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Mon Aug 28, 2023 3:19 pm

Long story short, the DMV guy missed a number of the VIN when registering my Bug. It has a string of the same digit 3 times in a row and he only put 2 of them. an obvious data entry mistake he made since all paperwork has it with 1 more digit, but now I get to wait a week and see what the state DMV office has to say/do about it.

All paperwork I provided was correct, he made the error, so they should be able to fix it and not charge me a fee to fix it. But who knows how long that's going to take?

The problem is it was done on Friday and I didn't know about the error until today (Monday), so it's in limbo now. I called the state office and they put a note in the system about me reporting error, but nothing can be done until a person processes it. They said call back on Tuesday of next week, if they don't call me before. They put my phone number in the report as well.

Fun stuff!

I wonder if I can legally drive it, since the VIN on the proof of registration is missing a digit vs the car and the proof of insurance. I didn't really get a good answer about that from the DMV. The issue is I'm far out of state, had my mom register it for me in my name (legal to do with a power of attorney form, which was provided). Being 1400 miles away, I can't swing by the DMV and resolve it. She registered it last Tuesday and mailed it out Priority with the plate on Friday, so I just got it today and saw the error.

I called my insurance Carrier and they said as far as they are concerned, it's insured.

So i just have to worry about if a jerk cop wants to cite me for no insurance when it's a government error on the paperwork that can't be resolved quickly. I have insurance, the registration just has the slightly wrong VIN vs the car and insurance.

I did make a copy of the old, VT registration and that shows the right vin and matches the VT plates so it's not like I don't have evidence of the issue.

Mon Aug 28, 2023 4:56 pm

It's a VW! If the chassis VIN matches the VIN on the insurance documents.
Drive it and explain (if you have to) that the DMV omitted the single missing digit and you are in the process of getting that fixed.

Most peace officers really don't pay attention to old vw's. At least old slow vw's anyway.

Mon Aug 28, 2023 5:23 pm

You will need to save the word “incompetent” for things you will see later in life which will be much worse than missing a digit.

Drive it , you are insured and registered, but get that fixed ASAP

Tue Aug 29, 2023 8:51 am

When I bought my '70 bug last year and registered it in my name, I noticed a few days later that there was an extra number in my vin on my title and registration. Instead of ending in 4088, the title said 40888! I called the DMV and within a few days they had sent a police officer to meet me at the car to verify the vin for correction and within 2 weeks I had a new title and registration paper with the proper info.

I wasn't charged anything for the correction. You might not even need an officer to take a look if it's only the registration that's incorrect. I think you'll be fine driving in the meantime and even if an officer tries to cite you I would hope that having all that paperwork and a simple explanation would be plenty to set the record straight.

Thu Aug 31, 2023 3:21 pm

I say it is YOUR fault for not checking. Whenever you do any changes, most of the time, they make you verify the info. lesson learned, don't walk away from any window unless you check.

Thu Aug 31, 2023 3:22 pm

ALLWAGONS wrote: I say it is YOUR fault for not checking. Whenever you do any changes, most of the time, they make you verify the info. lesson learned, don't walk away from any window unless you check.

Did you even read the post? I wasn't there.

Thu Aug 31, 2023 4:03 pm

Same thing happened on one of my VWs. There were three of the same digits in a row and they missed one of them. It actually happened to the original owner and then to the second owner. He read the VIN out to me as I looked at the chassis, so my fault and lesson learned. I just got it registered under the incorrect VIN. They said I could have a cop check it out to verify it wasn’t stolen. It was the first time registered in over 20 years. I figured to leave it alone. I’m not selling it and will drive the car as long as I can drive. Insurance said it was covered and when I can’t drive it, it should make one hell of a planter for the yard. I seriously doubt a cop is going to check my registration against the number on the chassis if I get pulled over.

Thu Aug 31, 2023 4:08 pm

jwp67 wrote: Insurance said it was covered and when I can’t drive it, it should make one hell of a planter for the yard. I seriously doubt a cop is going to check my registration against the number on the chassis if I get pulled over.

Insurance needs to match the car, especially if it's in a wreck where your insurance has to pay out. They don't care if registration/title has an error per say. That's what Progressive told me when I called to inquire about this issue. As long as the actual car vin is on insurance policy, it's insured. Registration be damned, since that's between me and the state.

Fri Sep 01, 2023 10:27 am

typickel....but, more than likely the next person will also miss it...and the next and the next.

Fri Sep 01, 2023 11:45 am

What’s the details on the title? DMV can do a quick title search to confirm.
Have your insurance company put a note in your policy file with a missed number. They will probably want you to clear that in reasonable time. You and the car are 1400 miles away, I’m sure they will understand. Another question. Is your car insured at the address you registered the car? When you home to VT this should be an easy fix. Please keep us updated.

