no way man. not all. dont ask me how to build a house. i love mechanics, but def no expert. no one knows everything and no one knows nothing!!! im glad i was able to help!
I have a 1987 YJ with original title. Even says AMC rather than Jeep. motor blows and i put in a silverado engine (diff vin). Is this illegal? Next my frame rusts, so i buy a 95 YJ frame and swap it. Illegal? (diff vin frame). I start hitting too many trails, so i swap in 79 1 ton axles (diff vin). Illegal yet? Im tired of the aged plastic dash, so i swap in a CJ7 dash (diff vin). Illegal yet? So far all that is left is the body... but oh wait, i pull the carpet and get ready to bed line the inside, but "Crap!" there are holes everywhere and all the body mounts are rusted/broken!!! So i find a 93 YJ body in excellent condition (diff vin) and i swap the body.
i now have a YJ that is 100 percent NOT the same VIN as my title. Am illegal? No, i am not.
The purpose of the VIN, title, and all these various gestapo numbers is one-fold: to identify the individual, the flesh and body who has "legal" and "authorized" use of the vehicle. It is not illegal because you are not participating in fraud, you are not participating in a mala in se or mala in prohibta action or inaction.
Dont over think it.
I dont disagree with the reasoning for a VIN, but i dont completely agree with the rest. If this was the case, why do they primarily inspect the VIN on an older vehicle that is purchased out of state? If it is just to control ownership, it shouldnt matter what the VIN is, as long as its not reported stolen.
§ 20-108. Vehicles or component parts of vehicles without manufacturer's numbers.
(a) Any person who knowingly buys, receives, disposes of, sells, offers for sale, conceals, or has in his possession any motor vehicle, or engine or transmission or component part which has been stolen or removed from a motor vehicle and from which the manufacturer's serial or engine number or other distinguishing number or identification mark or number placed thereon under assignment from the Division has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, or destroyed for the purpose of concealing or misrepresenting the identity of said motor vehicle or engine or transmission or component part is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
(b) The Commissioner and such officers and inspectors of the Division of Motor Vehicles as he has designated may take and possess any motor vehicle or component part if its engine number, vehicle identification number, or manufacturer's serial number has been altered, changed, or obliterated or if such officer has probable cause to believe that the driver or person in charge of the motor vehicle or component part has violated subsection (a) above. Any officer who so takes possession of a motor vehicle or component part shall immediately notify the Division of Motor Vehicles and the rightful owner, if known. The notification shall contain a description of the motor vehicle or component part and any other facts that may assist in locating or establishing the rightful ownership thereof or in prosecuting any person for a violation of the provisions of this Article.
20-109. Altering or changing engine or other numbers.
(a) It shall be unlawful and constitute a felony for:
(1) Any person to willfully deface, destroy, remove, cover, or alter the manufacturer's serial number, transmission number, or engine number; or
(2) Any vehicle owner to knowingly permit the defacing, removal, destroying, covering, or alteration of the serial number, transmission number, or engine number; or
(3) Any person except a licensed vehicle manufacturer as authorized by law to place or stamp any serial number, transmission number, or engine number upon a vehicle, other than one assigned thereto by the Division; or
(4) Any vehicle owner to knowingly permit the placing or stamping of any serial number or motor number upon a motor vehicle, except such numbers as assigned thereto by the Division.
A violation of this subsection shall be punishable as a Class I felony.
(b) It shall be unlawful and constitute a felony for:
(1) Any person, with intent to conceal or misrepresent the true identity of the vehicle, to deface, destroy, remove, cover, alter, or use any serial or motor number assigned to a vehicle by the Division; or
(2) Any vehicle owner, with intent to conceal or misrepresent the true identity of the vehicle, to permit the defacing, destruction, removal, covering, alteration, or use of a serial or motor number assigned to a vehicle by the Division; or
(3) Any vehicle owner, with the intent to conceal or misrepresent the true identity of a vehicle, to permit the defacing, destruction, removal, covering, alteration, use, gift, or sale of any manufacturer's serial number, serial number plate, or any part or parts of a vehicle containing the serial number or portions of the serial number.
A violation of this subsection shall be punishable as a Class I felony. (1937, c. 407, s. 73; 1943, c. 726; 1953, c. 216; 1965, c. 621, s. 3; 1967, c. 449; 1973, c. 1089; 1975, c. 716, s. 5; 1979, c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 47; 1981, c. 179, s. 14; 1987, c. 512; 1993, c. 539, s. 1255; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
