Car VIN doesn't match MOT database

Car VIN doesn't match MOT database

Author
Discussion

Acuity30

Original Poster:

665 posts

32 months

Thursday 8th May
quotequote all
Not me, but a workmate and I was curious myself so thought I'd ask.
Workmate bought a warm hatch 12 months ago from a private seller. It had 12 months MOT no advisories etc. All seemed clean and normal.
12 months later MOT time comes around and the MOT tester won't test it. Says the VIN of the car doesn't match what's on the database or something along those lines.
So now he's left with a car he can't MOT and presumably that makes the insurance void, last I heard the DVLA is doing an investigation.
Based on that I assume the VIN is completely different, rather than just a typo or 1 digit out.
In this situation what happens? Do the police go after the guy who sold the car to the coworker? The MOT tester who did it 12 months ago? Do the police even care? Does the car get destroyed or can it somehow be re-registered? Only glanced at it but he seems to drive it quite a lot and never seems to have any problems with it, but I assume it's a ringer.

InitialDave

13,122 posts

133 months

Thursday 8th May
quotequote all
Does the VIN match the V5C he received from the DVLA when the change of keeper went through?

Trevor555

4,709 posts

98 months

Thursday 8th May
quotequote all
If the Vin matches a car that's registered as stolen then it'll become the property of any insurance company that paid out on it I would imagine.

But I'm sure someone in the insurance industry will be along shortly to confirm, or advise otherwise.

Mandat

4,216 posts

252 months

Thursday 8th May
quotequote all
The first reply asked the most important question.

Does the VIN match that on the V5?

If not, then the car appears to be dodgy / ringer / stolen, etc.

If yes, then it is likely that the car is legit and there is a database mix up somewhere on the MOT system.

Acuity30

Original Poster:

665 posts

32 months

Thursday 8th May
quotequote all
InitialDave said:
Does the VIN match the V5C he received from the DVLA when the change of keeper went through?
I don't believe it does, no.

OutInTheShed

11,167 posts

40 months

Thursday 8th May
quotequote all
There are some MOT testers on here, maybe one will pop up and share some advice.

AIUI, the VIN is checked when they do an MOT.
Personally, I've had some comedy with a Ducati where the VIN used funny symbols which DVLA had translated as some other funny symbols.


Unfortunately, Mr Occam would suggest the car in question is not the bodyshell that passed the MOT, the plates have been moved to a dodgy vehicle post MOT?

With private plates and all that, the VIN is what matters, reg numbers are vapourware.

Acuity30

Original Poster:

665 posts

32 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
So I got further clarification..
It's actually that the VIN in the windscreen and the chassis VIN match, but the VIN on the door jamb doesn't. Supposedly it's the sticker type, but doesn't match regardless and no MOT centre will touch it

Drawweight

3,285 posts

130 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
Acuity30 said:
So I got further clarification..
It's actually that the VIN in the windscreen and the chassis VIN match, but the VIN on the door jamb doesn't. Supposedly it's the sticker type, but doesn't match regardless and no MOT centre will touch it
Which VIN is on the registration document?

Acuity30

Original Poster:

665 posts

32 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
Drawweight said:
Which VIN is on the registration document?
The window and chassis one. I guess that can only mean it's had some form of crash damage and a new door jamb welded in? Either way he's borrowing a mates car until the DVLA get back to him.

OutInTheShed

11,167 posts

40 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
The plate on the door pillar is the one which gives the emission limits?
So somebody may have swapped that to scrape the car through MOT on emissions?

Manufacturer should be able to say what is the correct VIN from the engine number?

Hugo Stiglitz

39,277 posts

225 months

Tuesday 13th May
quotequote all
Unrecorded damage, using a part welded in - but would be obvious.

How dodgy was the seller... or had he/she had it for a really short period and stated 'change of circumstances/didn't need the car now'?

Matt_E_Mulsion

1,737 posts

79 months

Tuesday 13th May
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The sticker in the door shut is the easiest one to fake. Either the car isn't what your mate thinks it is or it's got a dodgy history.

e-honda

9,468 posts

160 months

Sunday 18th May
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So it's being failed for having more than 1 vin displayed?
As the incorrect one is just a sticker, remove it and the problem is solved.
Unless they aborted the test and never issued a failure then it's always going to be in the history which is unfortunate.

Acuity30

Original Poster:

665 posts

32 months

Sunday 18th May
quotequote all
e-honda said:
So it's being failed for having more than 1 vin displayed?
As the incorrect one is just a sticker, remove it and the problem is solved.
Unless they aborted the test and never issued a failure then it's always going to be in the history which is unfortunate.
AFAIK one refused to test it, then he took it to another tester and didn't tell them about the previous one, whom also refused to test it on discovery of VIN.
I assume simply removing the door jamb sticker would be a fail for not having a VIN where one should be displayed. So I guess he just has to wait for the DVLA to reach a conclusion to their investigation.

InitialDave

13,122 posts

133 months

Sunday 18th May
quotequote all
Replace with an equivalent sticker with the correct VIN?

Must be possible to get one, especially if everything else he has ties up to a single VIN. Otherwise what do people do when repainting/repairing?

Acuity30

Original Poster:

665 posts

32 months

Monday 19th May
quotequote all
InitialDave said:
Replace with an equivalent sticker with the correct VIN?

Must be possible to get one, especially if everything else he has ties up to a single VIN. Otherwise what do people do when repainting/repairing?
Too late for that now since the DVLA is notified and been told he can't drive or test/insure it. I'm sure there must be more to it but that's all I know. It came with close to 12 months MOT just before he bought it privately, the seller apparently knew nothing was wrong.

paul_c123

702 posts

7 months

Monday 19th May
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Have you, I mean your co-worker, done a car Vertical check or similar, to see if its recorded stolen or something else interesting there? It would need to be a thorough check, not one of these superficial ones.

MustangGT

13,071 posts

294 months

Monday 19th May
quotequote all
Acuity30 said:
I assume simply removing the door jamb sticker would be a fail for not having a VIN where one should be displayed. So I guess he just has to wait for the DVLA to reach a conclusion to their investigation.
No, there is only the requirement for a visible VIN, no location is mentioned.

imagineifyeswill

1,245 posts

180 months

Monday 19th May
quotequote all
It's 18 years since I was an MOT tester last but in those days we took the VIN from.the windscreen plate, if that came up with correct VRM and correct car that was as far as we checked the identity of the vehicle.

OutInTheShed

11,167 posts

40 months

Monday 19th May
quotequote all
imagineifyeswill said:
It's 18 years since I was an MOT tester last but in those days we took the VIN from.the windscreen plate, if that came up with correct VRM and correct car that was as far as we checked the identity of the vehicle.
Since then, emissions testing has changed and can, AIUI, involve referring to the info plate on the door pillar?

My car seems to have the VIN in several places. Including another sticker under the bonnet telling me what colour the car is...
I'd guess it's stored in the electronics too.