missing vin tag
03-08-10, 08:14 AM
#1
missing vin tag
i was looking at a sc300 last night that i found through my local craigslist ad. the owner sent me pictures so i took the hour and a half drive out to see the car. mileage check out to what the posted in the ad and had some minor leaks which i would expect from a 220k mile car. car drove fine and i didnt see ne rust. so i talked the owner down from his original asking price which we both agreed upon and i left a $100 deposit as he was going inside to make copys of the agreement i went to the window to copy down the vin as a 'just in case' and there was no vin tag in the window my friend who was with me at the time said im sure it just fell into the dash no big deal. his word held me over for the car ride home but last night i started getting an uneasy feeling about it so i come to the experts here asking if neone has ever dealt with a situation like this. im supposed to go back and pick up the car tonight but i would rather lose $100 rather then the rest of the money owed
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scsexy (02-23-21)
03-08-10, 08:24 AM
#4
welcome to cl first of, i was in ur situation 2 years ago before i was able to get my black sc i was going to buy this other sc from this other guy. and the vin was missing i called the dmv and they told me since the vin was missing they wouldent register it at ALL so i got my cash back asap took me a week to track him down but caught him in a bar and he cashed me out.
in your case call the dmv see what they say and do a carfax a vin is the most important thing u can have or do a motor vechile search on the vin on the title to see who name its in but go get ur cash back ASAP push come to shove theirs memeber here on the forum that will lead u to a car or sell you thiers
in your case call the dmv see what they say and do a carfax a vin is the most important thing u can have or do a motor vechile search on the vin on the title to see who name its in but go get ur cash back ASAP push come to shove theirs memeber here on the forum that will lead u to a car or sell you thiers
03-08-10, 08:25 AM
#5
I suppose there are many different explanations for the missing VIN tag but the most likely would be that this is a stolen or salvaged car or that the VIN tag was reloctated to a stolen car. There are VIN numbers on other parts of the car. Are there VIN stickers on the door or any of the other parts of the car? I would have to want the car awfully bad to by it with the missing tag regardless of the explanation. I'm not even sure you would be able to get it titled and licensed. Any chance of a CarFacts with what is supposed to be the correct VIN?
Good luck - and be careful.
Dave Mac
Good luck - and be careful.
Dave Mac
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03-08-10, 09:46 AM
#12
Lead Lap
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Car could be stolen and parts replaced to prevent someone recognizing the mismatching VIN numbers. Check all the door panels/jambs, trunk jamb, and under the hood for the VIN number. If they are all missing, do not buy the car, because chances are the car has been stolen and VIN numbers have been stripped to hide the fact that it has been reported stolen. Or, if the VIN numbers are mismatching, don't buy it either because that should through a red flag too. Tell that guy to fuuck off and give your money back. He's obviously a scumbag. Don't buy the car. There are plenty of better SC's with honest owners out there selling for a good price.
03-08-10, 09:56 AM
#13
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A little off-topic.....but have other people noticed how hard the windshield VIN tag is to read. When I first looked at my SC I thought he tag was gone until I looked closely with a flashlight and saw the numbers. My Supra and SC are both 1994 models.....but the Supra has an easlity viewable VIN.
03-08-10, 10:39 AM
#14
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This sounds like a nightmare.
BTW, When you ask the guy for your money back, if he gives you ANY grief, tell him your brother/uncle/neighbor/whoever is a cop and that you'll report him. That should make him back off. Better yet, call the cops anyway and DO report him; I can't imagine they wouldn't be interested to here why someone is selling a car that's had all it's vin numbers stripped.
03-08-10, 11:05 AM
#15
yeah man, you might loose 100 bucks... but if you don't walk away right now you can loose much more, not to mention you won't know the condition of the title or if there is a lean on it cause any title he gives you there will be no way to prove its the title for that car.
try and get your $100 back and walk away
try and get your $100 back and walk away