Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-17-2025, 10:45 AM   #1
New Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2024
Posts: 3
Don’t Demo Your VIN plate!

Hey all!
I live in Florida and I’m going to get my bus registered tomorrow!
We have completely demoed and framed the bus, electric and plumbing is starting next week.
I was going through the forms in Florida TL 13 for reference. And I got to a part where it said I had to get them VIN plate checked by a notary on the bus. We have no license plate, so I had to pay a mobile notary.
They come out, we can’t find the VIN anywhere. It’s an international bus. I notice a sticker that was removed on the dash and my heart sinks. Maybe we removed it in demoing?
Then, the notary leaves after we can’t find it, we had also scrapped most of our metal too. I’m crying internally. Then we take a second look at the metal panel that was above the drivers seat (I saved it for a template for building) and there it is on a basic sticker. It’s no where else on the bus. It’s a 2007 international 38 footer.
I think I’m going to need to make a new vin plate now….
That is something no one ever mentioned to me I think newer skoolies need to plan and take note of!
So lucky we found it and the notary came back and cleared us!

Dana Dracula is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2025, 11:14 AM   #2
Bus Geek
 
ewo1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Central Tx.
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1999
Chassis: Amtran / International
Engine: DT466E HT 250HP - Md3060
School busses very rarely have a metal vin plate. 99% of the time it is a factory stick-on label or a metal plate fastened by either screws or rivets, but a traditional vin plate down on the windshield...not common.

I have 2 Amtran busses, one from Kentucky(1999) and the other from Broward county fl (2005).

The 2005 does have a metal vin plate, real easy to duplicate, if needed to do do...nothing fancy.

Om the Kentucky bus I had to also go the "Notary" route as the tag agency I was using did not have parking space for the bus and I found it easier to bring in paperwork that was in compliance versus having a tag agency employee asking questions...

I would take that metal plate you found and find a way to secure it somewhere so it looks like it fits, and go the notary route.

I would also, if you can, have a laptop with service max and read the ECU with the notary present so that they can verify the in on the computer.
ewo1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2025, 02:20 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
twcook's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 16
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: HDX 34'
Engine: Cummins ISB, Allison MD3060
For what it's worth, on Thomas buses you can order a replacement official VIN plate (sticker) from any of their parts suppliers. There's a form they have which you can fill out. You can then put the new sticker in some safe, permanent place elsewhere in the bus.
twcook is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2025, 06:00 PM   #4
Bus Nut
 
Dbacks2k4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Davenport, IA
Posts: 691
Year: 2006
Chassis: IC CE300 (PB105)
Engine: DT466e @245hp | Allison 3000PTS
Rated Cap: 66
I always take a picture of the VIN sticker on my internationals as well as the data label on the engine cover and the Allison tag on the side of the transmission and store in my Google drive. Much easier to reference when I'm not next to the bus and need to look up a part or am dealing with insurance (on the party bus side anyway).
__________________
TSLABUS Build thread:
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/j...ert-38328.html
TSLABUS YouTube Channel:
https://youtube.com/@thetslabus
Dbacks2k4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2025, 06:51 PM   #5
Bus Crazy
 
somewhereinusa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,459
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
There should be a vin # visible from the outside through the windshield lower left.
somewhereinusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2025, 07:35 PM   #6
Bus Crazy
 
nikitis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,938
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 29
The 3box's have a plate on the firewall on the top corner on the passengers side. (Unless it's been removed. It's a metal vertical plate.
nikitis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2025, 10:25 PM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
s2mikon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NM USA KD6WJG
Posts: 1,515
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE 40 FEET
Engine: Cummins 8.3
Check the frame by the steering gear for a number. It may not be a complete number if it was sold as a chassis only to a body builder. Been there done that.
__________________
Why can't I get Ivermectin for my horses?
s2mikon is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.