Why would a seller not want to provide a VIN?
08-24-2018, 12:38 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Why would a seller not want to provide a VIN?
A potential buyer needs a VIN to pull a Carfax report, secure financing through a lender, and confirm certain things like factory engine option (ie: LT1 vs LT4) -- all critical things to a buyer. Why would a seller refuse to provide a VIN to a serious buyer? It's not a SS#..... The only thing I can come up with is that they are hiding something. What am I missing here?
08-24-2018, 12:42 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Car in an accident. Salvage. Stolen. That's just a few off the top of my head. Finding an owner through a vin isn't that easy... probably hiding something imo.
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vdavenp802 (08-26-2018)
08-24-2018, 12:47 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Dec 2015
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My guess would be paranoia, like many on this site. 
My guess: he is weeding out the tire kickers/fraud people, by stating, Come look at the car... In today's world, way too many people are scamming everyone and he just does not want to get burned by giving it out to every person.
You can check and get a Carfax report on your phone while you are standing there. (For what it is worth, Carfax is not accurate many times!) and address anything that may arise.
Though, this is not the way I would handle selling the car, I can understand the caution...
My guess: he is weeding out the tire kickers/fraud people, by stating, Come look at the car... In today's world, way too many people are scamming everyone and he just does not want to get burned by giving it out to every person.
You can check and get a Carfax report on your phone while you are standing there. (For what it is worth, Carfax is not accurate many times!) and address anything that may arise.
Though, this is not the way I would handle selling the car, I can understand the caution...
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HooosierDaddy (08-24-2018)
08-24-2018, 12:54 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
08-24-2018, 12:54 PM
#5
Racer
Thread Starter
My guess would be paranoia, like many on this site.
My guess: he is weeding out the tire kickers/fraud people, by stating, Come look at the car... In today's world, way too many people are scamming everyone and he just does not want to get burned by giving it out to every person.
You can check and get a Carfax report on your phone while you are standing there. (For what it is worth, Carfax is not accurate many times!) and address anything that may arise.
Though, this is not the way I would handle selling the car, I can understand the caution...
My guess: he is weeding out the tire kickers/fraud people, by stating, Come look at the car... In today's world, way too many people are scamming everyone and he just does not want to get burned by giving it out to every person.
You can check and get a Carfax report on your phone while you are standing there. (For what it is worth, Carfax is not accurate many times!) and address anything that may arise.
Though, this is not the way I would handle selling the car, I can understand the caution...
Besides, what sort of fraud or scam could be perpetrated with a VIN number? They are visible on windshields of all cars. I don't get it...
Last edited by Jitsu; 08-24-2018 at 02:02 PM.
08-24-2018, 12:58 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
When the buyer and seller and 600 miles apart it doesn't make much sense for the buyer to wait until onsite to pull a Carfax or secure financing. Due diligence is required before spending money on airline travel to get onsite and find out the car has poor history, been in a wreck, etc...
This is a thread like the one last week where the seller would take nothing but cash and had a lot of other odd stipulations to sell the car...
08-24-2018, 01:10 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
08-24-2018, 01:16 PM
#9
Racer
Thread Starter
08-24-2018, 01:24 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Some people would be afraid a thief might get keys cut and steal it. There are several types of online scams involving mostly car sales.
08-24-2018, 01:30 PM
#11
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
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St. Jude Donor '05
Yes lots of scams but if a seller is that paranoid then dont sell the car or ask them to get a Carfax. Know that they arent always accurate.
Had a couple scrapes on my DD that were reported, carfax doesnt show any of it.
The whole "finger over the license plate pic" you see on CL is almost funny..however many scammers collect pics and make FS ads on other sites with your car.
Wondered why my Camino never sold, it was all over the damn web. Certainly werent ads I ran!
The web has its darkside
Had a couple scrapes on my DD that were reported, carfax doesnt show any of it.
The whole "finger over the license plate pic" you see on CL is almost funny..however many scammers collect pics and make FS ads on other sites with your car.
