WPO vs. WP0
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 423
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
I took my car for re inspection at my local indy shop after a bonehead at the state inspection facility failed my gas cap for the vapor test (even though they didn't have the correct adapter for the test.)
The indy mechanic had to spend time on the phone the the MVC, as his computer wouldn't let him pass the car do to an 0 / O discrepancy on the registration. This is the first time I had an issue since the car had never failed before.
The indy mechanic had to spend time on the phone the the MVC, as his computer wouldn't let him pass the car do to an 0 / O discrepancy on the registration. This is the first time I had an issue since the car had never failed before.
Last edited by TheClairvoyant; Aug 18, 2013 at 12:59 AM.
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 205
Likes: 14
From: Portland, OR
So I went back to DEQ this week and met with the manager of the inspection station. He checked the VIN number in the windshield, and confirmed that it is WP0, not WPO. He then scanned the bar code on the sticker on the driver's door jamb, and showed me the result: WPO, as in the letter O, not the numeral 0.
This is very strange. It's hard to believe that Porsche would make a mistake like this on the sticker, but it's also hard to believe that DEQ's bar code scanners are wrong. I don't know enough about bar codes to understand what's going on here.
Anyway, they renewed my registration and told me to have them read the VIN off the windshield if I had a problem in the future. But I'd still like to know what the issue is.
This is very strange. It's hard to believe that Porsche would make a mistake like this on the sticker, but it's also hard to believe that DEQ's bar code scanners are wrong. I don't know enough about bar codes to understand what's going on here.
Anyway, they renewed my registration and told me to have them read the VIN off the windshield if I had a problem in the future. But I'd still like to know what the issue is.
Inventor
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,212
Likes: 463
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 205
Likes: 14
From: Portland, OR
Hi Ken,
At first I thought you were suggesting that I cover the bar code with one I printed. I'd be pretty leery about tampering with the VIN number on the car. But then I realized that you just meant to print an 0 and O to compare against the bar code on the car.
That made me realize that there are bar code reader apps for smartphones. So I downloaded one and scanned the VIN sticker. It IS WPO, with the letter O, not a zero.
Very strange. Now I wonder how common this is.
At first I thought you were suggesting that I cover the bar code with one I printed. I'd be pretty leery about tampering with the VIN number on the car. But then I realized that you just meant to print an 0 and O to compare against the bar code on the car.
That made me realize that there are bar code reader apps for smartphones. So I downloaded one and scanned the VIN sticker. It IS WPO, with the letter O, not a zero.
Very strange. Now I wonder how common this is.
AutoX
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Portlander with same issue
I have an RS America with exactly the same issue. It drives me nuts as it causes issues all of the time with the DEQ, especially now that I'm trying to register the car in Oregon... It really looks like there is an issue with the bar code..
Andrew
Andrew
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 715
Likes: 17
From: Perth, Western Australia
I had the same problem with N.J.DMV!! They couldn't understand why my '83 928euroS had the VIN # WP0ZZZ92ZDS841138. They somehow thought it should have a U.S. VIN#. ( HINT-HINT it's a EUROPEAN CAR!!! NOT your mothers Plymouth!) I had to back to the same office 5 times!! Finally, I told her I could go up to Trenton and ask the Director of Motor Vehicles why she is so stupid if she thought that would help her out. Faced with that alternative, she got me paperwork done in 10 minutes!!!
As you all know, and unlike Australian-delivered cars that the examiners are used to, the vehicle has two different VINs on it - the original one (assigned before the destination country is known) with the ZZZ in it, and the US compliant one with other information in that location.
I completed the paperwork using the WP0ZZZ... form, but the vehicle inspector filled in his inspection report using the other one.
You can imagine all sorts of hilarity while they straightened it out, but it only took five minutes - about two minutes longer than the actual inspection.
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,258
Likes: 2,143
From: Gone. On the Open Road
Basically, very few people, in this trail of tears, that should know that, in this conetxt, O is always 0, do know it. This most-certainly, and damingly, includes the software geeks that wrote the code that provides data exchange between the bar code scanner and the DMV database.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,283
Likes: 52
From: Australia
I think you mean 'vale of tears', Dave, although in this context, 'trail' is also appropriate! Like I said in an earlier post, most people will say 'oh' for a zero if reading it out.
Is it possible that the bar code type printed (or the reader config)is not exactly correct somewhere along the line? Is the bar code defined by the US VIN rules ?
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
Is it possible that the bar code type printed (or the reader config)is not exactly correct somewhere along the line? Is the bar code defined by the US VIN rules ?
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 76
From: Central Virginia
I think you mean 'vale of tears', Dave, although in this context, 'trail' is also appropriate! Like I said in an earlier post, most people will say 'oh' for a zero if reading it out.
Is it possible that the bar code type printed (or the reader config)is not exactly correct somewhere along the line? Is the bar code defined by the US VIN rules ?
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
Is it possible that the bar code type printed (or the reader config)is not exactly correct somewhere along the line? Is the bar code defined by the US VIN rules ?
