car, or stumbled upon an old racecar, the trouble is you can’t seem to find a VIN on your classic car. Now what? Is it possible to title that car at all or are you wasting your time? We’ve got the steps you want to take with your classic car that doesn’t have a VIN.

We specialize in getting titles for vehicles that have VIN numbers, but we may be able to help in your situation as well. Contact us for a no-obligation chat to find out if our title services will work for you.

How Could You Get Into This Situation?

The vehicle identification number, otherwise known as VIN, is a unique code which is basically the serial number of a vehicle. It’s used to identify more than just cars, as motorcycles, mopeds and scooters contain them as well.

Early VINs, especially ones from other countries, often don’t work in modern DMV systems.

The modern format of VIN numbers in the United States was introduced back in 1954, but those early VINs were still very different from what we know today. In fact, there was no standard for the numbers which left manufacturers to do whatever they wanted. Because of this, many older cars have VINs that aren’t in any database or easily tracked.

In 1981, a new standard was issued for these numbers by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It required that any road-worthy vehicle contain a 17-character identification number. To reduce errors, a modern automotive VIN number cannot include the letters I, O, or Q.

Can You Get a New VIN Number for a Car?

You might ask why you can’t simply move the VIN from another car over to yours. That’s because swapping a VIN – that is, transferring the VIN from one body or chassis to another – is illegal.

If you don’t have a VIN on your vehicle now, you might wonder how to get one. First, you should make every effort to find the vehicle’s VIN, if it has one. If the car has a title, it should be listed there, or you might find it on various body panels or the engine itself.

If you are sure the car never had a VIN, or something happened to it, you will have to contact your local DMV office. Each state has a different policy and procedure on what to do when you need a VIN. Some states will require an inspection by a DMV official or police officer to determine that there is, in fact, no VIN. To save yourself a second trip, make sure you take any documentation you have with you.

You might know of some fly-by-night company that claims they can get a new VIN for any vehicle. Trouble is, these companies are often only doing things legally when they obtain a VIN for a kit car, custom construction, or some other vehicle which was never licensed for road use before. We suggest steering clear of those companies and contacting us instead if you want to explore that option.

Are You 100% Sure There’s Not a Title Out There?

Barn finds are great, but they can be a real hassle. If you want the path of least resistance, do everything you can to locate a title for the car.

• Try running a basic VIN Check to see what, if anything, comes up.

• Talk to the previous owners and see if they ever titled the vehicle. If so, transferring the existing title is your best option.

• If the seller had a title at one time but lost it, they should apply for a new one. This is easier than you trying to do it.

If you find or buy a car without the title and registration, you are in for a long path. Carefully evaluate if the vehicle is worth it to you, especially if it needs a lot of work. Also, your state will not issue a current title to you if there is already one in place. It just won’t happen

If you want to attempt to title a car without a VIN, you will want to make sure you have a lot of documentation. Get everything you can from the seller regarding the ownership history. Then, have the seller write you a bill of sale that includes the date, sale price and both parties’ information. Present your findings to the DMV to determine your next steps.

Do You Need a Title at All? Can You Get a Title Without a VIN?

Something else to consider is that you might not need a title at all. For example, in Georgia, if you want to register a car that’s older than 1986, you don’t need a title in order to register the car. All you need is a Bill of Sale, your paperwork, a couple extra forms, and the appropriate fees along with proof of Georgia residency and they are happy to register the vehicle for you.

There are other states as well. In Connecticut, any car older than 20 years doesn’t need a title to obtain a registration. Check your state’s DMV website or give them a call before you pursue a VIN or a title.

Buying a Classic Car with No VIN

Many factors could influence your ability to get a VIN, title, or registration on a classic vehicle.

Check the interior

Before purchasing a classic car, you need to inspect the interior. Check the dashboard, badges, upholstery, seats, radio and emblems. Finding and restoring these classic pieces can really add to your bill. You also want to be aware if these items have already been replaced. If they are not factory original, it likely diminishes the value, and a swapped or rolled back odometer could cause issues during an inspection

Check the exterior

Make sure you look at the car in natural daylight. You want to be able to see the paint condition, including any obvious dents and mismatched panels. Keep your eyes open for any welding marks as this could indicate a clip job. That’s when the front or back of a junk car is welded to another in an effort to sell it whole – and the VIN is often swapped as well, which is illegal. Is there anything where the VIN is supposed to be?

Look for rust

It’s not unusual to see some rust on a classic car, but you want it to be minimal. If whole areas of the body panel or floorboard are rusted, you want to use caution. Anything that’s going to require lots of repairs or complete replacement should be considered carefully. Also, you want to look for signs that rust has already been repaired. If you notice it, the chances are that a professional didn’t do the job and the rust is likely to return.

Go for a test drive

If the car is currently running, you must take it for a drive. It’s the best way to find out what problems you are facing. Make sure you keep your ears open for any unusual sounds like squeaks, noises and clunks. You also want to pay attention to how the handling feels. Do you fear you will lose control while going over bumps or around corners? That could be an indication of some pricey suspension repairs before the car is roadworthy.

Enjoy your classic car – wisely

We don’t aim to be the bearer of bad news but registering a classic car that doesn’t have a VIN isn’t an easy thing to do. You have to really love the car and be set in restoring it to make it worth your while. Otherwise, move on to something else and save yourself the hassle.

As enthusiasts ourselves, the title specialists at Dirt Legal work with people every day who want to make their dreams a street-legal reality. From two-stroke dirt bikes to homemade go-karts, we can get a new title and registration for just about anything with wheels.

If you need a title for a classic car with a missing VIN, we ask that you contact us for a no-obligation chat to see if our services are a match for your needs.

We are not attorneys. This article is not legal advice. Cover image source