The VIN follows the chassis.
If it isn't *re-registered* at the Dept of Motor Vehicles when time
comes for new plates, it stays in the system, but as unauthorized for
the roadway.

If it is reported as a *total,* the DMV is notified that it is now not
allowed on the road anymore.  The Registration follows the chassis,
not the engine or the wheels or the windshield.

Lg
US

First all answers depend on the particular state.
Second, they are generally titled as scrap.

Yes, but will have a salvage title. Again, varies by state. Titles can be
'washed' through various states to get a normal title again.

In theory? From a vin number on a title.

I would hazard to guess swaping out all the VIN tags would be some sort
of crime. Especially if you sold the vehicle. Now if you drove it until
it was junked, then what's the likelyhood anyone would care enough to find
out? Guess it depends on any inspection scheme it may need to go through.

Can't help you with regards to canada.

I went through this in Nova Scotia.  The original car was wrecked, and I had
the engine and trans swapped into a good shell that had been driven into
salt water and was destined for the scrapyard.  Had to have a 3rd party
inspect the car and sign a mechanical fitness document and it was good to
go.  I'm not sure if it ended up having a salvage title in the end or not,
but there was no problem when I put insurance on it -- I'd bought the
original car from my dad so it wasn't registered in my name officially
before it was wrecked.

Hope that helps!

In Oregon they are supposed to get the title BEFORE accepting the car.
In actual practice the last time I took a car to be crushed, the wrecker
had basically destroyed the car before I even gave them the title.  It's
quite something to leave off an old car and watch a guy drive forklift tines
straight into the side of it then carry it off and drop it on a big pile of
other cars.

I did ask the wrecker about what happened if I didn't have the title and
they said "well you wouldn't get paid for it".  I got about $75 for a 20
year old GM A-body, so I imagine the wrecker knew perfectly well that
even if the vehicle had been stolen, the original owner wouldn't want to
get it back.

The titles are surrendered to the DMV who supposedly pulls the
VIN out of their computer.

In Oregon once the vehicle is crushed and the title goes to the DMV then
it's dead, you cannot register it again.  At least, not until the DMV purges
their old computer files which takes about a decade.  But, there are plenty
of salvage titles floating around, I actually own two vehicles with salvage
titles.

In Oregon you can do whatever you want as long as it still passes emissions.

No.  The VIN's would not match.  If you were ever in an accident even
if it wasn't your fault, and the cops came, or the other driver had a brain
in their head, you would be really f.cked.

I've been in about a dozen fender benders in my lifetime.  In every case
I've always carefully checked whatever registration documents the other
driver gave me against the vehicle VIN in the window.  Let me tell you,
if there had been the slightest mismatch I'd have been on the phone to
the police immediately.  And, in Oregon, if the other driver is cited for
anything
they are automatically blamed by both insurance companies for the accident.

I've been in one accident where they hit me, but they consisted of 2
20-something young women, one of whom was pregnant, and both immediately
turned on the water works.  The cop that showed up was another 20 something
young guy.  I was completely screwed, I was cited for being in their lane
just on their say-so.  If I had been 15 years older and smarter I would have
hired a lawyer and got it thrown out - under the law here, the driver and
passenger of a vehicle cannot be an unbiased witness to an accident in that
vehicle,
the law assumes that they will always say it wasn't their fault.  Because of
that
ticket, I was assumed to be at fault and my insurance company paid out,
and no amount of pictures, and arguing with either insurance company made
any difference.

I've been in another accident where once again, they hit me, but this
time it was a mid 30's guy and he did not have proof of insurance with him.
He did in fact have insurance - I verified it on my cell phone when we were
exchanging info - but he just didn't have the piece of paper, and as a
result
he was cited.  As a result of that, it was 100% his fault.  Even though I
pulled out in front of him (he was speeding) when he had the right of way.

I know that you probably aren't going to be swayed by the "do the right
thing" arguments which is why I brought up these examples.  You simply do
not want to have anything out of the ordinary in any vehicle paperwork.

Ted