TRACKING PREVIOUS OWNERS

[bergy]

Actually, I believe that it was the flood from hurricane Agnes that wiped out some of the PA records in Harrisburg. Gotta look at the title sequence numbers. For example, if you get back to the "01" sequence number for an original PA car - you've got the first ownership period no matter what the transaction date is. Sorry to delve into minutia, but it's important if you want to establish continuous history.

[Tracker1]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Keith Tedford</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We are in Ontario and when we bought our 396 car in '97, vehicle owner history still went back to day one. Now, apparently, it only goes back something like 15 years. I haven't checked this out myself, just what I have been told. I understand that the information is still on file though if it is required. </div></div>

Ontario will not give you the original owner's name just the next registered owner after that and so on up the line.....

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bergy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Actually, I believe that it was the flood from hurricane Agnes that wiped out some of the PA records in Harrisburg. Gotta look at the title sequence numbers. For example, if you get back to the &quot;01&quot; sequence number for an original PA car - you've got the first ownership period no matter what the transaction date is. Sorry to delve into minutia, but it's important if you want to establish continuous history. </div></div>

No apologies! The minutia can provide the most significant clues, and I have heard that Agnes took the early '69 records - bummer. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img]

Explain the &quot;01&quot; sequence number for the folks:

[bergy]

Sure - PA titles all have a 13 charactor title number on them. The first 9 charactors are numbers that are specific to that car. These 9 digits remain the same on every succeeding title that is issued for that vehicle. Digits # 11 &amp; 12 represent the title sequence number - they tell you how many total PA titles have been issued for that vehicle. the final two charactors are letters that represent the first two letters of the title holder's last name. It's important to remember that the sequence number does not necessarily represent the number of owners of a vehicle. Sequence numbers are advanced every time a title is re-issued due to a change. For example - placing a lien on a car due to financing results in a title change; name changes (due to marriage) results in a title change; etc. One car that I researched had 21 title sequences, but only 11 owners.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

So, when people refer to their car as having an 'A' or 'B' title it is not necessarily a 1 or 2 owner car?

Additionally, if a car is repo'd - I assume that would drive a title change too?

[bergy]

&quot;A&quot; (or &quot;01&quot title is a one owner. &quot;B&quot; (or &quot;02&quot could also be a one owner. If a finance company repo'd a car, they would probably already have a branded title in their files.

[Nova Research Project]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CUSTOMD2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ANYBODY IN THE VA AREA THAT HAS A POLICE FRIEND???
THIS WOULD BE A EASY TASK,ID APRECIATE THE HELP IF SO. </div></div>

Sure if you car was stolen in VA.

In VA it is just like a NICB report. You need a police report and a case number for that particular VIN. Otherwise no deal.

Law Enforcement officials log the access to the files. I am told they can get in trouble for access without cause. Not many willing to risk it.

Greg

[Nova Research Project]

More...

I forgot but you can do a Prospective Purchaser Inquiry in Virginia.

VA PPI

But it will only show the last ten years if available.

I do believe that states do keep micro film records past 10 years, but because of tighter privacy laws, it is difficult to gain access. Tracing the pedigree of a vehicle is not considered necessary or even desirable for government agencies who fear that the previous owner will take them to court for releasing the information. Not to mention the budget cuts which probably eliminated the people to do the research.

Having a few 'orphaned' vehicles with no documentation, I feel your pain.

Good luck,
Greg

PS. Have you tried the The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) but mostly requires a newer VIN formats. But you may be able to find someone who can search the early VINs.