Replacement, not reinvention

What we make

VintagWorks produces replacement identification plates and tags for vehicles, trailers, boats and equipment that you legally own or are explicitly authorized to service or restore. Every plate is engraved with the original, unaltered numbers you provide.

Typical legitimate uses include classic and vintage vehicle restoration, replacement of faded or damaged plates, trailer frame repairs, marine transom rebuilds, equipment refurbishment, and manufacturers issuing their own serial or data plates.

What the law says in plain terms

In the United States, federal law, including 18 U.S.C. § 511 and related state statutes, makes it a serious crime to alter, remove or falsify a vehicle identification number, or to possess a vehicle with an altered VIN. Canada’s Criminal Code contains equivalent prohibitions.

Restoring or replacing an identification plate on your own property with its original number, for legitimate repair or restoration, is a normal and lawful practice. Using a plate to change or misrepresent a vehicle’s identity is not permitted under any circumstances.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and province. Check with your DMV, Ministry of Transportation or law enforcement agency if you are unsure.

What we may ask from you

For VIN and HIN plate orders we may request reasonable confirmation before production, such as a photo of the vehicle title, registration, bill of sale, insurance card or the remains of the original plate. For shop and fleet orders, a business name and contact is usually enough.

Documents are used only to verify the order and are deleted after production.

What we will not do

We will not engrave a VIN that differs from the vehicle’s original number, move numbers between vehicles, produce plates intended to disguise a vehicle’s identity, or fulfill any order we believe is connected to theft, fraud or cloning.

We reserve the right to decline or cancel any order, with a full refund, and to report suspected unlawful requests to the appropriate authorities.

Blank plates and buyer responsibility

Unengraved blank plates are sold for legitimate engraving, manufacturing, repair and craft use. By purchasing, the buyer agrees to use all VintagWorks products lawfully and assumes responsibility for compliance with local regulations.