VIN affixing
4-3 Damaged or missing VINs
Sometimes a vehicle is damaged in such a way that the vehicle identifier is no longer readable.
If a vehicle has been damaged so that the VIN is no longer readable, it must have its original VIN affixed by an entry certifier. A new VIN is not assigned. The VIN may be a LANDATA assigned ‘7AT’ VIN, or it may be one assigned by the manufacturer. See Pre-registration and VIN page 1-1(1.3) for more information.
If a vehicle that does not have a VIN has been damaged so that the chassis or frame number is no longer readable, it must have a ‘7AT’ VIN assigned and affixed. Procedures for assigning a VIN to a currently registered vehicle are described in section 3-2.
1 Inspection required
When a vehicle owner applies to an entry certifier to have a VIN reaffixed or assigned, the vehicle must be inspected by a vehicle inspector authorised to carry out entry certification. The vehicle inspector must complete a ‘VIN approval request’ form (Reference material 53).
All identifiers (VIN, chassis, engine, body and frame numbers) must be recorded and their location and condition noted. What is right with the vehicle and its identifiers is just as important as what is wrong.
A VIN must not be affixed or re-affixed to a vehicle until approval from the Transport Agency has been sighted. Once approval is received, the details on the approval document, on the LANDATA system and on the actual vehicle presented must be matched. Table 4-3-1 describes what action must be taken depending on how details match. A tick represents a match between details; a cross represents a difference between details.
Table 4-3-1. Matching details when affixing/re-affixing a VIN
Vehicle | LANDATA | Approval from Waka Kotahi |
|
---|---|---|---|
Affix the VIN to the vehicle. A note, such as ‘VIN plate re-affixed’, must be added to the vehicle record. | |||
There may be an error on the approval. Refer the vehicle owner to Waka Kotahi. Do not continue. | |||
An incorrect VIN has been entered in LANDATA. Type the correct VIN in the VIN/chassis field of the ‘VIN allocation’ screen and transmit. | |||
Do not continue to process until approval is obtained from Waka Kotahi. Type >C< into the escape field and transmit to cancel the transaction. |
If there is no VIN recorded for the vehicle in LANDATA, refer to section 3-2 for information on assigning a VIN to a currently registered vehicle.
Page amended 1 October 2022 (see amendment details).