So, as most of you probably know, a typical class A has a VIN or chassis number and the house portion of the motor home has a serial number assigned to it by your manufacturer.What determines the year of a motorhome? Chassis or serial number. So, in this example your coach is a Forest River Georgetown and has a 2012 Ford VIN but was built say in late 2013 by Forest River. So, is your coach a 2012 (VIN) OR A 2013 (house portion) and who decides? If you purchased it as 2013 is it a 2013 or 2012 as indicated by the 10th digit of the Zaza VIN? What would you personally do if you bought it as a 2013 but either your bank or insurance company says it is 2012?Thoughts?

I'd say since the state DMV would refer to it as a 2012 model, that would be the answer. That's just my opinion though.

Pretty much all Class As run on a chassis a model year older. Coach builder year is what counts. The chassis warranty does not start until you buy the RV.

^^^ I wouldn't say most, I'd say some. Heck my parents had a '05 built on an '06 chassis. To answer the OPs question, it is based on the MH year. The chassis is considered an incomplete vehicle, and as such cannot be registered until the MH manufacturer completes it. It is good to know the chassis year when buying any needed chassis parts, as things can change from year to year.

Whatever it said on the Certificate of Origin issue by the manufacturer. That would be what the first owner used when they registered it.

There is only one VIN and that determines the year for the registration. What year the manufacturer calls it is usually another matter having to do with marketing.

Class A-what year is it? | Good Sam Community

MrWizard
Moderator
Mar 31, 2019
i have a 97 Bounder, built march 97 on a 96 chassis built in sept 96

the registration is 1997 model

the certificate of origin, is what counts when titling from new

BUT if the paper work has been lost or changed via auction or salvage and being bought used, then you are subject to what ever the local DMV puts on your new paper work, getting it changed after they put it in their system is pure H E LL
don't let them do that, question them every step of the way
and walk out and go some place else to another branch if there are problems getting it entered correctly
Executive45
Explorer III
Mar 31, 2019
Alan_Hepburn wrote:
Here's another document that explains split-year vehicles: Click here
If you have a motorhome that is registered with the Incomplete Vehicle VIN year and not the motorhome's actual model year you can go to your DMV and force them to fix it - it makes a difference!

In most States it will make a difference. Taxes will be higher the newer the coach is. California will love to make a paper change to get more of your money....Dennis
Alan_Hepburn
Explorer
Mar 27, 2019
Here's another document that explains split-year vehicles: Click here
If you have a motorhome that is registered with the Incomplete Vehicle VIN year and not the motorhome's actual model year you can go to your DMV and force them to fix it - it makes a difference!
wallynm
Explorer
Mar 27, 2019
In NM are 6 of our MH were listed on the title as the year that the coach builder finished the coach as identified in there id number. As stated previously we received an MSO on the 2 new ones we purchased that we surrendered when we applied for the title. Yes, we made copies of the MSO.
dougrainer
Nomad
Mar 27, 2019
bobkatmsu wrote:
My chassis was built in 2008 the motor home was built in 2009 the manufacturer did not title it until 2010. My registration and title say it is a 2010.

Manufacturers do NOT title any NEW vehicle. The Manufacturer supplies an MSO (Manufacturers Statement of Origin) and the Local Government authority TITLES the vehicle. Same with Autos. Doug
dougrainer
Nomad
Mar 27, 2019
JoeH wrote:
way2roll wrote:
rr2254545 wrote:
rdhetrick wrote:
My coach (I bought it used 3 years ago) was built on an 05 chassis, the builder model year on their information was 2006. It has features and components from both their 2005 and 2006 model years which is also not uncommon. The title says 2005.

Not in Minnesota my chassis is 11 but title says it a 12

Mine either, any coach I ever owned (2 in MD and one in NC) was titled the year the house was built, not the chassis.

Not in Florida. We bought a used MH in 2000 from a dealer in Florida. It was previously titled in Indiana as a 1998, the year of the house build. But the VIN had it as a 1999. When I took it to the Florida DMV, they said they went by the VIN and titled it as a 1999. That made me happy as now teh value increased when it came time for resale.

Just because the DMV did not know what they were doing does NOT make it a fact. One glitch does not make one correct. Doug
JoeH
Explorer III
Mar 27, 2019
way2roll wrote:
rr2254545 wrote:
rdhetrick wrote:
My coach (I bought it used 3 years ago) was built on an 05 chassis, the builder model year on their information was 2006. It has features and components from both their 2005 and 2006 model years which is also not uncommon. The title says 2005.

Not in Minnesota my chassis is 11 but title says it a 12

Mine either, any coach I ever owned (2 in MD and one in NC) was titled the year the house was built, not the chassis.

Not in Florida. We bought a used MH in 2000 from a dealer in Florida. It was previously titled in Indiana as a 1998, the year of the house build. But the VIN had it as a 1999. When I took it to the Florida DMV, they said they went by the VIN and titled it as a 1999. That made me happy as now teh value increased when it came time for resale.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Mar 27, 2019
The final manufacturer determines the model year for title purposes...

From the RVIA:

Split Model Years
Executive45
Explorer III
Mar 27, 2019
The way to figure out what year your coach is, is simple. If you're buying, it's an 07. If you're selling, it's an 08. :)....Dennis
RLS7201
Explorer II
Mar 27, 2019
When a new owner takes his paperwork to the DMV for titling and registration, what should happen is the DMV should title the vehicle with the model year specified by the RV manufacturer. Sadly, it appears that not every DMV employee has “read the fine print in the contract,” or maybe they’re just obstinate. In cases where the DMV insists on titling the rig with the chassis model year, you can get help. Grab your phone and call the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association at 703-620-6003 and ask for the Government Affairs Office. Hopefully your stalemate will be resolved in a hurry with their help.