Had a little issue at the tag place....

Richard Vyse

Richard Vyse

Today I took the Criterion to the tag office to transfer the title and get tags. Turns out the manufactures plate on the wheel well with the vin number does not match the one on the car on the dash. Matter of fact, the vin on the car appears to not match the title. After several trips in and out of the office and getting the tag office manager involved, they decided to go with what the title says. Looking very closely at the vin number, it is very difficult to read two of the numbers which M-M obviously got wrong.
Whew!!!!!!! "I got tags though" :thumbsup:

Is there another place where the vin number might be?
 
One more thing, the State of Florida actually tagged this as a 4-door station wagon since it was titled that way in New Jersey and at only 3500 lbs. :thumbsup: Saved some money there.
 
There is a place that you can get the original Cadillac VIN from, but it requires that you remove the body from the frame. If it is a case of transposed numbers, that is usually easilly remedied. If it is a totally differant VIN, then you have problems for the future that should be resolved now. I once purchased a truck from a fleet and they gave me the wrong title. It took some chasing, but I eventually did get the correct title for the vehicle, otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to sell the truck later on. This VIN problem could come back to haunt you in the future if you don't get it fixed now.
 
pre computer age VIN

When I transferred the IH to a temporary Nebraska 30 day plate to drive home the registry office there couldn't find the number in their system since it predated computers and it had been under a fire department plate of some kind all it's life that never needed renewals....They were happy to give us the temp plate which was a relief since the office in the actual county we got the vehicle in had it's computer system down and it was friday of a long weekend and we had to be back across the border before the monday.....
I bless the helpful folks down in Nebraska every time I drive it...
 
one place that it will be again but it is not a sure thing this is the engine block flat spot in front just under the head. I can't remember left or right, but thinking left. the original engine for the caddy had the vin numbers stamped in it. but over the years this could have been changed for what ever reason. the bill of sale from Leo and the number off the dash would be good enough in SD. but then your not trying to tittle it in SD. i take it the MM tag is missing. the one under the hood on the left inner fender should have the vin number stamped on it. as would the one on the drivers door. but repainting the car some one could have removed the door tag. if all the tags are missing but the one on the dash some one may have switched tittles. a check of the vin number under the glass will reveal if it's a stolen car or not. as they let you tittle if off the NJ title I would guess that it is not. but I would want my title to read the same as the vin number on the car. when it get back carry it back in ans say there is a mistake on it and get the numbers corrected. but mean time have Leo give you a bill of sale with the correct vin number on it.
worse cas is you may have to get a corrected title from NJ best it they just re do it. eather way you got tags now.
 
matching numbers

Here in my part of Ohio you had better make sure the numbers match. The local head of the title department is a real....well lets just say she is not open to suggestions and thinks she knows it all. If the title is already an Ohio title there is not much problem. Let it be from out of state and they get very inquisitive. A dealer has to certify he has checked the numbers and everything is ok. Then the title department still looks at you with an evil eye, like you are trying to get by with something.
When you make the mistake they give you grief. When they make one we are suppose to let it go. I don't. They don't like that.
I too would try to make sure the number thing is taken care of to save problems in the future.
Mike
 
I spoke to Richard this morning, and having been a licensed dealer in NJ, I know how difficult it can be to get a title correction if the vehicle has left the state. His problem is that the Miller Meteor tag on the inside fender well has a mistake. The numbers are correct with the windshield tag, however, the Q and the D both look like "O" , and that is what M M stamped on the inside fender. Because of the commercial glass windshield, the dash number is partially blocked by the stainless steel windshield lower garnish molding, and that number is difficult to read. He told me that they used the New Jersey Title number, which he believes to be the correct number under the windshield. He will be taking the stainless steel trim off to check when the weather turns warmer.
Here is an example of the number.
6Z9DR4Q123456
What is on the M M tag, if I understand him correctly is

6Z9OR4O123456

I can see how it would have been easy for the factory workers to make this mistake, since they were working in factory lighting, which isn't the best for reading small letters.
 
