Short "VIN" -at least in the eyes of the DMV

Great stories! Yes, keeping my mouth shut is key. No sense filling their heads with an education on manufacturer's numbering systems prior to 1980.

Luckily I discovered that there's a State of Virginia "VIN" correction form. I'll just fill out that form and if they want to look at the bike so be it.

Diablouph said:

For god's sake Anglophyle, look out for KSUWildcatFan. He's a notorious crook who, with the help of his father is running a "hot" Norton ring. The man is one step away from Federal Prison. They have some way of avoiding the DMV.

Here's what you do. Bring it to California, but don't tell anyone for security reasons. I have connections with the Bank of Nigeria and will cover all your expenses.

Remember, you can get license plates or make license plates, but not both.

Failing that, I think it was GrandPaul who said: "Keep your mouth shut and answer direct questions. When they ask you for the money, hand it over.

Go ride."

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Bahahahahahahaha

DogT wrote:

I guess that keeps me from trailoring it to CA and driving it around there.

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Can you spell " T - O - U - R" ? :twisted:

Update! All went well -went from 9 numbers on the title to 6. Registered the bike last week. I brought it on a trailer, had the DMV lady look it over as I explained Norton's numbering system. I also provided a copy of the Norton What Year Is It? numbering chart. I then filled out a form in which she signed and that was it. Got a new title with the proper six digit ID

It'll be interesting when I take my MD title into the VA DMV (Fauquier County) with the same issue. Maybe this month, need to get the wifey to go so we are both on the title. I'll let you know how it works out.

Dave
69S

Hi Anglo,
You can get a letter from the records officer at The Norton Owners Club in UK stateing when your bike was made, the cubic capacity & confirming the engine number. He may even be able to confirm where it was delivered to in the USA & when.
This service I belive is free to NOC members but cost about £17.50 to non members.
I'm sure you could pay via Credit card & have the letter posted or e.mailed to you.
I used this service a few years ago to class my commando as a historic vehicle after confusion at the licence authority in the UK.
You can contact Chris Streather at the NOC. "records@nortonownersclub.org"
At least if you can get one of these confirmation letters it may help your case to show someone did make a mistake in the 1st place with your VIN number at your licence authority. Also its good to keep the letter for whoever owns your bike after you. In my case they will have a long time as ive had commando for 38 years already with no intention of selling it.
Best of Luck,
Cheers Don
IVE JUST NOTICED THIS THREAD WAS STARTED IN JANUARY BUT THE INFO ABOVE MAY BE HELPFUL TO OTHER OWNERS.

One thing I know, the people behind the computer can do a lot of funney things. I use AAA in Calif so I never have to personaly go to the DMV & when I regestered this 850 it had not been tagged in 15 years. The name "Norton Commando" didn't come up in there computer so she literally made up a new name! Can't remember what it was. Then she tells me it will cost something like $600 in fees to do. I told her this is just a old bike not a Masserati & I can't afford any thing near that much money for this "old bucket of bolts".. She kind of looked sad and went back to her computer. The next thing I know my fees were around $60.00 and I had new tags! The funky name was on the paperwork for a year or so but I don't care. The #'s were correct. This is not the first time I have gotten them to wave fees & I bet there isn't a single DMV employee who pays a penny for there regestration etc.

Don Tovey said:

Hi Anglo,
You can get a letter from the records officer at The Norton Owners Club in UK stateing when your bike was made...

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Thanks Don, I'll look into that. Sounds very much like the service that the BMIHT provides.

DogT said:

It'll be interesting when I take my MD title into the VA DMV (Fauquier County) with the same issue.

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Dave, hopefully you won't have the line that I experienced. Fifteen minutes early and there were seventy-five people in front of me. :roll:

Yeah, it's a real crap shoot as far as the DMV goes. Middle of the month is usually best. It's better than MD though, that was a nightmare that wouldn't end. I suppose DC is even worse.

Dave
69S