It's very illegal

[Mark W Olson <Mark_W_Olson@ccm.sc.intel.com>]

I hate to start it all over again, but I know in California and I'm
pretty sure in all other states in the US, it is illegal to remove the
ID plate, even for bodyshell restoration.  You could be looking at jail
time here.  I wouldn't do it.  I'm pretty sure that if it has been
removed, you are legally required to get a new VIN.  If I were doing 
such a repaint, I'd have the body shop's butt if they oversprayed my 
plates.

Mark O.