VIN, insurance, & DMV

[dmg36054]

I did a search and found a simular post, but it didn't exactly pertain to my situation.

Denise, it looks like you'll be the authority on this subject.

I have what I believe to be a 1981 spider. I called the insurance company and gave them the VIN from the previous owner's registration from Georgia. The number on the registration is 124CS00178385, and it is listed as a 1981 spider. The insurance company called back and said I was missing four digits in the VIN, and that begining in 1981, all VINs had 17 digits.

So, I looked at the car. Here is what I found.

On the dash, looking through the windshield: 124CS0*00178385
On the plate in the door jamb: 00178385. The date of manufacture is 06.80.
On the firewall: ZFA124CS0*00178385.

I've seen the statement from Fiat that says they would start the 17 digit VIN in September of the model year.

So, for insurance and tag/title purposes, what do I have? Obviously the Georgia registration has a misprint. That should be fun at the Alabama DMV office. I think it is an early 1981 model, built in June of 1980, and that the VIN should be listed as ZFA124CS000178385. The insurance company should be OK with this. Getting the DMV to buy off on it might be problematic.

So, Denise, what do you say?

[redcars]

I had the same thing with my 81 spider 2000. The Illinios DMV did not care one bit what vin I gave them.
The insurance company in sistede that it was and 80, but I have the paper work from when it was sold new
as an 1981.

[Exit98]

Red, are you dealing with a specalty collector car insurance company, like Haggarty or Taylor?

Collector car insurance is cheap and good, and they know our cars.

If you are dealing with your conventional insurance company You will be paying way too much.