This criminal process involves taking the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) tags, license plates, and compliance plates from a legally registered but totaled car and attaching them to a stolen vehicle of the exact same make and model. The stolen car effectively assumes the identity of the wreck, allowing it to be sold to unsuspecting buyers with clean paperwork. Investigators look for tampered rivets or mismatched hidden VIN stamps to catch it.
Heard on the job
Check the VIN rivets on the dash because this deal looks too good to be true and I don't want to buy a rebirthing job.
Insider tip
Always check that the VIN on the dashboard matches the sticker on the driver's door jamb and the engine block to avoid buying a rebirthed car.
Also heard as
- cloning
- ringing