How to Obtain a Corrected Title on the Two Common VIN Errors

All too often the vehicle owner/debtor or dealer makes some mistake on the initial paper work so that when the vehicle is registered it results in an erroneous vehicle title.

Correcting these errors is a lengthy and difficult process. The difficulty is directly related to the length of time between initial titling and discovery of the error. Obviously, the sooner the error is discovered the easier it is to correct.

1) VIN errors can either be a DMV or dealer mistake. If it is a DMV error, a copy of the previously submitted title is generally enough to force the DMV to correct the error. Some DMVs, even if they make the error, will still charge you a title fee to correct the error.

2) Another common reason for VIN errors is when Manufactures Statement/Certificate of Origin (MSO) are “switched at birth”. Often times the dealership employee grabs wrong MSO and the debtor submits it without noticing. The debtor has no reason to suspect the VIN on the MSO is incorrect so there is no reason to check. These can be very tricky to correct since the DMV prefers you to correct both vehicles at the same time. If the error is not caught in a reasonable amount of time the other car is often registered in some other state.