Wondered why my Camino never sold, it was all over the damn web. Certainly werent ads I ran!
The web has its darkside
Last edited by cv67; 08-24-2018 at 01:33 PM.
08-24-2018, 01:56 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
08-24-2018, 02:06 PM
#15
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '05
Perhaps a member near the car can take an initial look at it for you & see if its worth flying out for.
Being 900 mi away he doesnt sound interested (or smart enough) to sell it.
Being 900 mi away he doesnt sound interested (or smart enough) to sell it.
08-24-2018, 02:23 PM
#16
Racer
Thread Starter
Problem is my bank needs the VIN to secure the financing which I'd want in place before spending money to fly out, check out the car, and potentially drive it home. I'm preapproved, they just want the VIN. I'd still prefer to have a Carfax report before flying out, as accurate or inaccurate as they may be, still better than nothing.
It's a moot point, seller already told me to move on over my VIN inquiry. Too bad, I really like the car.
08-24-2018, 02:35 PM
#17
Race Director
The seller is a forum member.
Problem is my bank needs the VIN to secure the financing which I'd want in place before spending money to fly out, check out the car, and potentially drive it home. I'm preapproved, they just want the VIN. I'd still prefer to have a Carfax report before flying out, as accurate or inaccurate as they may be, still better than nothing.
It's a moot point, seller already told me to move on over my VIN inquiry. Too bad, I really like the car.
Problem is my bank needs the VIN to secure the financing which I'd want in place before spending money to fly out, check out the car, and potentially drive it home. I'm preapproved, they just want the VIN. I'd still prefer to have a Carfax report before flying out, as accurate or inaccurate as they may be, still better than nothing.
It's a moot point, seller already told me to move on over my VIN inquiry. Too bad, I really like the car.
Don't mess with stupid people.
08-24-2018, 03:06 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Dec 2015
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If the car is that close to what you want and everything else is in play, it is worth the plane ticket. OR, Have someone go look at it for you, they can send over vin and confirm it is what seller said.
If good, buy ticket etc...
As far as your bank; everything is done electronically anymore, once there, call them with the vin, they can doc u sign papers for temp and they can wire funds to him and if there is a lien to his bank, they can disburse. Once you are back home, they will likely want to see the unit anyway, finalize it then.
Somewhere along the way, everyone lost trust in everything, the few bad people have reined it for everyone.
If good, buy ticket etc...
As far as your bank; everything is done electronically anymore, once there, call them with the vin, they can doc u sign papers for temp and they can wire funds to him and if there is a lien to his bank, they can disburse. Once you are back home, they will likely want to see the unit anyway, finalize it then.
Somewhere along the way, everyone lost trust in everything, the few bad people have reined it for everyone.
08-24-2018, 03:11 PM
#20
Who is it???? LMAO
Who is not cooperating???
Is it a ZR1? lol
I'm kidding of course, but still hilarious.
Unless GS or ZR1 who cares, find a different one closer. L98's, LT's are a dime a dozen.
BTW, if I were him I would think you were a dreamer too. If you have don't have the funds to get this thing, and it's 900 miles away who knows.. Nothing against you, just stating my point of view in his shoes with buyers on stuff. Why would you need the VIN already unless just interested in the history of the car?
Have you talked numbers already? If you met on a price, I would assume he will share the VIN. meeting on price obviously means according to what the paper work will eventually tell.
Who is not cooperating???
Is it a ZR1? lol
I'm kidding of course, but still hilarious.
Unless GS or ZR1 who cares, find a different one closer. L98's, LT's are a dime a dozen.
BTW, if I were him I would think you were a dreamer too. If you have don't have the funds to get this thing, and it's 900 miles away who knows.. Nothing against you, just stating my point of view in his shoes with buyers on stuff. Why would you need the VIN already unless just interested in the history of the car?
Have you talked numbers already? If you met on a price, I would assume he will share the VIN. meeting on price obviously means according to what the paper work will eventually tell.
Last edited by pologreen1; 08-24-2018 at 03:25 PM.