Vehicle VIN verification? (Liberty, Penn: renting, vehicle registration, insurance)

[Jay_F]

Hello,

Trying to figure out what I need to do to get my out of state vehicles registered in PA, but have been told I need a VIN verification? Is this true, and what/how do I do this and how much $$$ is this procedure?

Thank you!

[desibhar]

Yes, you do need a VIN verification. Its about $35ish (if I remember correctly), and I got it done at a local dealership.

[scrapp]

Originally Posted by desibhar

Yes, you do need a VIN verification. Its about $35ish (if I remember correctly), and I got it done at a local dealership.

You can also get an authorized mechanic at a service station (e.g. one that does inspections) to do it. We did that (plus the PA state inspection) back in 2004 and I don't think they charged extra for the VIN verification (considered it part of the inspection).

If you can reach the VIN, you can use a pencil and trace it yourself.

If I remember correctly there was one gotcha... the service station wanted PA plates to do the inspection. So we had to go to the service station to verify the VIN, then to AAA to get the PA plates, and the back to the service station for the actual inspection. The extra trip was annoying. I found the whole PA VIN tracing law pointless and a waste of my time.

[desibhar]

Originally Posted by scrapp

If I remember correctly there was one gotcha... the service station wanted PA plates to do the inspection. So we had to go to the service station to verify the VIN, then to AAA to get the PA plates, and the back to the service station for the actual inspection. The extra trip was annoying. I found the whole PA VIN tracing law pointless and a waste of my time.

So true, I hated the whole process of registering a car in PA. It wasn't fun at all.

[Jay_F]

Thanks everyone!

Now a follow-up. When we went to get licenses today, we were given directions that lead us to a AAA. I thought the guy made a mistake, but AAA is where you can get the registration done??? I don't understand how a privately run company is the only place to get a state mandated BMV service done, especially since I am not a member of AAA. I did a search at the PA DMV/BMV website, and it does list AAA and not much else for my area... WTFark?

This crap is getting old real quick, and I guess since I left 20 years ago that I either forgot how bad is was or that it has gotten much worse? Cost is not the issue, as I used to have to pay yearly excise on each vehicle (mega $$$), it's simply the hassle, and complete lack of agreement amongst divisions, and outright errors at the BMV website.

Thanks.

[scrapp]

Originally Posted by Jay_F

Now a follow-up. When we went to get licenses today, we were given directions that lead us to a AAA. I thought the guy made a mistake, but AAA is where you can get the registration done??? I don't understand how a privately run company is the only place to get a state mandated BMV service done, especially since I am not a member of AAA. I did a search at the PA DMV/BMV website, and it does list AAA and not much else for my area... WTFark?

This crap is getting old real quick, and I guess since I left 20 years ago that I either forgot how bad is was or that it has gotten much worse? Cost is not the issue, as I used to have to pay yearly excise on each vehicle (mega $$$), it's simply the hassle, and complete lack of agreement amongst divisions, and outright errors at the BMV website.

Thanks.

I believe the license plate function was "privatized" by the state, thus the AAA. The other odd thing is that the drivers license function has been separated from the license plate/registration function so you have to go to two different shops in order to convert your residence and vehicles from another state to PA.

Its definitely a hassle, but since you only have to do it once none of the PA politicians who created this mess seem motivated to clean it up. I consider it part of the government "Welcome to PA" package for new residents, along with the automatic School District Property Tax Assessments Appeals that you get when you buy a house in Allegheny County.

[juliempdx]

Originally Posted by scrapp

I believe the license plate function was "privatized" by the state, thus the AAA. The other odd thing is that the drivers license function has been separated from the license plate/registration function so you have to go to two different shops in order to convert your residence and vehicles from another state to PA.

Its definitely a hassle, but since you only have to do it once none of the PA politicians who created this mess seem motivated to clean it up. I consider it part of the government "Welcome to PA" package for new residents, along with the automatic School District Property Tax Assessments Appeals that you get when you buy a house in Allegheny County.

AH Hah, someone else who is going through the same crap we are! We have been to AAA about 6 times now because our lovely state farm insurance agent told us they could do everything for us there, what a joke that was. We finally got our PA drivers license's today and both left in utter shock that we were actually able to accomplish something. I went to a AAA mechanic on Baum blvd and I wasn't charged anything for the VIN Inspection. Good luck to you, this is the fourth state I have lived in and the only one that has such a ridiculous licensing process.

[FlyByNightRat]

scrapp is correct. You have to go to two different places to get: a) Driver Services done by State and b) Vehicle Services done by private companies.

This PA DOT link will help you locate the Driver License centers and the messenger services (private companies) in the desired area.

https://www.dot3.state.pa.us/locator...80812174845133

Enter your location. Scroll down and place check in this check box for DLC:

- New Resident Drivers License / Transfer


Repeat the process and place check on these check boxes for MS:

- Basic Vehicle Record

- Vehicle Registration Address Change


EDIT: more info here: http://www.dot3.state.pa.us/new_resi..._vehicle.shtml

[hinsey86]

I hear you loud and clear. My husband laughed as I read this post to him as we experienced the same hassle last year when we moved here. And to add to the insanity, the DMV center would not take his military ID as a 2nd valid form of identification but they would take a social security card--which he had not needed for years and had misplaced probably 25 years ago. But he could get a new social security card using his military ID. It was a crazy headache.

[likepgh]

Yes, PA has separated the two functions and basically privatized the vehicle stuff (for the initial registration--once you have your plates, you'll do your yearly renewal through the mail or on-line directly with PENNDOT). However, some places have both a "messenger" service for license plates and a Driver's License/Photo center in the same building--AAA East Liberty for example. So you do have to wait in two lines (but in other states you would end up in 2 lines anyway at the DMV to do both things), but you can combine both into one trip. And if I recall correctly, one does not have to be a member of AAA to use the services. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.) On the whole, I think this is one form of privatization I support--it allows for a lot more places to do these functions than in the traditional model which might have one or two DMV offices per county.

(In the case of AAA, I think the Driver License staff are state employees and the state office is renting space from AAA, while the people who do the vehicle stuff are AAA employees.)

As for the identification business, I wouldn't blame PA too much for this. I think this is a national crackdown and some of the annoyances (like demanding to see a social security card) may be federal mandates. If you last got a drivers license in another state before circa 2003 and you are comparing your experience there to PA in 2008, you may be comparing apples and oranges.