Hi everyone. Long time no post. I'm needing help brainstorming a dilema I'm in. I sold and delivered my 914 to a nice gentleman in NJ. When he went to his DMV to move the title over to his name, they refused because the Arkansas title is missing a digit on the VIN#. Neither myself or my DMV caught it when I bought the car four years ago which means the original vin verification was incorrect to begin with. Long story short, they wont release a corrected Arkansas title to me without local PD giving me a Vin Verification but the PD refuse to do it without the car being present. Shipping the car back here for a 3-minute verification is not an option. Should I offer to fly a local police officer to NJ so he can perform the VIN verification in the airport parking lot then bring it back to me? It's such a mess and nobody seems willing to make an exception. I can tell everyone is "just doing their job" and following their scripts. HELP PLEASE!

Is there no way to have the VIN verified in NJ? What sort of documentation with the AR DMV accept?

I would think the NJ state PD should be able to verify and have AR accept since they could be considered a designatee of the AR state police. My parents did that between states with a boat that they didn't want to move. Some states also allow people in the Armed Forces to verify.

We may try the out-of-state vin verification approach but I'm pretty sure one of my loacal DMV clerks said she wouldn't be able to accept it. Maybe all it will take is escalating it to a manager once I have it in hand.

I've also reached out to the original seller (who I bought it from) in hopes he has the original VIN Verification stashed away somewhere. With a little luck he still has it AND it's correct.

I bought a '74 about 14 years ago that had an extra digit on the pink slip. Neither I, AAA, or the DMV noticed it when I registered it. I would give it to you if that would help. It's a "2".

This happened to me but it was in California. I had the original owner take the paperwork to DMV and he filled out a declaration of error and requested an updated Pink Slip. Once the received it we got the car transfer taken care of. It took about two weeks.

What number is missing? If it is one of the first 4 digits you can show proof that the car is a Porsche 914 and should start with 470 and the year.

These discrepancies happen so often; it is imperative when buying a car that you verify documentation matches the numbers stamped on the car. A long time ago, I bought the first Mercury Cougar ever built....000001. However it was originally titled in Canada and the title had a '5' where there should have been an 'S'. Fortunately I'd seen the title in advance and made sure the typo was corrected before the car crossed back into the US.

Good luck getting this sorted out.

We had something similar happen at the shop and one of the MD state police we are friendly with signed off on the paperwork. He knew we were just trying to fix a mistake, not scam anyone. Do you have any friends in the state police?

Not to be too antagonistic, but my first question would be why does the new owner need a title (at this second)? My 81 Audi has been legally on the road for decades without one in my name. I still have the one from the fellow I bought it from and I hope all the digits are correct! Pretty much same for each of the other old cars I own. I may only have one title in my name and all are legally registered and insured. In both Maine and NH cars this old transfer with a bill of sale and titles can be applied for if warranted in the new owners name with just that piece of paper.

Every state is different, but PA only needs a signed affidavit from the LEO where the car currently resides to sign off on the title for verification.

Maybe see if you can get a local sheriff to check the vin, and have that notarized. There should be a notary public at the cop shop.

Zach

I don't know what state you're in, but here in NC you can't register a previously owned car (no matter how old of a car) without a valid title or registration from the previous owner. Once you register it in your name, the DMV issues you a new title in your name within 30 days. All cars, no matter how old, receive titles. If there are any issues, mistakes, or if the NC DMV plain doesn't like the paperwork you give them from the previous owner, then you're out of luck and can't register the car.
Now if you're registering a car that you're importing into NC from another state, that's a whole other bag of worms. You have to take the car to the DMV license and theft bureau, and they photograph the car for their records and then check the VIN and engine numbers against databases of stolen VINs and engine #s, and also to make sure that the VIN and engine number are correct for the year and make of the car. If they have any reason to doubt the legitimacy of the car, they can deny your registration.
Prob the same for the new owner in question.
Sounds like you have it EZ-PZ in your state.

that's why everyone registers their trailer in Maine. $10/year by mail. But in PA, no title = no registration, tags, insurance, etc.

Well this seems onerous, but you said title OR registration. I'm assuming in this case he has at least one, probably more, previous valid reggies. Then the background check would show no theft or issues and he is good to go.

Clerks are concerned about getting fired for going outside the dotted lines; take it up to a manager who has the authority to use his/her brain and make an intelligent decision.

What about a pencil rubbing of the tag in the front trunk? That used to be one way to show possession.

I would see if you have any friends in AR who know a PD officer who would be willing to sign off on the verification using a picture and your word. Start with your local PCA group and see what you can come up with...

Most states also have a way to obtain a title for a car where the car was sold without a title. This is usually in the form of a bonded title. I know in NC I can buy a car with only a bill of sale, get the vin verification done, pay for a bond, and fill out DMV paperwork and a few weeks later I have clean title in my name.

If they give you too much grief about the old title I would just go the bonded title route.

What about a notarized affidavit showing the correct VIN? Or, and this is probably dumb but, what if you can get the buyer and a NJ LEO to FaceTime or Skype with you and an AR LEO and/or the DMV rep to show the correct number on the actual car?
I would try to guilt the DMV folks into agreeing, especially since they screwed up the original transfer.

Ask the DMV you are dealing with if they will except a statement from licensed notary.
Craig at CAMP