Title Issue
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Title Issue
Hello,
I recently made application to modify my '56 corvette title to include my wife's name to the title in my home state. Well, after about one month, I received a call from my state's DMV stating that they were unable to reissue a title because another title was issued in ANOTHER state with the same VIN number as my car. So, I had the local sheriff come out and verify my VIN number and sent to the other state the info they requested to prove that the VIN number matched the car.
What concerns me if that the other state issued a title WITHOUT researching the Federal database of VIN's to determine that this VIN was not already registered. The federal law says that every state is suppose to do so. Keep in mind that I have had a valid title on this car for years.
I'm still waiting for a response from the other State.
I mentioned this to let you know that it may be wise to do a VIN search on your classic car yourself from time to time.
These older cars only have 10 digits in their VIN's and there is lots of room for mistakes and/or fraud.
Ron
I recently made application to modify my '56 corvette title to include my wife's name to the title in my home state. Well, after about one month, I received a call from my state's DMV stating that they were unable to reissue a title because another title was issued in ANOTHER state with the same VIN number as my car. So, I had the local sheriff come out and verify my VIN number and sent to the other state the info they requested to prove that the VIN number matched the car.
What concerns me if that the other state issued a title WITHOUT researching the Federal database of VIN's to determine that this VIN was not already registered. The federal law says that every state is suppose to do so. Keep in mind that I have had a valid title on this car for years.
I'm still waiting for a response from the other State.
I mentioned this to let you know that it may be wise to do a VIN search on your classic car yourself from time to time.
These older cars only have 10 digits in their VIN's and there is lots of room for mistakes and/or fraud.
Ron
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 59
From: FL
This is because you should have left it in your name only.
Now it is half hers.
Seriously, I have noticed various threads from people over title issues for cars they have owned for very long periods.
I think that the states run their files under the assumption that cars change owners every few years. If one doesn't, it must slowly move to an inactive area and eventually drops off as obsolete or gone. this could be a programming issue since if you bought an old car in some areas, when it quit running, you pushed it out in the back 40 or into the woods and that was the last of it.
But for the state, keeping a bunch of VIN and Title information on cars that have faded into the woods for the rest of eternity is costly to the database. So they fade them out.
Quite possibly, since there are people who try every way possible to get away with things, someone could try VINs until they find an inactive one, and then use it to get another car going. For all you know, they could do the lost title application and basically take over your car's ID.
Now it is half hers.
Seriously, I have noticed various threads from people over title issues for cars they have owned for very long periods.
I think that the states run their files under the assumption that cars change owners every few years. If one doesn't, it must slowly move to an inactive area and eventually drops off as obsolete or gone. this could be a programming issue since if you bought an old car in some areas, when it quit running, you pushed it out in the back 40 or into the woods and that was the last of it.
But for the state, keeping a bunch of VIN and Title information on cars that have faded into the woods for the rest of eternity is costly to the database. So they fade them out.
Quite possibly, since there are people who try every way possible to get away with things, someone could try VINs until they find an inactive one, and then use it to get another car going. For all you know, they could do the lost title application and basically take over your car's ID.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,892
Likes: 168
From: Middletown Ohio
2016 C1 of Year Finalist
To the best of my knowledge there is no Federal Database of VIN's.
A while back I owned a early 54 Corvette that before I bought the seller cut a hole in the floor and validated the VIN. After I sold it another 54 with the SAME VIN showed up on the C1 registry.
I subtlety informed the guy with the fake but he didn't get it.
If and when there is a Federal database there will be a few very surprised car owners.
Bruce B
A while back I owned a early 54 Corvette that before I bought the seller cut a hole in the floor and validated the VIN. After I sold it another 54 with the SAME VIN showed up on the C1 registry.
I subtlety informed the guy with the fake but he didn't get it.
If and when there is a Federal database there will be a few very surprised car owners.
Bruce B
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 8
From: Cape Coral Florida
I went through a similar situation last year when I went to register my 66 in Florida. It had been off the road in Maryland since 1990 and had just completed a frame off restoration. When I went to register it, the clerk said there was a problem with Maryland and another car was registered with the same vin. I was told to call the Md. DMV to get it straightened out. After a couple of calls and two days, it was cleared to be registered in Florida. No one told me what the problem was.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 32,992
Likes: 6,523
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
To the best of my knowledge there is no Federal Database of VIN's.
A while back I owned a early 54 Corvette that before I bought the seller cut a hole in the floor and validated the VIN. After I sold it another 54 with the SAME VIN showed up on the C1 registry.
I subtlety informed the guy with the fake but he didn't get it.
If and when there is a Federal database there will be a few very surprised car owners.
Bruce B
A while back I owned a early 54 Corvette that before I bought the seller cut a hole in the floor and validated the VIN. After I sold it another 54 with the SAME VIN showed up on the C1 registry.
I subtlety informed the guy with the fake but he didn't get it.
If and when there is a Federal database there will be a few very surprised car owners.
Bruce B
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 32,992
Likes: 6,523
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
To expand, the national database is exactly why and how problems like the OP's arise. Years ago you might have your car in Ohio, and some lowlife in New Mexico may have cloned a car and randomly gave it your VIN. How would anybody know?
With the nationwide system, there have been several cases of just what we have here - showing up because a search in one state triggers a search of everywhere.
The system is not 100% and therein lies the problem. If a given car has not changed hands nor been registered in many years, it may have dropped from the state's records prior to creation of the NMVTIS and thus will not show up until somebody does so.
With the nationwide system, there have been several cases of just what we have here - showing up because a search in one state triggers a search of everywhere.
The system is not 100% and therein lies the problem. If a given car has not changed hands nor been registered in many years, it may have dropped from the state's records prior to creation of the NMVTIS and thus will not show up until somebody does so.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,159
Likes: 64
From: Nichols Florida
The system has its problems but its a start. Not all cars are in the searchable state databases, older cars that have not been registered for 3 years may not be in the system, there is no central database the system links all the state databases into a searchable file. I just bought a 1955 t bird that I took the old title down to be transferred. The vin was not in the searchable system (Florida title) he had to call the Fl DMV to do a manual search before he would transfer the title. If you buy a car transfer the title immediately before you spend big bucks for a restoration don't hold it on an open title. At this time there is no requirement for states to crosscheck existing registrations with other states until a title transfer occurs.
Tyler
Tyler
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Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 329
From: Southold New York
The problem is not limited to the United States but is international in scope. It appears that several high end Mercedes-Benz automobiles have been assembled in eastern Europe using serial numbers of vehicles that have been in continuous long term ownership in the US and are therefore not likely to appear in Europe so as to engender any questions about duplicated numbers. Considering the quality of the work some otherwise respected shops are capable of, it is vitally important for a prospective purchaser to be certain what he is getting.