Frame VIN and Engine Number

[bermwewjan]

Done some searching but haven’t been able to find a clear answer. Looking at a used triumph and the previous owner did an engine swap. Bike is registered, but the number on the engine doesn’t match the title or registration. Current owner doesn’t have the paperwork from prior owner’s engine swap (eBay).

What’s the best way to get the engine number changed when I do a title transfer? Is it just a matter of getting the DMV to do an inspection and confirm the engine isn’t stolen? Can I just get a bill of sale that lists the frame and engine number?

Thanks for the help

 

[kuksul08]

Will probably need a CHP inspection to make sure it's clean and then have the DMV do the paperwork.

 

[Frame Maker]

I've seen this situation play out in different ways...

I've had bikes in the past with incorrect engine numbers where I've gone ahead transferred title with no changes to the paperwork. Then gone back to DMV a month or so later and reported a "mistake" in the new paperwork. Played dumb and said "I bought it that way", and gotten the engine number corrected after a simple inspection.

I've also done engine swaps between bikes where DMV wants to "junk" both bikes, then re-title them after the engines have been swapped and they both become "salvaged" bikes. Complete headache.

These days I've lost my patience with DMV and I have a few bikes with engines that don't match the paperwork and I'm fine leaving as is. That said, these are usually project bikes with minimal re-sale value.

Then I have this odd situation where many years ago a friend sells me his race bike which I then part out. I keep the nice race prepped engine to put into one of my bikes and I get the paperwork updated to include the new engine number. The frame the race engine came out of gets sold, but never re-titled. About a year ago, my friend gets a renewal notice for the original bike he sold to me. The odd part... the title that bike apparently still has the old engine number attached to it, AND the title of my bike has the same engine number. So two bikes are active in the DMV system with the exact same engine number.

Moral of the story, I don't think engine numbers are sacred, just the VIN on the frame.

Your results may vary.

 

[WeekEndWarrior]

You are going to need proof said engine was purchased off eBay and a lot of patience.

 

[Junkie]

I've seen this situation play out in different ways...

I've had bikes in the past with incorrect engine numbers where I've gone ahead transferred title with no changes to the paperwork. Then gone back to DMV a month or so later and reported a "mistake" in the new paperwork. Played dumb and said "I bought it that way", and gotten the engine number corrected after a simple inspection.

I've also done engine swaps between bikes where DMV wants to "junk" both bikes, then re-title them after the engines have been swapped and they both become "salvaged" bikes. Complete headache.

These days I've lost my patience with DMV and I have a few bikes with engines that don't match the paperwork and I'm fine leaving as is. That said, these are usually project bikes with minimal re-sale value.

Then I have this odd situation where many years ago a friend sells me his race bike which I then part out. I keep the nice race prepped engine to put into one of my bikes and I get the paperwork updated to include the new engine number. The frame the race engine came out of gets sold, but never re-titled. About a year ago, my friend gets a renewal notice for the original bike he sold to me. The odd part... the title that bike apparently still has the old engine number attached to it, AND the title of my bike has the same engine number. So two bikes are active in the DMV system with the exact same engine number.

Moral of the story, I don't think engine numbers are sacred, just the VIN on the frame.

Your results may vary.

DMV's paperwork system is fucked and has been for a long time.

I had a bike where it turned out two of them were registered under the same VIN. I hadn't thought to check. It was later stolen. A while after, they "recovered" it when someone went to register it at DMV, but it wasn't the same bike (same year/make/model but missing some things like scrapes on the swingarm, and they had a title that predated the theft)

 

[bermwewjan]

I called the DMV yesterday and it sounds like they just want a Reg 31 VIN inspection. But of course, I'm sure everyone at the DMV will have a different opinion...

Anyone had any luck getting an LEO to do the VIN inspection this to keep the wait at the DMV down?

 

[auntiebling]

I called the DMV yesterday and it sounds like they just want a Reg 31 VIN inspection. But of course, I'm sure everyone at the DMV will have a different opinion...

Anyone had any luck getting an LEO to do the VIN inspection this to keep the wait at the DMV down?

CHP can do it, call your local office and see if they offer the service. Not every office has someone that does.

Dmv is first come first served for vin checks etc, and a separate line from the one inside. Sometimes there is no wait even if the line inside is hours long.

 

[afm199]

Will probably need a CHP inspection to make sure it's clean and then have the DMV do the paperwork.

This.

I've done this once, had to go to CHP for inspection and then DMV for inspection and paperwork.

 

[bermwewjan]

lucked out. I was in and out of the SF DMV in about an hour. VIN inspection, then title transfer, no issue getting the engine number updated.