https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_0F6v1_iy4
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Had it happen a few years ago but I always check before leaving. The clerk handed me my new title and the VIN was wrong. The hassle I went through many years ago (85) trying to get this fixed from out of state means I check and double check.
I guess in this day and age its best to shoot a pic of the VIN plate and keep it on your phone so you can triple check it inside the DMV.
Back in 1990 I purchased a new 4Runner. When I test drove it, it had 30 miles on it. The next day it had 300 miles on it. For a while I assumed it had been driven a LOT over the night - then I realized they swapped vehicles on me.
In 2014 I purchased a new Honda Civic. I test drove one with (after the test drive) 8 miles on it. I noted the last 4 of the VIN because of the 1990 experience. When they told me they were taking it to detail it while I was doing my paperwork, I stepped outside and watched a lot tech go to my Civic and another go to an identical Civic. When I was given the paperwork to sign, the vehicle had 12 miles on it (?? Four extra miles to just drive it into the service area for detailing? I don't think so). I then double checked the VIN and found they didn't match. They were doing a bait & switch with a vehicle they'd had on their car lot longer than the one I said I'd take. I called them on it & they claimed it was a simple mistake. No it wasn't, it was a blatant attempt to deceive me & I told them as much. They fixed it after I told them I was ready to walk out, never to return & tell everyone I knew (plus the local news) about their deceptive practices.
The lesson I got in 1990 was to ALWAYS double check the VIN when doing any paperwork, including with the .gov.
Not surprising of the dmv workers. I once had my DL suspended and in the process of getting it back I was notified that there was a warrant out for my arrest from a county that I have never been to! So I call that county and they tell me "you're a ghost to us. You do not exist and we have nothing on you". So then I had the enjoyment of producing proof of that.
Needless to say it took a couple of weeks of phone calls and running back and forth with paperwork to get it all resolved and come to find out somebody entered some info wrong in the system.
Im just glad I found out on my own terms rather than getting arrested during some random traffic stop. That really would have sent me off the deep end.
Moral of the story is, NEVER trust that somebody correctly did their job that they were suppose to do!
Crappy situation for sure. I hate dealing with those idiots in person. I'd hate to have to do it from out of state.
Nope. VIN was correct on the title I received from the seller. I know this because we initially used the VIN off the previous title to apply for a loan on it before deciding to pay cash. The loan paperwork has the correct title number.
ETA: Also has the correct VIN on the bill of sale.
Then that should make it easier. Maybe. Talk with the DMV, faxing them the bill of sale and the title showing the discrepancy. Hopefully that will be enough. Or you may be able to take the bill of sale directly to the ID DMV and get your new title there and avoid CO all together.