Richard Vyse said:
One more thing, the State of Florida actually tagged this as a 4-door station wagon since it was titled that way in New Jersey and at only 3500 lbs. :thumbsup: Saved some money there.
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When I transferred the title on my hearse, the MICHIGAN title was issued to a hearse. In Washington, that model doesnt exist in their data base so they licensed it as a 4 door Sedan with the matching weight
 
Paul Steinberg said:
I spoke to Richard this morning, and having been a licensed dealer in NJ, I know how difficult it can be to get a title correction if the vehicle has left the state. His problem is that the Miller Meteor tag on the inside fender well has a mistake. The numbers are correct with the windshield tag, however, the Q and the D both look like "O" , and that is what M M stamped on the inside fender. Because of the commercial glass windshield, the dash number is partially blocked by the stainless steel windshield lower garnish molding, and that number is difficult to read. He told me that they used the New Jersey Title number, which he believes to be the correct number under the windshield. He will be taking the stainless steel trim off to check when the weather turns warmer.
Here is an example of the number.
6Z9DR4Q123456
What is on the M M tag, if I understand him correctly is

6Z9OR4O123456

I can see how it would have been easy for the factory workers to make this mistake, since they were working in factory lighting, which isn't the best for reading small letters.
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I have a VIN book, but I don't have it with me. Anyway, going by memory, I believe the first seven characters on the Criterion's VIN should read 6Z90R4Q, please note that they never use the letter "O" in a VIN, it is too easy to confuse with the number"0"
Now, before someone tells me about a VIN with the letter"O" in it, I would think they may well have in the "old days" but once they realized the problem they fixed it. My guess is that they corrected this situation at least fifty years ago.

As far as correcting the title in NJ, it can be done. It takes some effort and in this case, Mr Maren would have to do it for you. However, if you have already flipped the title into your name Richard, then you would have to correct it in your state.
Paul is right, get it taken care of now, or potentially it could be a headache for you. Best of luck Richard!
 
Bill Marcy said:
I have a VIN book, but I don't have it with me. Anyway, going by memory, I believe the first seven characters on the Criterion's VIN should read 6Z90R4Q!
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Title has been flipped to Florida and you are right Bill, the first numbers are
6Z90R4Q. I looked at the vin today with a magnifying glass and flashlight and that "D" is a "O". So once I get the title back from Florida I will get it changed. Makes you wonder has this mistake happened and no one caught it after 35 years!!!

Thanks for everyone's help.

Richard
 
No one caught it because it never left the state of NJ and was never subject to a VIN inspection. ;)
 
Richard Vyse said:
Title has been flipped to Florida and you are right Bill, the first numbers are
6Z90R4Q. I looked at the vin today with a magnifying glass and flashlight and that "D" is a "O". So once I get the title back from Florida I will get it changed. Makes you wonder has this mistake happened and no one caught it after 35 years!!!

Thanks for everyone's help.

Richard
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Richard, we are all happy to help! But, just to clarify, it is a "0" as in zero, not the letter "O"
 
In CA.....

In CA at least.... there are no "0" (zeros) on any license plates... only (O) "Oceans". And like others have said there should only be any "0" (zeros) in a VIN. On Cadillac Commercial Chassis's with a "Z" and a "Q" in the VINS I have seen those transposed as a "2" and an "0" on selling documents that have to be corrected during DMV VIN Checks. MM
 
How do you spell tag office? ANXIETY

Just for an update on Richard's woes, the tags in FL are issued by the COUNTY tax collector. They are even doing DL renewals. I credit them for being fussy as none of us would like someone getting away with auto theft. I'm glad the issue was resolved!
Kev
 
Kevin Lynch said:
Just for an update on Richard's woes, the tags in FL are issued by the COUNTY tax collector. They are even doing DL renewals. I credit them for being fussy as none of us would like someone getting away with auto theft. I'm glad the issue was resolved!
Kev
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Not yet Kevin. The lady was nice enough to think that one digit was a "D" but all now know that is impossible. Once I get my title from Florida I was address it and get it fixed.
 
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