This comment will not be real helpful in this instance, and I really do mean it with all due respect, but this is exactly why you should personally check the VIN against the title before you fork over any cash. Had you done this, the problem would be the seller's - not yours. I am sure that it can be resolved, but it is you who will have to make the telephone calls and do the legwork. :grin: "Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgement."
John gave some excellent advice there. A couple of other things I have ran accross is that when the title is lost or when a vehicle is "rebuilt" the DMV will assign a # for the title that will not reflect anything like a normal title # should. This could be the possibility, but get on it and see what's going on now! Jim N.
When I sold my 71 GS455 to New Jersey, I discovered that there were transposed numbers on the title. Luckily I had a lot of paperwork with the car and figured out when it happened (many years ago when it was sold used at a dealership). This managed to slip through for a long time, but I was afraid it could be a problem in NJ. So I made some calls and had it arranged for me to go to the local WSP inspection station. I was armed with all sorts of paperwork. The officer looked at the title and the VIN and then fixed it... I didn't have to do anything to prove my case. But having the documentation would have helped if there were issues.
When I go to one DMV I can go in with a $500 rig and they will charge me tax for a $5000 rig. I go into another one about 30 miles away and I can go in with a $5000 rig and pay tax on $500. Also my wife took her horse trailer in when we moved back from Idaho and the local DMV told her she couldn't get it licensed because Idaho doesn't issue a title on trailers like that. They said find a sucker and sell it. She went into the other DMV 30 miles away and they said no problem. They also said that the gal's at the other DMV are dumb and lazy.
Yeah, the employees at most DMV offices aren't the brightest and all seem to hate their jobs....so far, I have had pretty good luck up here when I go in there...I just don't have any other paperwork besides the title. I did get in touch with the previous owner and he says he had no problem getting the car registered and he didn't even notice that his title had the wrong number listed as the VIN. I don't think CA does a vehicle inspection. If you bring in the title, you get a new registration...NV inspects each car and will definately notice that the 2 VIN's don't match. I just can't imagine where the CA DMV pulled the number they put on the title. It isn't even close to a VIN number, at least for a 55 Buick....it's like they made it up...I mean, the VIN plate is clearly visable when you open the drivers door.... Sheesh!
