My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: New Mexico, Colorado
I bought a vehicle in New Mexico that has a 5 digit serial number (1967 Jeep Kaiser). The truck has a plate with the serial number, but the NM title (signed over to me) has this same number with an "A" appended to the end. The application for this title (2011) is stapled to it, and next to the MVD agent's signature is a note: "Added suffix to VIN." The guy who sold it to me said that this was because the NM MVD "couldn't handle 5 digit VINs," which I now believe was a lie. I also have a copy of an earlier (2010) title application in which he applied using the correct number. For some reason, this earlier application did not result in a permanent title, and so he made the second application with the "A" added.
The earlier application has an Indiana title listed as the previous title, so a VIN inspection had to have been performed. On the second application the previous title field says "NM ACO" (Affidavit Certifying Ownership). So it seems that the NM MVD effectively assigned a new VIN to the vehicle with full knowledge that this new VIN was not physically on the vehicle. Unfortunately, I live in Colorado and I can't get a title unless the numbers match (title/vehicle).
I did a title search on both the numbers (with/without the A) and neither is reported stolen. However, the VIN on the vehicle has a 2012 title issued in Ohio. I think this is the real reason that the NM MVD added the suffix: there was an existing valid title in another state with the same number, but no report of theft.
I feel like I need to talk to an attorney, but I don't know whether in Albuquerque, where I made the transaction, or Denver, where I live. Also, under what practice area should I search? I can't find any lawyers that specifically advertise handling cases like this. I think some kind of VIN fraud is likely, but I don't know how to proceed. At this point I would be happy just to find a way to get rid of the truck so I don't have to store it in perpetuity.
Thanks in advance for any help.
I bought a vehicle in New Mexico that has a 5 digit serial number (1967 Jeep Kaiser). The truck has a plate with the serial number, but the NM title (signed over to me) has this same number with an "A" appended to the end. The application for this title (2011) is stapled to it, and next to the MVD agent's signature is a note: "Added suffix to VIN." The guy who sold it to me said that this was because the NM MVD "couldn't handle 5 digit VINs," which I now believe was a lie. I also have a copy of an earlier (2010) title application in which he applied using the correct number. For some reason, this earlier application did not result in a permanent title, and so he made the second application with the "A" added.
The earlier application has an Indiana title listed as the previous title, so a VIN inspection had to have been performed. On the second application the previous title field says "NM ACO" (Affidavit Certifying Ownership). So it seems that the NM MVD effectively assigned a new VIN to the vehicle with full knowledge that this new VIN was not physically on the vehicle. Unfortunately, I live in Colorado and I can't get a title unless the numbers match (title/vehicle).
I did a title search on both the numbers (with/without the A) and neither is reported stolen. However, the VIN on the vehicle has a 2012 title issued in Ohio. I think this is the real reason that the NM MVD added the suffix: there was an existing valid title in another state with the same number, but no report of theft.
I feel like I need to talk to an attorney, but I don't know whether in Albuquerque, where I made the transaction, or Denver, where I live. Also, under what practice area should I search? I can't find any lawyers that specifically advertise handling cases like this. I think some kind of VIN fraud is likely, but I don't know how to proceed. At this point I would be happy just to find a way to get rid of the truck so I don't have to store it in perpetuity.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Transfer of Title: What to Do if DMV Adds a Suffice to the VIN on a Car Title
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