what does it mean when your VIN doesn't exist?

[bazookaman]

I am trying to donate a car and they asked for the VIN, which I gave them. However it doesn't come up. I ran a carfax report. No such VIN. I go out to the car thinking maybe the DMV screwed up and put the wrong number on the title, but there it was, right in front of the engine. The same VIN thats on the title.

[Doc]

Maybe that zero is the letter "o."

[modelamac]

The VIN should be on a plate visible thru the windshield in front of the driver. Does that one match the title?

It should.

[bazookaman]

when i asked the guy on the phone he said that those were zeroes as a letter would not be in that position in the VIN.

[OWC Jamie]

The title could be wrong and the data entry could be wrong. , it's not uncommon for a 6 and G, O and0, 4 and Y, I and 1 , among others to be mis-identified.

That's gotta be a pretty old car to have the VIN at the radiator cross member, or on the firewall ?

[NewtonMP2100]

.....when you make movies like 'The Pacifier'....and the sequel to 'The Fast and the Furious' called 'Fast and Furious'....then people will treat you like you no longer exist......do you hear that Mr. VIN Diesel.....????

[RAMd®d]

Likely a data input error, or a The Glitch That Ate Your VIN.

Did you buy the car new?

[bazookaman]

its an 86 mercedes. the number is on the radiator cross member (that was the word i was trying to think of).

[bazookaman]

RAMd®d wrote:
Did you buy the car new?

Lord no. this is the POS that my in-laws shipped over to this country. I did ask the guy about that too. he said it didn't matter.

[Ken Sp.]

Maybe since it came from overseas, maybe it was never really registered here.

Is there a VIN near the dash? Either behind the window or on the A-Pillar (between the windshield and the door glass.