Checking a VIN to see if it is stolen - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bouncytruck · 07-31-2003, 07:17 PM

I'm thinking about buying a Blazer that the owner has lost the title. I called the Washington State Police to see if they could run the VIN to make sure I can re-title the vehicle. They said that they can't run a VIN unless they have the vehicle there. So how do you check to see if something is clear if you can't even get the police to check it for you? Doesn't this leave it wide open for people to steal cars and part them out?

I'd bet that this truck will be just fine, but I don't want to get screwed.

Digger51 · 07-31-2003, 07:33 PM

Here in Colorado the Department of Motor Vehicles (our entity that gives license plates) will run a VIN check for you. This should show any problems with the title including who owns the vehicle and any leans that may be on it. It cost $6 last time I had it done.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 07-31-2003, 08:06 PM

I am sure all states have different rules on this, but in Michigan you can get the local police or sheriff to come out and verify the vin in a lost title situation.

Maybe there is another option for you.

Good luck! I know the beauracracy can be frustrating.

Jim

Longhorn Man · 07-31-2003, 08:19 PM

here in Ohio, I would make the owner apply for a lost title if it was in his name. Just 5 bucks. last time I had some one do it)
No idea how to tell if it is stollen here though.

moneyguru · 07-31-2003, 08:22 PM

Hah this is an easy one. Go down to the DMV or Secretairy of state, whichever you call it with the owner and the vehicle present. The owner can sell the vehicle to you there and they will send you the title.

There is no need to wait for a title to come to buy the truck.

HTH
M.G.

*Phillip Johnson* · 07-31-2003, 08:55 PM

Calif has a "statement of facts" along with a lost title form. The owner just needs to sign it and DMV will verify that the title is correct with the truck.Ive done it and it was soooo easy.

jef5150 · 07-31-2003, 09:09 PM

http://www.dol.wa.gov/vs/vinfaq.htm#search........every question you asked in your post is answered here,,,,,,,jeff

bouncytruck · 08-01-2003, 03:53 PM

All these places need the vehicle present to run a VIN check. I was hoping to get the VIN # from the guy before I go look at it & run a check. I don't want to waste my time if there is no point in buying it.

Thanks for the help. I guess the laws are on the side of the theives once again!

**COBALT** · 08-01-2003, 04:09 PM

Do it in reverse. Have the state patrol run the license number.

jef5150 · 08-01-2003, 04:41 PM

theres no way your gonna get any information from any police department on a vin check ,,,,vehicle and registered owner must be present,,,,,HOWEVER,,,,use the licence plate #, give the reason that you want to purchase that vehicle,and you want" information only ",that the vehicle is not stolen...they will give it to you,,but thats ALL they will tell you,,,,,darn i type to slow....

bouncytruck · 08-01-2003, 04:53 PM

Thanks for the info. That is a great way to do it! I hadn't thought about running the plates. I don't really want any info except if I'm buying a stolen rig that the cops are going to take away from me later!

oldtrucknut · 08-02-2003, 05:58 PM

If (not likely) you could get a law enforcement agency to check the plates that still doesn't mean that the truck is not stolen. In Indiana, plate numbers are never "ran" for the public. The plates don't neccesarily belong on that truck. Have the state police meet you where the truck is sitting. If you have cash in hand the seller should not care. If the vehicle comes back as stolen then you are safe and that guy will go to jail and the truck gets impounded.

72Bob · 08-02-2003, 10:02 PM

Go down to the local DMV, get a lost title form, a one sheet piece of paper. Have the guy fill it out, and get it notorized. This is as good as a tiltle, for "in-state" sales only. That's what I did on my 69 Chev. Got a title in two weeks.

moneyguru · 08-02-2003, 10:18 PM

I am surprised none of have suggestted this yet!

CARFAX....

If there is any report on the truck they should have it, and provide buyer's insurance (I believe).

Get the vin off the truck, check his current registration and proof of insurance, and then run it on CARFAX.

http://www.carfax.com/

I believe they offer a free trial search.

HTH

M.G.

bouncytruck · 08-04-2003, 12:33 PM

CARFAX says, "The CARFAX database contains information for cars manufactured from 1981 through the present."

Thanks for the idea though.

moneyguru · 08-04-2003, 12:40 PM

Sorry, didn't know they had that cur off.....

M.G.

**COBALT** · 08-04-2003, 12:54 PM

Yeah, they only carry vehicles with the larger VIN numbers, but I think that practice was started earlier than 81, but they've made it easy on themselves by just having a cut-off date.

I tried searching for my truck once.

1970blazin · 08-04-2003, 04:43 PM

I sent you a PM about lost titles.

bouncytruck · 08-04-2003, 06:43 PM

1970Blazin - Thanks for the info! I'm going to send talk to the seller about it.

