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110 Iain



Member Since: 11 Nov 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 93

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Chawton White
Vin plate woes
Currently got my 110 hardtop for sale had chap come to see and has raised issue with vin plate under bonnet states it's not genuine upon inspection I have to agree. Have had truck 7 years and not noticed have all V5 from 3 previous owners all have vin stamped matched not sure to continue advertising when I now know plate is not right it is poorly stamped nos not straight etc do I open can of worms and contact DVLA ? Have lots of paperwork for work done by previous owners commercial companies but this vin plate looks well dodgy plus dash plate missing any thoughts welcome not sure what to do cheers Endeavour To Persevere
Post #1074158 27th Aug 2025 6:26pm
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 1035

Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
Do you have a picture of it? If you can blur the essentials?


Remember these were hand built - could have been a Friday quick finish. 2017 L494 Range Rover Sport SVR
2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1074159 27th Aug 2025 6:46pm
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110 Iain



Member Since: 11 Nov 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 93

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Chawton White
Seems to have been stamped in not embossed

Click image to enlarge
 Endeavour To Persevere
Post #1074160 27th Aug 2025 6:48pm
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jim4244



Member Since: 13 Apr 2014
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 984

England 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Fuji White
Hi

I’ve had VIN plates like this on some of my Land Rovers.

Does the engine compartment VIN and the one in the windscreen match the V5C? Does the chassis number and engine number match the V5C?

If the answer to the above is yes then there’s nothing to worry about

Jim
Post #1074162 27th Aug 2025 6:56pm
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110 Iain



Member Since: 11 Nov 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 93

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Chawton White
Chassis number matches but is stamped on plate welded to chassis think there was welding at chassis for previous winch no vin tag on bulkhead did not want to sell if if any dubiaty about plate chap interested certainly knew his stuff about landys been working on them 40 years wasn't using this to reduce price but was adamant this is false plate confused ? Endeavour To Persevere
Post #1074163 27th Aug 2025 7:02pm
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andy63



Member Since: 30 Jun 2023
Location: north east
Posts: 819

United Kingdom 
If it is a ringer , there are likely going to be signs that it isn't what it seems.. I dont know where they exist on a defender but most parts have a manufacturer date stamped on them.. there is a fair chance they won't match the paperwork details relating to the age of the vehicle.. it depends on how far you want to look into it..
Because there isn't a lot you can do ..
If you go anywhere with it you most probably loose the vehicle if it can be identified ..it would be the property of an insurance company more than likely..
That would be my thinking anyway
Post #1074168 27th Aug 2025 7:37pm
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110 Iain



Member Since: 11 Nov 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 93

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Chawton White
Nothing ringing alarm bells about car everything seems to check out just this plate looks ropey strange situation to be in if I contact DVLA/ police what am I supposed to say had car 7 years think it has fake vin plate what are they going to say probably won't care could open a huge can of worms trying to be a honest seller don't know of any other avenues I could follow to clarify identity Endeavour To Persevere
Post #1074170 27th Aug 2025 7:52pm
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TexasRover



Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1307

France 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White
You can buy these plates everywhere. I had a series with the chassis number (pre VIN) stamped on a piece of scrap aluminum. I made the car a lot nicer and decided to smarten it up with such a new plate.

Reality is a lot of these cars have been gobbled together of bits possible stolen bits or just one made out of two ropy ones. You bought it in good faith, your conscience is clean, yes it might scare away some buyers but no-one is going to investigate and get to the bottom of it. And what good does it do now?

Just sell it on and let someone else enjoy it like you did. Just provide all the paperwork and leave it to the potential new owner to decide.
Post #1074184 27th Aug 2025 9:30pm
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110 Iain



Member Since: 11 Nov 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 93

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Chawton White
Thanks for kind reply took add down have got really stressed about this but your probably right can't see how I can verify any further info on it I mean what am I supposed to do hand myself in to police because I have a suspect vin plate. Myself and previous owner as you say have bought in good faith and enjoyed car Endeavour To Persevere
Post #1074187 27th Aug 2025 9:37pm
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Shirty Carpet



Member Since: 10 Nov 2013
Location: Essex
Posts: 32

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
I had a 1995 Discovery which had the right VIN on the dash and the wrong one on the slam panel. The slam panel one decoded as a LHD 130 Hi-cap registered in the Netherlands. It was the DVLA who flagged when I tried transferring a cherished plate. In my case the police vehicle crime unit came out and when I told them that this seemed to be a thing that others had experienced they were really helpful, I got a new VIN plate for the slam panel and was able to transfer the plate.
Fingers crossed your situation is similarly able to be proven as factory mistake.
Post #1074192 27th Aug 2025 9:49pm
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110 Iain



Member Since: 11 Nov 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 93

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Chawton White
Thanks the vin no matches V5 ok and is same no on previous 3 V5 as I have them with a bunch of other paperwork including land rover jog sheets from new with same vin number chap who wanted to buy is suggesting I have good paperwork but on a different vehicle ie vin plate has been put on another vehicle. Endeavour To Persevere
Post #1074195 27th Aug 2025 9:56pm
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Johan_B



Member Since: 20 Sep 2024
Location: Gothenburg
Posts: 136

Sweden 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Tonga Green
I guess Land Rover should be able to give you the serial numbers for main components, like engine, gearbox, tc etc. Then you can do your own investigation into the matter before contacting DVLA. If everything checks out ok it probably is.
Post #1074223 28th Aug 2025 9:01am
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110 Iain



Member Since: 11 Nov 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 93

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Chawton White
Of course to add to my situation paperwork shows had replacement engine gearbox at 30k with no no's recorded was done by company that owned it as commercial vehicles they had a fleet of them it's possible they something to do with situation but they are no longer trading Endeavour To Persevere
Post #1074227 28th Aug 2025 9:35am
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whitepeakwolf



Member Since: 03 Feb 2021
Location: Peak District
Posts: 44

England 
Hi - a bit of a predicament there for you.
I’ve read through your posts above & subsequent replies.
Re the bulkhead VIN windscreen plate - mine from both my 110’s have been flicked off but I do have them however.
I would agree with others re the servo mounted plate - it’s pretty Mickey Mouse from the factory anyway but the figures are not stamped by hand. Notwithstanding interchangability of parts particularly on fleet vehicles.
I’m curious about the chassis VIN though. You mention that area has been plated - is it the same on the other leg ? The VIN there is a very specific dot matrix - is the “new” one as thus too ?
I’m ex Roads Policing & was trained to a level in identifying stolen vehicles as part of my role. I was not however to the level of the Vehicle Crime Unit.
Part of my responsibility was to see vehicle owners & their vehicle at home if they were suspicious as to it’s identity. If there were grounds to, the owner was issued a “PACE” notice instructing them not to: dispose of the vehicle until further enquiries were carried out. If necessary it was passed to the VCU.
There are other ID numbers on vehicles applied by the manufacturer but not known of in the public domain. This is where the VCU step in.
What would I do ? I’d call my force & tell them of your concerns & hopefully you’ll receive the service others have mentioned above.
Good luck Thumbs Up
Post #1074234 28th Aug 2025 11:06am
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110 Iain



Member Since: 11 Nov 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 93

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Chawton White
No plate on other side so what happens I call in police say I think it has been tamperd with probably about 9/ years ago as has gone through 2 owners .owned myself for about 7 years are they going to be interested am I left with a worthless car or have it removed sorry for my ignorance not sure how to proceed Endeavour To Persevere
Post #1074236 28th Aug 2025 11:19am
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