Incorrect Mustang VIN on Title, What to do???

Snakes · 10-09-2009

I just purchased a 66 Mustang today and realized the title and VIN do not match. Here's the rest of the story...

My dad purchased this car in California back in 1984 from the original owner. He had it for 25 years and now wants me to enjoy it. I went to transfer the title this morning and all went well. I then called my insurance company and took care of that too. Later this afternoon, I happened to look at the door plate and realized the numbers don't match. On my title and all other documentation, the VIN ends in 5330. However, on the door plate and all other areas, it ends in 5320. I looked back at the original registration information from when the woman registered it in CA and it was wrong from the day it was purchased. Needless to say, when my dad transferred the title, he didn't pick up on the typo.

If anybody has any advice on what I can do in this situation, I'm all ears. I know each state is different but would love to hear from others on this. Needless to say, I'll be 1st in line at the DMV on Monday morning when they open.

duckbubbles · 10-09-2009

Something like that happened to me almost 40 years ago. They typed an L in lower case (l) and it looked like a 1. All I remember was that it was a real hassel to get straightened out.

My suggestion is to get with your local title/vehicle registration office and tell them your problem. They should be able to guide you through the process of verifying and changing the title. It might involve notarized statements from your dad and an inspection by some other entity. You must do this to make it legal, if you may want to part with it someday. It's best to get this straightened out NOW.

Frank

GGregory · 10-09-2009

This has happend to me with one of my early mustangs too. I'm in New York and it took some doing, but I was able to change the vin. I bought a 65 wirh the door tag and fender apron all being the same, the registration was different, but only by one letter, the engine code. The car was a T code and the registration had a Y, not a T. I took a mustang code book with me to show there's no such thing as a Y code mustang to the local DMV, that didn't work, I hade to do a pencel trace of the door and fender vin number, fill out paper work and etc. Then had to wait about 4 weeks for the DMV to do a search on both vin numbers to see if the car was stolen and such.

I bet a person at the DMV did the typo error and I said that to the lady, but do you think anyone at the DMV ever makes mistakes?

Greg

RF Mustang · 10-09-2009

I had a similar problem 2 years ago. I bought a 68 mustang in illinois and the vin number had a 2 but it was typed as a z on the illinois title. I got it corrected with no problem.

I sent an email to the Ohio BMV and explained in the email exactly the situation and what i believe happened. The sent me a reply 2 days later and confirmed exactly what i had said. They told me to print out the email and take it with me when I towed the car in for a VIN inspection. to get the titled transferred.

They confirmed it as well and they kept a copy of the email with the old title and issued my new title with the correct VIN number.

it was no problem. but i'm sure it laws and proceedures vary from state to state.

Sad thing is, i sold the car a month later. Someone offered me a premium price i could not pass on.

BigSecz · 10-09-2009

I had this happen with a '66 "C" code coupe. They put a "0" instead of a "C". I didn't discover the error until after I had transferred the title. I went back to the DMV and they looked it up in the computer and saw that it was entered wrong previously before I got the car. DMV told me all I had to do was bring the car with the incorrect title and they would verify it on site.

Faith No More · 10-10-2009

Did you check more than just the door plate? is it possible the door was ever replaced??

MU3ST5ANG1 · 10-10-2009

i can say from experience that its gonna take some time, you most likely have to take pics of the vin plate and the car and basically prove that its the same car as you say it is. you may be able to do it on site, depending on if the people there are a$$holes like they are in Va. at least your registering it in the same state as the original, try doing it from across the US... through the mail....4 times....good luck

Snakes · 10-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faith No More

Did you check more than just the door plate? is it possible the door was ever replaced??

Yes. The door plate and the number on the drivers side fender match. I know the vehicle history from the factory. It's all original except for a paint job and new upholstery back in 88 (240 miles ago)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MU3ST5ANG1

at least your registering it in the same state as the original, try doing it from across the US... through the mail....4 times....good luck

Not exactly. It was originally a CA car until my dad bought it in 84 and registered it in MN. I am also in MN and am titling it there as well.

I like the idea of bringing stencils of the plate and fender numbering. I'll bring these along with some digital pictures on Monday. I'm also going to bring an appraisal that was done in 88 which shows the correct VIN. Needless to say, he read the numbers off the car rather than the title. Finally, after hearing of others being successful in getting this fixed, I am much more optimistic. Thanks all!

Slightly off topic...
Assuming I get this straightened out, will this in any way reduce the value of the car? I'm curious as I'm the 3rd owner but my paperwork trail will show the two previous owners (titles) with a different VIN.

MU3ST5ANG1 · 10-10-2009

wow... good luck to you. it shouldnt reduce the value of it, once its straitened out, the correct vin will be the registered vin.

Snakes · 10-12-2009

As a follow up:

I went to the DMV this AM with the pencil tracings, pictures old documentation as described above. Surprising, they only cared about the pencil markings and the old appraisal. They went ahead and completed the change form and attached it to the title transfer paperwork that I filled out last Friday (hadn't submitted it to the state yet) without any additional cost. They told me to expect the new title to be correct and to show up within 1-2 weeks.

Calponycarsmike · 10-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakes

As a follow up:

I went to the DMV this AM with the pencil tracings, pictures old documentation as described above. Surprising, they only cared about the pencil markings and the old appraisal. They went ahead and completed the change form and attached it to the title transfer paperwork that I filled out last Friday (hadn't submitted it to the state yet) without any additional cost. They told me to expect the new title to be correct and to show up within 1-2 weeks.

Glad to hear it all worked out for you!