Thanks for all the tips.  Kristen, my email address is [email protected] and I'm located in San Francisco.  There is a chance the car is a re-VIN, although at the time I bought it I did not know that. :(

I know that when I came to CA, I had my vin verified at the local AAA office.  Since you pay to be a member, I think they are more likely to work with you to keep you happy. 

Maybe and just maybe the vin may be engraved inside the car....in front of the right seat....in front of the crossmember in the floor.  A second place would be under the bonnet on the right hand side...there is a diagonal piece of metal right in front of where the subframe bolts are.  If there it should be engraved in the top running down of the diagonal piece.  I would post pictures but I have not found the vin in either of these places on my mini.  Good luck.  Some minis have the vin in these locations most do not.

Tell the DMV there is only one VIN plate on a Mini.

Alex is so right. Especially before you take it to a CHP officer for verification. Email me, address in profile. Where in CA are you???

You could buy a vin plate and get your vin stamped on it and stick it on somewhere. walla! vin in two places.

Before you do anything else, make sure it really IS a '73...

nicolealyse,

I was going to email you some advice that worked for another CA registrant but there is no email address in your profile. Either email me or fill in your profile with your address and I'll offer up a suggestion.

They want to see the VIN in two places on the car.  I will try going to CHP to see if they can verify the VIN for me.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Is that on paper or on the car?

Only adivce I can offer is that you either go to a different DMV or take the car to the CHP to get the VIN inspected then bring that VIN inspectin paperwork with you to DMV. The VIN can be inspected by a licensed vehicle verifier or police officer and doesn't necessarily have to be done by the DMV officials. AAA can do it too, but you *might* need to finish the registration at DMV if Florida is a non-title state.

--Spank

Hi, I just bought a 73 Mini from a guy who brought it over from Florida where it is currently registered.  I went in today and when they did the vehicle inspection they told me that they needed either to (1) be able to locate the VIN in more than one place, or (2) be able to locate a US Federal Certification Label (required on all 1970 and subsequent year models).  Since I can't comply with either of these, I can't register my vehicle?!  I'm freaking out - can anyone suggest a way around this?  I have already contacted the guy in Florida who imported it directly - but I'm afraid that he isn't going to have the required paperwork as he seemed confused as to what I was talking about.  I found a Declaration HS-7 on the DOT website that sounds like it might do the trick, but I don't know for sure.  PLEASE HELP!

 Nicole