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Engine/frame VIN and title

Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 12:26 pm
by Chel_in_IL
So, after owning my GT750 since 2009, I passed it on to a Suzuki two-stroke enthusiast a couple states away. I was the third owner, second owner is a friend of mine.

The new owner called me later that night and said the title did not match the frame VIN... Whaaaaaaat? I live in Illinois, and both previous owners were in Wisconsin. I looked up the frame VIN on Wisconsin's VIN verification site, said it was invalid. The engine VIN returns valid, and I paid for a VIN report that shows detail from the original purchase date.

I know engine and frame VINs aren't supposed to match... that's not the issue.

Anyone see this happen - a bike that was titled with the engine VIN upon original purchase? Not sure how to rectify this. I doubt a dealer would have records from the '70s. My friend is going to get me the original owner's name.

Michelle

Re: Engine/frame VIN and title

Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 3:14 pm
by jabcb
Pennsylvania has a form to correct the title when the engine VIN was erroneously used.

Check with a notary in your state & have the buyer check with a notary in his state.
Not sure how it will work out.
But if he sends you a notarized VIN verification form showing both frame & engine VINs + the title, you likely can get a corrected title from your state.
Or maybe he can resolve this at his end if you send him an updated Bill of Sale with both VINs.

Re: Engine/frame VIN and title

Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 3:54 pm
by sbaugz
jabcb wrote:Pennsylvania has a form to correct the title when the engine VIN was erroneously used.

Check with a notary in your state & have the buyer check with a notary in his state.
Not sure how it will work out.
But if he sends you a notarized VIN verification form showing both frame & engine VINs + the title, you likely can get a corrected title from your state.
Or maybe he can resolve this at his end if you send him an updated Bill of Sale with both VINs.

Not sure about other states but Wisconsin used to title bikes using the engine VIN. We had a form that could be used to transfer VIN to frame but that wouldn't help you obviously being in a different state.

Re: Engine/frame VIN and title

Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 4:42 pm
by Chel_in_IL
Thanks for the replies, I'll definitely look into the notary. I tell yah, all the resources I found online have really helped hash out this mess!