I bought a new atv about a week ago. The guy i bought it from lives near me. He gave me a vin number which seems to match the atvs number, except for the fact that the number on the frame isnt fully readable. The numbers showing match, but i cant get the rest. I tried muriatic acid with water and steel wool.. But it just seemed to show bare steel. I have a picture i will post of it. I live in New Jersey and we dont normally title machines, but i would like insurance. If not, i guess i will manage but it would give me some added piece of mind. The number also doesnt seem to be stamped in well and seems like it is barely raised from the rest of the frame.

Link to picture --

http://postimg.org/image/kwtl1hup1/

 

Looks like the number was purposely tampered with, although why you wouldn't tamper with the entire thing is beyond me. Maybe something corrosive spilled on that part. The most critical and identifying part of the number is the last few digits, many machines will have the same first part. I would think insurance could deal with that.

 

My old Big Bear had worn number since they stamped them in a odd spot below the frame by the foot rest and skid plate of all places.

You still can get Title switched and insurance since the insurance company and DOT just want to see the paper work not the actual ATV itself.