07-31-2003, 07:17 PM	#1
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	Checking a VIN to see if it is stolen I'm thinking about buying a Blazer that the owner has lost the title. I called the Washington State Police to see if they could run the VIN to make sure I can re-title the vehicle. They said that they can't run a VIN unless they have the vehicle there. So how do you check to see if something is clear if you can't even get the police to check it for you? Doesn't this leave it wide open for people to steal cars and part them out? I'd bet that this truck will be just fine, but I don't want to get screwed. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

07-31-2003, 07:33 PM	#2
Digger51 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 51	Title search Here in Colorado the Department of Motor Vehicles (our entity that gives license plates) will run a VIN check for you. This should show any problems with the title including who owns the vehicle and any leans that may be on it. It cost $6 last time I had it done. __________________ 70 GMC, SWB, 2WD, low

08-01-2003, 03:53 PM	#8
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	All these places need the vehicle present to run a VIN check. I was hoping to get the VIN # from the guy before I go look at it & run a check. I don't want to waste my time if there is no point in buying it. Thanks for the help. I guess the laws are on the side of the theives once again! __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

08-01-2003, 04:09 PM	#9
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Do it in reverse. Have the state patrol run the license number. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

08-01-2003, 04:53 PM	#11
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	Thanks for the info. That is a great way to do it! I hadn't thought about running the plates. I don't really want any info except if I'm buying a stolen rig that the cops are going to take away from me later! __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

07-31-2003, 08:06 PM	#3
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	I am sure all states have different rules on this, but in Michigan you can get the local police or sheriff to come out and verify the vin in a lost title situation. Maybe there is another option for you. Good luck! I know the beauracracy can be frustrating. Jim

07-31-2003, 08:19 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	here in Ohio, I would make the owner apply for a lost title if it was in his name. Just 5 bucks. last time I had some one do it) No idea how to tell if it is stollen here though.

07-31-2003, 08:22 PM	#5
moneyguru Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: kalamazoo, mi Posts: 397	Hah this is an easy one. Go down to the DMV or Secretairy of state, whichever you call it with the owner and the vehicle present. The owner can sell the vehicle to you there and they will send you the title. There is no need to wait for a title to come to buy the truck. HTH M.G.

07-31-2003, 08:55 PM	#6
Phillip Johnson Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 1,579	Calif has a "statement of facts" along with a lost title form. The owner just needs to sign it and DMV will verify that the title is correct with the truck.Ive done it and it was soooo easy.

07-31-2003, 09:09 PM	#7
jef5150 Inline 69 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: valleysprings,california Posts: 1,018	http://www.dol.wa.gov/vs/vinfaq.htm#search........every question you asked in your post is answered here,,,,,,,jeff

08-01-2003, 04:41 PM	#10
jef5150 Inline 69 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: valleysprings,california Posts: 1,018	theres no way your gonna get any information from any police department on a vin check ,,,,vehicle and registered owner must be present,,,,,HOWEVER,,,,use the licence plate #, give the reason that you want to purchase that vehicle,and you want" information only ",that the vehicle is not stolen...they will give it to you,,but thats ALL they will tell you,,,,,darn i type to slow....

08-02-2003, 05:58 PM	#12
oldtrucknut 67-72 truck surgeon Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 155	If (not likely) you could get a law enforcement agency to check the plates that still doesn't mean that the truck is not stolen. In Indiana, plate numbers are never "ran" for the public. The plates don't neccesarily belong on that truck. Have the state police meet you where the truck is sitting. If you have cash in hand the seller should not care. If the vehicle comes back as stolen then you are safe and that guy will go to jail and the truck gets impounded. __________________ 1969 Chevy C10 1993 Toyota Camry LE 1999 Ford F250 Super Duty 4x4 diesel 2008 Dodge Charger Super Bee 1953 International R182

08-02-2003, 10:02 PM	#13
72Bob Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Burlington, WA Posts: 298	Lost title Go down to the local DMV, get a lost title form, a one sheet piece of paper. Have the guy fill it out, and get it notorized. This is as good as a tiltle, for "in-state" sales only. That's what I did on my 69 Chev. Got a title in two weeks.

08-02-2003, 10:18 PM	#14
moneyguru Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: kalamazoo, mi Posts: 397	I am surprised none of have suggestted this yet! CARFAX.... If there is any report on the truck they should have it, and provide buyer's insurance (I believe). Get the vin off the truck, check his current registration and proof of insurance, and then run it on CARFAX. http://www.carfax.com/ I believe they offer a free trial search. HTH M.G.

08-04-2003, 12:33 PM	#15
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	CARFAX says, "The CARFAX database contains information for cars manufactured from 1981 through the present." Thanks for the idea though. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L



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08-04-2003, 12:40 PM	#16
moneyguru Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: kalamazoo, mi Posts: 397	Sorry, didn't know they had that cur off..... M.G.

08-04-2003, 12:54 PM	#17
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Yeah, they only carry vehicles with the larger VIN numbers, but I think that practice was started earlier than 81, but they've made it easy on themselves by just having a cut-off date. I tried searching for my truck once. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

08-04-2003, 04:43 PM	#18
1970blazin Blazerless:-( Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Olympia WA Posts: 1,612	Bouncytruck I sent you a PM about lost titles. __________________ 1970blazin 1970 CST Blazer-Orig. Dark Blue-SOLD Progress Pics of Blazer for sale

08-04-2003, 06:43 PM	#19
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	1970Blazin - Thanks for the info! I'm going to send talk to the seller about it. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

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