Hi, I have a barn find 1973 Jaguar XKE. Has been sitting for 30 years in Kansas. I now have it in Calif but DMV need me to get a VIN Verification with CHP. But CHP won’t give me an appointment/ they don’t call me back. Does anyone know how you get through this VIN verification stage?
Just outta curiosity, what is your VIN.
It ought to start UD 1S
When I was in a similar situation with a 1957 Jaguar MK VIII, I called up a friend of mine in the Law Enforcement field, he came by my house with the paperwork, filled it out, and submitted it to DMV. I believe that it must be a sworn law enforcement officer but it does not have to be a CHP. DMV prefers a CHP officer because they are knowledgeable about vehicle matters, but in my case a city law enforcement officer that was a motorcycle officer was able to certify the VIN. My friend told me that he had specialized training to do this, so probably not just any law enforcement officer can verify a VIN.
Paul
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The subject interested me so I googled it. Apparently there are licensed folks that can do this for a fee. This site pretty much tells the story: https://www.vinverifications.com/
pauls
I always have good luck with my local CHP, I’ve gotten many VIN
verifications.
There are lots of independent VIN verifiers. Search in your area for DMV
services.
Cheers, Alan
Do you have a CHP office close by? Maybe just swing by and ask someone at the desk how it’s done?
Cheers
DD
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Thanks Doug. The CHP only do this by appointment. However they insist they will “call you back” when an opening presents itself. They gave me this message four weeks ago. They haven’t called. I called them yesterday and they gave the same message. Independent VIN verifiers only work on domestic cars.
CHP only do this by appointment. However they insist they will “call you back” when an opening presents itself. They gave me this message four weeks ago. They haven’t called. I called them yesterday and they gave the same message. Independent VIN verifiers only work on domestic cars.
Independent VIN verifiers only work on domestic cars.
Thanks Paul, this is a really good reply.
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Dear All,
Could one of you do me a favour? In order for the DMV to register a car, it has to find the VIN printed/posted in two places. Mine had the VIN on the firewall as normal. There was then a truncated version of the VIN at the door frame. The DMV person didn’t want to take the door frame number as a proper VIN because it only had the last eight or so VIN digits.
If you can give me the feedback that your door-frame numbers are also truncated, this should give me ammunition to go back to DMV and persuade them to take the door-frame number as solid evidence.
Best, Michael
Of course VIN verification rules vary by state, but I just went through the process with several vehicles in Colorado. One vehicle was verified by driving to the local police station, in another case I called the police station and they sent an officer out. Presently I am required to use the state police because of a broken title chain (VT does not issue titles for vehicles over a certain age.) I am having the same issue you are having. I took the trailer to a state police facility and sat behind a sign stating "wait here for VIN verification. After 15 minutes I went in and was told this station no longer does VIN verification. I tried on line appointment, after a search over a one year period, I got a message stating no appointments were available.
Rod
The VIN on the A pillar ('69 and later) is nearly always truncated to just the VIN or serial number of the car, not the suffix or prefix if there is one. I’m not sure what its going to take to convince them that this was standard practice for Jaguar. Perhaps a formal letter from JHT. There are thousands of photos on xkedata demonstrating Jaguar’s convention for VIN display. I somewhat understand the prefix and suffix problem but the serial number always stays the same. If you have the BW suffix that’s for your Borg Warner gearbox, if you have a P prefix, that’s for power steering, nothing else.
pauls
That’s interesting Rod, thanks for sharing this. Currently I’m able to drive the car on temporary permit - I’m hoping they will renew at the end of Sept.
Thanks Paul, that’s really helpful actually. I might take the car back to DMV and see if I can get someone senior to chat with. The last time, I took it to DMV in Corte Madera just north of San Francisco. The person who inspected the car was from a small town in Oregon-she had been transferred to help this office for a week. Maybe if I get hold of someone with a bit more experience, they can help. The suffix info you gave is very helpful.
Good luck Michael. What model year is your car, maybe I can find an example.
pauls
Hi Michael,
Some maybe useful information (maybe not).
All Jaguar E-types did not have VIN numbers per se. They were issued with Car/Chassis numbers. For a CHP office that’s the first hurdle to cross.- not enough numbers/letters! Many have done it in the past so you won’t be blazing a new trail, just education another generation!
The Chassis number can be found is several locations. First, as you mentioned, there is a data plate centered on the firewall…
Next one is a small tag fixed to the drivers (LH) A-post.
This is the only label on the vehicle that identifies the data in the box as a Vehicle Identity Number.
OEM labels are an early version of anti-theft technology. The label was reverse printed on clear acetate. Then a white background was applied. Finally, a layer of adhesive was used for attaching the label to the car body. Any attempt to remove the label, the clear layer will come off, separating from the white/adhesive part that stays on the body. Labels varied by Model Year. Vehicle data was imprinted on the label via Hot Foil Printing.
Finally, below the heater box, stamped into the sloping bulkhead panel is the Vehicle type S3 V12 - UD1Sxxxxx" Some vehicles this marking was taped over during painting to make reading easier, (as shown) while others were painted. Daily painter preference!
Chassis numbers may be found in two locations: FIrst, a 1-inch white round label affixed to the back of the instrument panel.
The second is a metal tag rivited under the rear stainless steel finisher panel.
Vehicle numbering was introduced around 1954. From 1954 to 1981 there was no “Standard” system adhered to by all car makers. In 1981 standardization resulted in the 17-digit VIN being issued to each vehicle produces.
So your car doesn’t have a 17 digit VIN … what the CHP is looking for. Search the Internet to find how others resolved this issue. I believe the State of California adds data to the Chassis number to make it a VIN so they can deal with it. Do you have a title showing the Chassis Number?
Good luck. Keep the Forum posted on your progress and success.
Happy Trails,
Dick
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What if you got a Heritage Certificate for your car from Jaguar ? Do you think that might help persuade the DMV folks ? Just a thought since I think they are nice to have anyway.
David
68 E-type FHC
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David,
Have you ever dealt with CA DMV? 
They would have no clue what JDHT is and no interest whatsoever in anything other than their official VIN Verification forms properly filled out and signed by a proper law enforcement officer.
Paul
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