Importing from the USA problem with Title?

[Grant]

Hi All ,

this is my first post so please forgive me if its not very correct !

Ive bought an e type in the US and Im having problems with the the shipper.
It has an Ohio Title which is all correct and matches the car, they have however put their own Vin number on it.
Its on a plate riveted on top of the Jag one but with all original number still clearly visible.
I have had an online live chat with the Ohio Bureau of motor vehicles and they do not know why they changed the vin number it could be they just needed more number for their computer in the 1980's no one knows.
but they did confirm they have a title and vin number that match my car.
The problem is the shipper seems to think that customs will not like it ? and that the NOVA will be paid in the new vin number and DVLA will want the original Jag one to register it but this will not happen as the NOVA had been paid on the new one!
you can see Im being sent round in circles.
The title only contains the Ohio vin number but the bill of sale has both .

Has any body else come up against this problem?

Thank you for staying with it and reading this far !!!

Regards

Grant.

[dal2.0litrefrogeye]

Good evening Grant . When you say "they have put their owm vin number on it " , who is they ? Would it be possible to contact the seller and ask them take the extra vin plate off ?? Or clear up why it's got the the extra vin ? Just a thought??? Sorry I can not offer any actual advice . And I hope you get the situation cleared up .
Will the shippers not send until late the vin plate problem is resolved ???
. Regards
Darren

[Hugo]

Not much help but I can tell you that US States will frequently give an old vehilce a fresh VIN if they can't find or don't like the old one - this is just for identification purposes, since they go on the VIN not the reg no.
I also have an old (1917) LaFrance from Tennessee, which has had a VIN plate screwed on by somebody, but it already has the NOVA certificate.
I once imported a Moke from Australia, and the VIN wasn't checked till much later, when I had to take it to the local DVLA office to get it registered. But that was a while ago, before NOVA.
If it were me, I think I'd try to get to the car before anybody else does once it reaches these shores & whip the new plate off before anybody sees it.
I once shipped a Morris Minor to my place in Florida, and that caused a bit of an issue when it arrived because I didn't have a title document. I told them there is no such thing in the UK, and as is the way in Florida, if something doesn't quite fit the requirements, they just wave it through. Again, I didn't have to get the VIN checked until later in the process, at the local DMV office. Over here, of course, you will be doing battle with the DMV, which is a whole different ball game, as they say in the States.
Why is the shipper getting involved in this - it's not his problem, is it?

[Hugo]

Alternatively, just import it under the fresh VIN, then notify the DVLA that the VIN has changed - that should confuse them! I once had a Golf that was listed as a Jetta. I told DVLA about this every time I taxed it but they ignored me. In the end I just wrote to them and said "This car is now a Golf", and they changed it without even querying how this could have occurred!

[Hugo]

My fingers are ahead of my brain this morning - why has it even got a fresh VIN? It would only need that if it was driven to the docks in the US. I can't see any reason why it wouldn't have been shipped with the original details. I have a Series 2 import from N Carolina, and that still has the original chassis no. It's not registered here yet (now in a million bits!) so I won't have to deal with that till it is.

[nefematic]

Grant,

how soon is soon - is it already on the boat? Haven´t heard that one yet but if you´re good with the seller and not in a hurry and all is legit it might be easier to deal with new documents stateside. Maybe depending on the state of origin a new title could be issued stating only the original Numbers on the new title and invoice. That might help reduce inquiries at all docks.

Martin

[neil4444]

I would speak asap to whoever is doing the NOVA input on the UK side as they may just be able to input the original VIN details rather than the replacement VIN.

[Grant]

Hi Everyone ,

thank you all for taking the time to reply,
I think its going to be easier to try and get a new title in the US than try and explain it here to customs, the problem is no one any where knows the answer and will give you a firm answer including the customs car helpline, who say that they will clear(nova) it on a vin number that matches the title but DVLA will only register a car with the nova paid and that will not be the Jag vin!!! and so the circle starts again!!!

thank you again i will let you know how i get on .

Grant.

[Nickleback]

So to be safe to get it registered in the UK on it's original build VIN when exported, you are going to need Ohio to remove the new VIN issued and register the old VIN for export so the NOVA picks it up ?

Careful which shipper you use as bits seem to disappear from the car when it crosses the Atlantic, mine lost the jack, tool kit, original spare federal spinners & handbook paperwork etc - all stolen
Personnally I would get a complete inventory of what you have bought & send all loose items by air, insured & signed for, seperate from the car being shipped.

You don't say which model/type of e-type you are getting, so some details would be good along with pics if you have them ?

I'm just up the road from you in Pulborough, so if you need so help or moral support let me know & welcome to the e-type world in the UK !

[Grant]

Hi Mike ,

your dead right I think, and thats what Im now doing, Im getting the shipper to get a title in the original Number 1R ....
that should put this to rest , but the robbing B's are charging me £500 for the pleasure , but I'm a bit stuck now as Im here and the car is in their warehouse in Houston.
Anyway its done now so hope fully that should happen in the very near future.
Point noted about the stuff in the boot but un fortunately again Im here, there was not much there just the old air filter and the brass spanner thing for the spinners I will just have to see what turns up.
Ive been told there is some sort of E type meet at the Tollgate Hotel in Bramber Steying on Sunday 9th April but that all I know about it Im not even sure if its day or night time , do you know about it? Ive just phoned them but even the lady who answered did not seem to know about it.
I've bought a 1969 series 2 roadster in white very similar looking to yours, I will put a pic on my profile but I'm almost a bit nervous to do it before she is safely in the driveway!
I would be very interested in a meet up when she gets here (or before) do you ever go to the Sad Case Car club stuff at the Silver spur?.
Ive not been all winter but really should get back into it now the light evenings are coming.
I will send you a message with my phone number, sadly I'm working this sunday but the Sadcase thing in Storington is on I see and is well worth a visit as its so local if you did not go last year.

thanks again for your message

Grant.

[Nickleback]

Hi Grant,

I hope it works out for you getting the original chassis number re-instated by Ohio, in my view its a must !

The jaguar meet at Tollgate on the 9th April is a JEC one, details are on their www site here:
https://jec.org.uk/news/2017/forthcoming-events

The one local event I will do this year is the JEC Arundel castle open day on 6th Aug 2017

I dont go to SADCASE events but I am a member, will start to go when my E is finished next year.

Message me when you are ready with your details