Tue Sep 05, 2023 9:34 pm

Tue Sep 05, 2023 9:41 pm

Xevin wrote:

I forgot to call today, and the state's online title status check, with the incorrect vin and title # from the registration slip, still says "in progress" . searching with the correct vin says not found. so it's still showing wrong in the system currently.

So, no update yet.

I was transferring from VT and all paperwork provided including proof of insurance has the correct VIN. Yes, the address is correct on everything. Insurance doesn't care about the registration side, but yes they suggested fixing it ASAP.

Thu Sep 07, 2023 11:14 am

Happy ending it seems.

I kept forgetting to call back until today.

The number the state office worker gave me was a direct number to her, so she pulled up her notes on it, and then confirmed that all the documents provided (now scanned into the system, they weren't before) had the one extra digit discrepancy. She admitted that yes, the clerk made a mistake. She corrected the error and that's that. The title hasn't been processed/issued yet, so when it does, it'll have the correct VIN.

Only other thing is my mom will have to return to the local office and have them print a duplicate with the correct VIN, since the state worker doesn't have access to that in her job role.

I might just call the local dmv next week and see if they can print and mail one.

Thu Sep 07, 2023 1:40 pm

Cubey wrote: ALLWAGONS wrote: I say it is YOUR fault for not checking. Whenever you do any changes, most of the time, they make you verify the info. lesson learned, don't walk away from any window unless you check.

Did you even read the post? I wasn't there.

I stand by my response. I, like you am a peasant that has to drive to the DMV office to make changes. I was taught to ALWAYS check before leaving a window
I just did a plate reassignment with no issues, did insurance adjustments, no issues. Caught two mistakes, quickly resolved, before leaving the window.

Thu Sep 07, 2023 1:42 pm

ALLWAGONS wrote: Cubey wrote: ALLWAGONS wrote: I say it is YOUR fault for not checking. Whenever you do any changes, most of the time, they make you verify the info. lesson learned, don't walk away from any window unless you check.

Did you even read the post? I wasn't there.

I stand by my response. I, like you am a peasant that has to drive to the DMV office to make changes. I was taught to ALWAYS check before leaving a window
I just did a plate reassignment with no issues, did insurance adjustments, no issues. Caught two mistakes, quickly resolved, before leaving the window.

How many times do I have to say it?: I WAS NOT THERE. You are expecting ME to check something when *I* was 1,400 miles away. What don't you seem to understand? I do not have the power to see a piece of paper that is physically 1,400 miles away from my face. Nor do I have the ability to be in two places at once or instantaneously teleport.

Thu Sep 07, 2023 9:54 pm

I understood you. :)

Glad it got resolved and awesome you got someone who was right on top of it over the phone.

Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:39 pm

EverettB wrote: Glad it got resolved and awesome you got someone who was right on top of it over the phone.

Indeed. Now, when i do a search on the state DMV site for the correct VIN and title number, it says "still in progress" instead of "not found". Putting the incorrect VIN says "not found", so it's definitely fixed.

Fri Sep 08, 2023 4:13 am

EverettB wrote: I understood you. :)
Glad it got resolved and awesome you got someone who was right on top of it over the phone.

this is a big break. the number of times I've phoned places to sort an error and either been passed from pillar to post or they've said 'they'll fix it no problem' and nothing happens. because they know the chances of me coming back to them personally are slim.

anyway - are you driving the car, that's the bottom line

Fri Sep 08, 2023 8:36 am

finster wrote:
this is a big break. the number of times I've phoned places to sort an error and either been passed from pillar to post or they've said 'they'll fix it no problem' and nothing happens. because they know the chances of me coming back to them personally are slim.

During the pandemic, took me 6 months and speaking to four different actual agents to "try" to clear up a $4000 mistake made by my former employer on my 2017 W-2 form, so I corrected that when doing my taxes, and IRS discovered that over 3 years later. One actually had me fax papers to a certain number she provided, then next agent a month later a different agent told me that I should have faxed to a DIFFERENT number ! Because of pandemic, could not have an in-person meeting either. ALL four told me they understood the situation and would FIX IT, told me "good luck getting a corrected W-2 from a FORMER employer who was a FOREIGN company.

So after getting a next certified letter stating IRS would put a lien on my home or accounts, I was able to wrangle a favor through someone I knew at USA HQ (now in Connecticut) who got an HR VP to investigate and get a corrected W-2 issued, then IRS was happy.

Arizona Department of Revenue accepted my original tax form with no issues. I discovered the simple mistake the employer had made on my 2017 W-2, and I've never had ONE MINUTE of financial training (used TurboTax).

Fri Sep 08, 2023 10:14 am

finster wrote: anyway - are you driving the car, that's the bottom line

I haven't much for the past 3+ months except one day in particular, but it's been a potato summer, doing much of nothing, keeping expenses down, somewhat.

I will probably begin driving it more often later this month and then on through the new year.