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 65
From: South Florida
So, my license plate that I asked for was "NADO3" (1 and 2 were taken, apparently) because I was making a "Sharknado" joke (I know, I know...). That's what I asked for, and they didn't tell me they gave me anything differently, so that's what I put in my phone's parking app. But I kept getting parking tickets! WTF? I finally called them to complain/dispute, and they told me I had registered "NADO3" when I parked (with the app) but the auto-license plate reader was showing "NAD03" because that's what I had...they don't issue Os. Doh! Not sure what I think of my little plate joke now that it's essentially "Nad Zero".
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Hi everyone
I know it is old post but 2 weeks ago I had tge same situation, I couldn't regist my 964 as the VIN on door shows O letter not zero as on windshieldso they refused to register the car and they ask me to attach offical letter from Porsche confirmed the VIN is correct, can anyone help
I know it is old post but 2 weeks ago I had tge same situation, I couldn't regist my 964 as the VIN on door shows O letter not zero as on windshieldso they refused to register the car and they ask me to attach offical letter from Porsche confirmed the VIN is correct, can anyone help
Race Car
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,924
Likes: 732
From: Le Mans, France
Just ask anybody who sees a O to read this:
https://www.cjponyparts.com/resource...th%20the%20VIN.
No i, o or q !
https://www.cjponyparts.com/resource...th%20the%20VIN.
No i, o or q !
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,228
Likes: 2,529
From: Anaheim
Hi everyone
I know it is old post but 2 weeks ago I had tge same situation, I couldn't regist my 964 as the VIN on door shows O letter not zero as on windshieldso they refused to register the car and they ask me to attach offical letter from Porsche confirmed the VIN is correct, can anyone help
I know it is old post but 2 weeks ago I had tge same situation, I couldn't regist my 964 as the VIN on door shows O letter not zero as on windshieldso they refused to register the car and they ask me to attach offical letter from Porsche confirmed the VIN is correct, can anyone help
The government is absolutely filled with them, sucking up a living and a retirement.
If anyone should know which letters that are NEVER used in a VIN, it should be them!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 818
Likes: 175
From: Provo, UT
old tread I know
While US DOT implemented the 17 digit VIN protocol in the late 80’s, Europe didn’t get the memo and until late 90’s they used different digits for different things.
While the dash plate looks like it’s a 0, the door sticker and barcode are undoubtedly an O. Circle vs oval.
I unwittingly put myself through this hell again yesterday by letting the DEQ scan my barcode which never showed up on the DMV database. After a little gentle persuasion and a VIN check, the supervisor agreed to override my emissions report which listed WPOC.
Moral of the story: if your title/registration is WP0C, DONT LET THEM SCAN YOUR BARCODE.
eta: just did some reading and it wasn’t until ISO 3779 in 2009 that SAE and ISO digit protocols were standardized.
While US DOT implemented the 17 digit VIN protocol in the late 80’s, Europe didn’t get the memo and until late 90’s they used different digits for different things.
While the dash plate looks like it’s a 0, the door sticker and barcode are undoubtedly an O. Circle vs oval.
I unwittingly put myself through this hell again yesterday by letting the DEQ scan my barcode which never showed up on the DMV database. After a little gentle persuasion and a VIN check, the supervisor agreed to override my emissions report which listed WPOC.
Moral of the story: if your title/registration is WP0C, DONT LET THEM SCAN YOUR BARCODE.
eta: just did some reading and it wasn’t until ISO 3779 in 2009 that SAE and ISO digit protocols were standardized.
Last edited by dlearl476; May 23, 2024 at 08:05 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 818
Likes: 175
From: Provo, UT
On the sticker on the driver's door jam, the third character is a perfect circle, so it's not surprising that it gets read as the letter "O" from time to time.
However, the problem here seems to be with the bar code on that same sticker. Either it's coded as the letter "O", or (more likely) there's a problem with the DEQ bar code software. I should find out which is the case this week.
However, the problem here seems to be with the bar code on that same sticker. Either it's coded as the letter "O", or (more likely) there's a problem with the DEQ bar code software. I should find out which is the case this week.
As I went through the VIN inspection today, I had to agree with the nice DMV lady that on the window plate, the typeface of the O and the 0 are exactly the same. (Last 4 of mine is 0218) But on the door sticker/bar code it’s definitely an O in WPOC and a zero in 0218.
Standardization
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created a unified VIN system starting in 1981, which required all cars to contain the 17-character VIN. This system was included in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Chapter V, Part 565. The VIN system applies to motor vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, and mopeds.In 1987, under the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard of the Department of Transport manufacturers were required to enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on specific major parts, such as engines, fenders and hoods, of certain vehicles classified as “high theft”. This was done to keep track of insurance and vehicle history, improve auto recalls and reduce auto thefts. The VIN system ensures that each vehicle has a unique “DNA”- a number, which is not repeated for 30 years.
According to federal law, the VIN must be on a permanent part of the vehicle and is usually located on the left side of the dashboard and can be seen through the windshield from outside the car. The VIN is also stamped on the frame and other places for safety purposes in case of a fire.
The European Union also regulates VINs, but their rules are less strict compared to those of North America.* European VINs do not have to include information on the year, factory, or vehicle attributes, although both systems are compatible. Most countries have a VIN system that is compatible with the North American system, but if a car is imported with a VIN system that differs from the ISO 3779 standard, its VIN number must be entered into the MVR database along with enough information to explain what the codes mean.
eta: ISO 3779 in 2009.
Last edited by dlearl476; May 23, 2024 at 08:06 PM.