Bike Paperwork Question
 

I've tried searching for this with no luck. Perhaps it is a unique problem? (yeah, right.) I have an older bike which has had an engine swap, so the identification number on the engine no longer matches the frame or paperwork. Here in the USA, (at least in my state, which is what matters here), this is unimportant. They only really consider the number on the frame.

Will this be a problem as I go to other countries? Definitely the Americas, but I want to keep my options open.

Thanks

Andy

Andy
I have crossed into mexico and all the central american countries many times and only once was the Vin number checked and this was when I was cancelling my import permit at Agua Prieta. They now take a photo of the number when cancelling the permit. They asked if the frame was the only place for the number and I said yes.
Only in Nicaragua did they look at the bike to see if the plate number was the same as the registration papers.
Cal

It could cause a problem will the carnet system, you can have the actual frame/engine number on the carnet but it will not match you ownership paperwork. Having said that I have only ever had to show the carnet and not anything else.
Here in the UK it's a very simple procedure to have the ownership documents changed which is what I would do just to keep things simple but I assume that's not the case where you are as you haven't done it?

Cheers
Pete

If you ever ship the bike, customs at ports will often check the frame AND engine numbers.

Surely you can have your document updated ???????

I've crossed lots of land borders in Western/Eastern Europe and have never had the VIN, much less the engine number, checked, but as Touring Ted points out if you ship the bike you could have issues.

I had my engine number checked at the Mongolia - Russia border.
That was a real headache! The F650 engine number is hard to find (much less read) in the best of conditions. Covered with dirt from riding from Vladivostok, it was pretty much impossible to read. I can't remember if they gave up, but I eventually made it across the border.

My ownership paperwork only lists one number, and as far and the government here cares, that is the number off the frame (the frame is what makes the bike, not the engine). So changing it would, actually, make it invalid. The number on the frame is easy to find (so is the one on the engine), but I'm worried that pointing to the frame number won't be enough.

I've never actually seen a carnet, does it list the frame and engine numbers separately?

Thanks
Andy

Yes it does but you tell the carnet people what numbers to print on it before they send it to you so that's not going to be a problem and if your ownership paperwork only has the frame number then how can anybody tell if it's a different engine?

The ownership paperwork (called a title) lists only a "VIN" (Vehicle Identification Number). Usually this is the same on the frame and engine, but in my state (the title is issued by the state you live in), the number on the frame is the important one. I know this isn't the case all over the world, and want to know now how trouble I am likely to have with the numbers not matching.

If I get a carnet, which lists the numbers separately, will this make my life easier, especially if I ship it somewhere?

Thanks
Andy

Usually no one checks numbers. However, one time out of every ten someone does. You need to allow for that one time in ten, because it can cause you outlandishly in time, frustration and bogus fees if things don't match up.

I'm being vague because I don't really know what you need to do or how it'll all work, but my suggestion is to make sure all paperwork corresponds to frame, motor, plate, license and any other numbers. No matter that it might be awkward to do before leaving on a trip, it's going to be far more awkward once you're underway.

Hope that helps.

Mark

What you're saying is that your title only has your VIN, and not your engine number? I think that's fine; if your title has a different engine number than what is on your bike you could get screwed up.

On my bike the VIN and the engine number are completely different, I don't think people expect them to be the same. I think you're saying that the VIN is also stamped on the engine somewhere; I haven't seen this, but if it is the case it would be obvious that it is the VIN and not the engine number. Maybe I'm confused about what you're saying?

I've never had to do it, but getting a carnet sounds difficult/expensive--I'm not sure if it is worth it as an insurance policy.

NO isn’t it, usually numbers are not the same on the frame and engine all around the world. I have/had few bikes and only mach in my 1977 Gilera.

The number on the frame is the important one (VIN), only if original engine number didn’t appear in other paper you will use for travel.

Carnet isn’t mandatory in all the Americas for travel or shipping.
Saludos

Cool, thanks.

Andy