VIN question

[paulk68]

when you guys go and buy older cars do you check the VIN number at all to make sure the car is not stolen. I have heard a few stories about people buying classic cars then finding out the car was stolen when it came time for them to register the car?

[67rstbkt]

I checked the VIN against the title, then went to my DMV and did the paperwork so that I have the title in my name.

[kochevy67]

I am assuming that you are referring to a check of the VIN to see if it is not stolen not just a match with the title. Here is my suggestion. When you buy a car ask the seller to see his driver's license and then copy the info. down, if he refuses walk away.

[paulk68]

the thing is in CT you do not need a title all you need is a bill of sale on a car 25 years and older. the license thing is a very good idea.

[68sixspeed]

Paul - DMV will do a vin-check for you, some local police dept's use to but I haven't had any luck with that for a few years. -Dan

[vintageracer]

A good item to check with DMV that to ME is more important than the stolen issue is the title number or license registration reciept number if their is no title due to the age of the car or the state of registration to see if that truly is the current and valid title or license receipt for the car. If the purchase is a long distance or across town purchase have the seller send you/show a copy (email) of the title or that actual title and call DMV to see IF the title they have in their pocession is the current valid title/registration receipt. You can also check the VIN for stolen at that time.

Why do this? I have had 3 different sellers (late model cars) who had their car paid off but then took out a new loan against the car which was recorded by the lein new holder and therefore a new title was issued showing the new leinholder. The seller was still in pocession of his pervious title which showed NO lein or a paid off lein which is what was sent to me as a copy of the title to show that the seller had a good title to the car. Of course the seller did not have a good title. In all 3 cases the sellers were committing Felony fraud as they were trying to sell mortgaged property over the amount of $500.00. Desperate people do desperate things in desperate times.

In today's world I tend to be more concerned that the title presented by the seller is the current & valid title/registration receipt for the vehicle than I am about the vehicle being stolen. This is especially true when buying a vehicle that is "Open Title" where the seller is NOT the person listed on the front of the title. IE a "Curbstoner" seller. This is extremely important because IF you buy a car with an invalid title you will be second in line to the leinholder of record on the correct title and your money you paid for the car may/will probably be out the window as all you will have is pocession of mortgaged vehicle. At that point about your only hope is to hide the damn car long enough to be able to file papers for storage charges on the car which will supersede the leinholder of record.

Also ALWAYS check to make sure the VIN on the title/registration matches the VIN on the car. There are lot's of typo's out there on titles that can be a real bitch to fix. If there is a VIN screw up on the title make the seller fix it before you buy the car if at all possible.

By the way for the states that no longer require a title for cars over X years of age this above is also important as that may be the reason the seller does not have a title. Just because a title is not required does not mean a leinholder cannot file a lein on that vehicle. Say the owner has problems with the lender and the lender places the car in repocession. You then may have a real problem. What if the previous owner reports the car stolen and then the police and leinholder start looking for the car. All of a sudden YOU are now in pocession of a stolen car and get to prove otherwise!