Registration of a 2014 coach on a 2013 chassis

Doug you should come to Maryland-----They let you know good and quick how it is registered......I also had this same deal in Maine. So it must go on pretty often in some states.....At one time in Maryland if you bought a new 2001 car in December of 2000 it was registered as a 2000 because it was sold in 2000.....they could of cared less if the dealers started selling next years cars this June. To them the current year started in January......We all may be "experts" in our own states but another one will bust your bubble quick.

Heck yea but I am the other way around. My mh is a 2012 model on a 2011 chassis. I tried to get the county to value and tax it as a 2011 but they would not see it that way...go figure...

As someone who has been involved in getting new vehicles registered for over 25 years, here is my take.

Some of the licensing/titling offices are private, some are government offices depending on state, province, area etc.
Here in Ontario we have mostly government run but still a few private ones. It really doesn't matter which it is if you get a clerk whos new on the job or has an attitude.

When facing a situation like this just ask for someone who has been on the job at least a couple years and they will likely do it correct. You may have to remind them whats correct but then they will remember..:W

I have on occasion had them call me at dealership to remind them how we did that situation way back when....

dougrainer wrote:

bob_nestor wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
ALL motorhomes are titled on the YEAR of the Motorhome, NOT the chassis year. I can remember when Dodge went out of the chassis business in 1979. There were 1982 model titled motorhomes on 1979 Dodge chassis's. Doug

I don't think this is a true statement based on my experience here in Texas. I had a motorhome that was a 2006 built on a 2004 chassis and it was originally titled as a 2004. When I traded it in the dealer told me they'd fix that so I'd be trading a 2006 and they could resell it as a 2006, and they did.

Well, as someone who has been involved in the NEW sale of motorhomes in Texas for over 35 years, I am CORRECT. Your post does not make sense and makes MY case. If NOT true, how did the dealer FIX your title? The problem in Texas is, the Computer systems sometimes make a mistake at the County. You then have to get it corrected, which we do. As I stated, Motorhomes are built on incomplete chassis and the TITLE is on the RV model year, NOT the chassis. To correct another poster, Manufacturers do NOT issue or supply TITLES, Title are a Gov Function. OEM's supple MSO's (Manufacturer Statement of Origin) and it is up to the final buyer to apply and get the Title. There are 2 MSO's on a Motorhome--The chassis MSO and the RV MSO and BOTH are submitted to the Tax authority. THAT is where model year problems happen. Especially if the 2 years are different. Doug

OP here! Many helpful comments here!!! Exactly what happened to us, Doug! As you know, you cannot withhold the chassis title when you go to the DMV as someone suggested. Wouldn't make any difference anyway, because the vin pulls up as a 2013 Ford!! We are in the process of pursuing this! Spent a good part of yesterday afternoon at the local police precinct so they could fill out the GA form that verifies our Axis has the same vin as the chassis!!! DMV insisted on that!! Crazy!!! We had already taken in the Thor title showing that when we registered it! Have also contacted RVIA, Thor and our dealer. We need our registration to match the model year on our insurance and lien. Guess the bottom line is, we bought a 2014, and should we ever want to sell, we would want to sell a 2014!!!

jerseyjim wrote:
As whatshername said: what difference does it make? Really? The chassis is what matters...not the coach part. If sold as a 2014, but the chassis is a 2013, the 2013 is what you've got, according to the motor vehicle people.

Enjoy the motorhome and shrug off the small stuff.

Insurance, there is no 2013 AXIS, resale value. If he sells or moves to another state that knows what they are doing he'll be in for one hell of a hassle. Just a couple things.

jerseyjim wrote:
As whatshername said: what difference does it make? Really? The chassis is what matters...not the coach part. If sold as a 2014, but the chassis is a 2013, the 2013 is what you've got, according to the motor vehicle people.

Enjoy the motorhome and shrug off the small stuff.

What you people don't understand is the chassis is NOT a vehicle until the coach is built and it is a FINISHED product, which determines the year. End of story, you shouldn't have taken anything ford to the DMV, manufacturer mso is all.

I owned a 1999 mercury cougar in 1998.

ed6713 wrote:
The year of the chassis is the ultimate decider. That's just the way it works.
You will have no luck getting it changed.

The VIN is *not* under the control of the RV manufacturer. They cannot, and will not, change the VIN.
Ed

First part is not true, the deciding factor for year is the house. Not the chassis, that's how it is.

ArchHoagland,
In my case the dealer did whatever was necessary to convince the BMV that the MH was truly a 2003. This discussion comes up frequently with the answer being that the mfg'er assigns the model year and it is not at all uncommon to have a MH 1 yr later model than that of the chassis. Sometimes it is a pain to get it straightened out but it can be done. In my case my bill of sale said I bought a 2003 vehicle and the BMV said it was 2002, so I let the dealer resolve it.

DeWat mine is registered in MD and besides being one year older than it is it was also registered as a Freight Liner-----

jerseyjim wrote:
As whatshername said: what difference does it make? Really? The chassis is what matters...not the coach part. If sold as a 2014, but the chassis is a 2013, the 2013 is what you've got, according to the motor vehicle people.

Enjoy the motorhome and shrug off the small stuff.

What difference??? THINK about it. IF you were selling, which will bring you MORE money? A 2013 or a 2014? Doug