Silent Treatment when asking for VIN

[Sean K.]

Carfax isn't that accurate. I traded in a vehicle that had hit a deer at 70mph and had $14k in damage to. Carfax showed it as clean with no collision work ever done to it.

Exactly. Plenty of things don't get reported, BUT....it's really the only method I know of (not that there aren't others) to investigate.

 

[Sean K.]

I hope this is not a common concern. I'm not driving three hours to check something out without a Carfax and some assurance the frame is not rusted.

I'd convey that message to the seller. If he doesn't understand or doesn't reply...it's likely a rust bucket, salvage title, or been wrecked. Then you have your answer and can move on.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Hahaha now that you say that, I did see that one time! I was wondering why there was tape over it [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Anyone want my VIN? I'll post it here no prob *


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[theesotericone]

you can call the dealer with the VIN and pick up a key.

After you show them the registration and a photo ID that matches it. If someone is gonna steal your rig there are way easier ways to do it. lol

 

[PRG3K]

I'm expanding my search for a 4runner. I have found several nice vehicles in the 150-170k mile range for 4-5k on craigslist. Every time I ask for undercarriage pictures and the VIN, the seller stops responding? Is that not a normal request?

I'm in the same exact boat as you and I'm getting some of the same types of responses.


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[Sean K.]

After you show them the registration and a photo ID that matches it. If someone is gonna steal your rig there are way easier ways to do it. lol

Agreed. But to pretend it never happens is naive in the extreme.

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

Not that I'm a fan of snopes.

 

[Clemson]

Maybe its the holiday as well. But I am 0-4 for getting responses after I ask for VIN and undercarriage pictures. I am giving my name, location, and why I am asking for the information.

 

[PRG3K]

That's SUPER low price if it was in Oregon.
'99+ with 180k will sell for $5,500 in a heartbeat- with a branded title. The market here might be higher due to having zero rust issues whatsoever- but I don't know. My '97 doesn't have any rusty bolts underneath- much less any frame rust.

Man, you should take a look at a market like Orlando, FL. There are a handful every day below 5 grand with under 200K and sometimes under 120K. A lot of cars are bought and sold at auction to private, small-time dealers for next to nothing. Little to no maintenance or vehicle history. They're thrown back on the market for like $3,000 in hopes they can make a few hundred bucks profit.

Sometimes the seller can appear private, but they're got a dealer's license. It also depends state to state.

 

[St Runner]

Florida has a lot of 4runners in good shape for a good price. Unfortunately most of them are 2wd

 

[TillytheToyota]

Man, you should take a look at a market like Orlando, FL. There are a handful every day below 5 grand with under 200K and sometimes under 120K. A lot of cars are bought and sold at auction to private, small-time dealers for next to nothing. Little to no maintenance or vehicle history. They're thrown back on the market for like $3,000 in hopes they can make a few hundred bucks profit.



Sometimes the seller can appear private, but they're got a dealer's license. It also depends state to state.

Man I hate that. I'm in Tampa and I found out the hard way when I looked at a few that were from "private sellers". Lots of "my loss is your gain" type ads on there with no maintenance history. Getting a vin number was like pulling teeth. There are a few diamonds in the rough 4wd runners out there. Lowest mileage I found was the one I bought at 186k but that's because I didn't want to travel to find a lower mileage one.

 

[pluton]

Maybe its the holiday as well. But I am 0-4 for getting responses after I ask for VIN and undercarriage pictures. I am giving my name, location, and why I am asking for the information.

Just curious: Are you actually speaking to them on the phone, or are you attempting to make inquiries by text/email?
When I have bought or sold cars and other things on CL, if the potential seller/buyer strictly wants to communicate by textual transmission, I quickly write them off as internet time wasters. Speaking and asking questions live on the phone can quickly expose a great deal of amateur fraud and help eliminate the sleazy operators that [life has taught you] are very, very likely to be a waste of your time.

 

[4BUMR]

In FL you have to focus on Elderly communities (Naples is where I struck gold) that tend to have a Seasonal residence. Found my '02 limited in great condition, maintenance records and all and only 125k. It was a 2nd home car that sat in a garage for 50% of its life. Keep hunting until you find the one!


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[rkntoy]

Well, except in AZ where the plate can potentially stay with the owner, not the vehicle when sold....so you could have various numbers of vehicles attached to one plate number.

If you keep the plate you still have to notify ADOT that you are transferring to a new vehicle - same as in other states if you keep your custom plates.

 

[rkntoy]

Where can you find info on a vehicle from the plate?

You find it on the normal search page. I usually use the license plate search when possible because it does not use up your purchased VIN searches.

See pic - and it looks like I have 4 more searches I can do if anyone needs them. If the plate search comes back with a different vehicle it can mean the last sale/plate swap has not been recorded yet.

 

[johnbyebye]

That's SUPER low price if it was in Oregon.
'99+ with 180k will sell for $5,500 in a heartbeat- with a branded title. The market here might be higher due to having zero rust issues whatsoever- but I don't know. My '97 doesn't have any rusty bolts underneath- much less any frame rust.

I was not aware of such events, as whenever I have gotten a key made, there wasn't a chance they would even give me the time of day without proof. I suppose I am a little naive on this.

He speaks the truth! I paid 5,400 for mine with 200k on it.

 

[Sean K.]

If you keep the plate you still have to notify ADOT that you are transferring to a new vehicle - same as in other states if you keep your custom plates.

The state will know that as soon as you register the car the old tag is going on. My question is: how does whatever reporting agency you're using know?....Unless you're talking about running a state sponsored MVD check? **EDIT** I guess it would be pretty unlikely that a Carfax using the tag number posted in an ad is going to be already sold....unless the seller is using an older photo.**

 

[Clemson]

Just curious: Are you actually speaking to them on the phone, or are you attempting to make inquiries by text/email?
When I have bought or sold cars and other things on CL, if the potential seller/buyer strictly wants to communicate by textual transmission, I quickly write them off as internet time wasters. Speaking and asking questions live on the phone can quickly expose a great deal of amateur fraud and help eliminate the sleazy operators that [life has taught you] are very, very likely to be a waste of your time.

I have been texting. I'll start calling these guys. Their ADs do request text or call. Most of my searching is when I am at work...I work 10-hour shifts at a desk.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Man, you should take a look at a market like Orlando, FL. There are a handful every day below 5 grand with under 200K and sometimes under 120K. A lot of cars are bought and sold at auction to private, small-time dealers for next to nothing. Little to no maintenance or vehicle history. They're thrown back on the market for like $3,000 in hopes they can make a few hundred bucks profit.



Sometimes the seller can appear private, but they're got a dealer's license. It also depends state to state.

Okay, I kind of mis-spoke. You CAN find cheaper vehicles here, but they are vehicles that have been beat to death, have body damage, interior is trashed, acid based products used to clean engine bay- leaving all the once-coated bolts and parts rusty, etc. Not necessarily ALL of the above on the same rig, but even one of the above would make me not even consider the rig for myself.
So, again- I kind of mis-spoke.
Even for as clean as this '96 is, the rusty engine bay parts would be a huge turn off for me-
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/ctd/5931354582.html
Plenty of nice rigs though [emoji6]
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/5931486671.html
Nice rig- price isn't bad- but couldn't do gold, and still has rusty engine bay parts from harsh cleaners-
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/5931074876.html