title and vin

[Chris4747]

ok hypotheticly ,say you buy a 1969 bug and you bring her home .while cleaning and inspecting you decide to run the numbers to see whats what.unfortunately you find that the vin on the title does not match any of the 3 numbers on the car ,so what would you do ? if the numbers in the trunk and under the rear seat match each other but do not actualy mach the vin on the title .Would you say this mite be a clerical error ?

[Fiatdude]

sounds like someone got hypotheticly screwed -- BUT there might be a hypothetical trip back to the sellers place of abode for some payback or offer to comeback with the police for fraud charges

[Steve Arndt]

Maybe the guy gave you the wrong title? If he owns multiple old VWs it isn't hard to mix things up. Its either that, or he screwed you on purpose.

[FJCamper]

Hi Chris4747,

The only number that matters is the chassis number at the gearshift coupling hole under the back seat.

VW's are subject to body changes,etc.

IF the title VIN and the chassis VIN do not match, you have trouble registering.

FJC

[Marc]

While that may be true in some jurisdictions, enforcement does vary from state to state (although there is an ongoing effort by the feds to bring all states in line to make interstate traffic of stolen vehicles harder). All those numbers matched at one time, and if any of them is ever changed without sufficient documentation to at least be able to prove legal ownership of the affected item you can be in hot water, and it is technically a FELONY federal offense, altering a motor vehicle serial number:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/foia_ ... m01364.htm

Any car that isn't unibody could be considered "subject to body changes" but that's no excuse under the law - the numbers should ALL match the paperwork or you should have documentation to explain why they do not.

Would you want it any other way? Would you want someone to be able to steal and strip your car, using its body on a chassis that they had title to, and be able to drive it with impunity with noone ever questioning why the numbers no longer match?

http://www.naaa.com/NAAA_Legislative/hi ... theft.html

Note that the VIN number on the aluminum tag in the corner of the windshield and the one on a tamper-proof tag on the LH B-pillar may not be present on a 1969. The law required that those be present on all cars "imported for sale after 12/31/68" which is somewhat vague. I don't know for certain at what VIN number they became routine, but I've owned several `69s which were too early to have them.
It's therefore unlikely that a `69 without a number there would raise any eyebrows (at least, if the rivet hole had been filled/painted) but that's the first place a LEO looks for a VIN and if it does not match up with the registration when they run it you can pretty much count on the car getting impounded until the matter is sorted out in court.

You need to make resolving this your #1 priority - as things stand you may (hypothetically) be in possession of a stolen car, and even if you escape prosecution for receiving stolen property you still will not be allowed to keep it.

[Chris4747]

thanks for the imput guys but i have already cleared the matter .The fellow had a couple different vw and aperently pulled the wrong title from his files .I tend to get excited fast when it comes to legality matters .

[Ol'fogasaurus]

thanks for the imput guys but i have already cleared the matter .The fellow had a couple different vw and aperently pulled the wrong title from his files .I tend to get excited fast when it comes to legality matters .

And well you should. The longer you put it off the harder it will get. Good going Chris!

Lee

[Marc]

...word to the wise: always check dem VINs before any money changes hands!