Y car has the wrong VIN stamped in the boot, Landrover will not discuss it, I have been in dialogue with the DVLA since January this year, they have dragged their heels. In July they said it was a duplicate number with another car and they would get Scotland Yard involved. The police have been now on 2 occasions and spent 3 hours each visit with extensive checks. They have spoken with Landrover and now have written to me saying it was stamped incorrectly on the production line with the car behinds number, they also say that Landrover will not re stamp it so I should find a local mechanic who can do this. Is this legal ? Can a local garage stamp a VIN on police advice ?
VIN
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11-11-24 13:46I am amazed at Land Rovers dismissal of your problem, car manufacturers will tell you that getting the wrong number is impossible, that is the whole point of the VIN, it is a unique identifier difficult to forge or interfere with.
As I understand it, if a VIN is damaged say in repairing a vehicle the procedure is for the repairer to contact the DVLA and they then give instructions on what needs to be done, to restore the VIN.
I assume they will keep records of this happening.
I would hope it is illegal to make any changes otherwise.
A local mechanic would be OK if he follows the correct procedure and contacts the DVLA.
It needs to be sorted out, at the moment, your vehicle could be a badly done clone or a cut and shut, or stolen, and what your insurers will make of it, should you have to claim, I shudder to think!
If I was faced with this problem, I would let the DVLA know the results of the Police investigation with contact details for the Police investigator, and ask for written authorisation to correct the problem, to show to a local mechanic.
I would also contact the insurers to let them know of the problem, and what you have been and are doing about it.
They are likely to ask for proof of the results of the Police investigation. -
11-11-24 14:11This is a difficult one for a number of reasons.
Firstly, on the plus side your vehicle has been subjected to a full Police investigation (unlikely to be The Met at Scotland Yard unless you are in London) and it has been cleared as being a genuine vehicle.
On the down side, I have had a lot of dealings with Land Rover heritage centre at Gaydon in the past and I have always found them to be very helpful as they keep a register of every Land Rover/Range Rover that has ever come off the production line going back to the original series 1.
Is it Gaydon you have spoken to?
If not (rather than the factory) I would suggest contacting them, explain your situation and see what they say. They may be able to provide something like a certificate of authentication to confirm that your vehicle is genuine and has been given the correct VIN which should tie in with chassis and engine numbers.
It is if someone tampers with the original VIN that trouble may arise as any traffic cop worth his salt (or stolen vehicle squad officer for that matter) will raise flags if they can see numbers have been tampered with even if done professionally and as a result the headache starts all over again.
I would certainly start with speaking to and trying to get a letter of authentication/honesty from Gaydon, even get them to explain how a duplicate VIN came about as they tend to have the finger on the pulse of most things.
DVLA are about as much use as a chocolate fire guard, so your options are limited
These links might help
News – Land Rover Heritage Collection
The largest Land Rover collection in the world :: The Dunsfold Collection
Explore the British Motor Museum -
29-11-24 10:30
Many thanks, it was the DVLA that contacted Scotland yard and they sent the local police to carry out a thorough investigation. The Police sent the report to the DVLA but when I have tried to contact the DVLA they arer arrogant and plain rude. I have submitted a complaint but I just get an email bacl saying we will respond in 10 weeks, however they do not.
