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Charlie Stephens · 05-26-2019, 08:55 PM

If the title matches the number on the engine the problem goes away. If the title doesn't match the engine then you have a worthless document and a vehicle without a title. You might want to check what the California DMV thinks of a dealer selling a vehicle without a valid title. It might be good to have the answer in your hip pocket. If there is a problem it is the dealers responsibility to straighten it out before the car is transferred.

California goes by the frame number. If everything was clean (matched) California would probably take the engine number as proof of ownership and then assign their own number which they would apply to the door jam by riveting on a tag (look for empty rivet holes on the door jam). They also place this same number a couple of other places on the vehicle. If everything wasn't clean they would probably make you lift the body to see the number on the frame. This is based on what they used to do in California and may have changed.

Once you see the title and there is still a problem you might want to also post on HAMB.

By the way, do you know the number that is stamped into the engine and does it look original (photo time)?

Charlie Stephens

05-26-2019, 08:55 PM	#3
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,033	Re: Odd VIN If the title matches the number on the engine the problem goes away. If the title doesn't match the engine then you have a worthless document and a vehicle without a title. You might want to check what the California DMV thinks of a dealer selling a vehicle without a valid title. It might be good to have the answer in your hip pocket. If there is a problem it is the dealers responsibility to straighten it out before the car is transferred. California goes by the frame number. If everything was clean (matched) California would probably take the engine number as proof of ownership and then assign their own number which they would apply to the door jam by riveting on a tag (look for empty rivet holes on the door jam). They also place this same number a couple of other places on the vehicle. If everything wasn't clean they would probably make you lift the body to see the number on the frame. This is based on what they used to do in California and may have changed. Once you see the title and there is still a problem you might want to also post on HAMB. By the way, do you know the number that is stamped into the engine and does it look original (photo time)? Charlie Stephens Last edited by Charlie Stephens; 05-26-2019 at 10:08 PM.