If you have a good body tub, sans plate, you simply go to your DMV and
obtain a VIN for the car you build. Each and every state allows this.
Admittedly, some states are easier then others. Using the plate off
another vehicle to put yours back on the road absolutely is fraud. For
the body tub is not the body tub (or vehicle) that was associated with
the VIN listed on that title. Can you get away with this fraud?
Frequently the answer is yes.
Now, lets assume you've done this, go to register the car now, and find
out the title and plate you bought are from a stolen car. First you're
going to lose your car. Then, if you convince the police that you
didn't actually steal the car but simply comitted fraud by knowingly
installing false identification on the vehicle, you will also face
criminal charges on that act.
The safest way to do this is to buy the entire scrap vehicle, and switch
the title over to your name. Then remove the identification plates from
the scrap vehicle and place them in a safe place. Cut up the scrap car
and dispose of it in various dumpsters. The scrap vehicle no longer
exists now, and you have in your possession the title and
identifications plates of the scrap vehicle, in your name. Now you can
committ the fraud of installing them on another vehicle and almost
assuredly get away with it.
Tim Psensky wrote:
> I think the key here would be intent. Does the person
> using the title intend to defraud someone into buying
> a car that isn't what it appears, or does someone have
> a spare body tub that is in really too good of shape
> to trash, but no title, Using it to put their car
> back where it belongs - on the road. I'm not a
> lawyer, just my .02
>
> Tim
> Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
> http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
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