Vin and Serial number versus title

I mis-read OP's problem. You have a DMV mistake. Take all your documentation to DMV, with the incorrect title they issued, and ask them to issue you a corrected title.

But I do have a question... What model year of motorhome did the dealer tell you it was when you were looking to buy it?

gonefishin77 wrote:
We recently purchased a used motorhome from a local dealler. The title says its a 2006, the vin number, window sticker (found in MH paperwork) and serial number say its a 2005. Called Holiday Rambler and they say its a 2005.

Told the dealer they have the paperwork wrong and they blew me off, what to do?


Also hello, been lurking for a while getting some really great tips, Thanks!!!

Chances are, the dealer had nothing to do with it, they are just passing along the title they got from the previous owners.
You might do a CarFax on the rig, and see what comes up. Probably nothing, but it might be worth a try.
If you had noticed it before the deal was complete, I would say walk away if the dealer doesn't want to fix the discrepancy.
Now that the deal is done, I doubt if you could claim the dealer deliberately defrauded you, all they have to say is "We didn't notice the discrepancy, we had no idea!" Sadly, many dealer title clerks are clueless enough that it could very well be true!
Your state Motor Vehicle Department may be able to correct the title so you won't have any hassle when you decide to trade it off or sell it.
Good luck.

gonefishin77 wrote:
HR said it was a 2005 manufactured in July 2005. It was originally sold in Florida, January 2006

You would have to question that. Monaco for years made their model year transition in the April-May time frame. I bought a new one in June of 2003 that was a 2004 model. From experience, many have found what the clerks at the manufacturer may have to say is not always accurate. Have you contacted the Florida DMV?

HR said it was a 2005 manufactured in July 2005. It was originally sold in Florida, January 2006

i dont know how the dealer could change the model year on a title. The title is originally generated from the MSO all subsequent titles will have the same year. When you called HR did you give them the chassis vin or the coach vin

... as you may know, your coach was produced in two (2) stages, one by the chassis manufacturer and one by the coach builder. Please be advised that the practice of titling recreation vehicles based on the year of manufacture of the coach and not the chassis was confirmed by resolution of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators in 1979. Resolution 18c, 19c, and 20 of the AAMVA apply.

It is important to note that in a two-stage manuracturing process the model year is not obtained from the chassis VIN but from the Final Stage (Coach) Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO). Model year is defined in Chapter V, Part 571 of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (Federal Register Volume 44 No. 57 Thursday, March 22, 1979). "Model Year means the year used to designate a discrete vehicle model irrespective of the calendar year in which the vehicle was actually produced so long as the actual period is less than 2 years."

The Federal Trade Commission recognized the fact that the model year of a motor home is assigned by the Final Stage (Coach) manufacturer in May 1979 (Federal Register Volume 44 No. 103/ Friday, May 25, 1979; 16 CFR Part 14). In that document the Federal Trade Commission requires Final Stage (Coach) manufacturers to designate the model year of a vehicle. It stated that "manufacturers of chassis or incomplete vehicles sold to motor home or recreational vehicle manufactures who issue a separate Certificate of Origin need not assign model years to these vehicles."

Very possible for the chassis/coach to have different years. I had the opposite from you where the MH was titled as a 1996 but the F53 chassis was a 1997, go figure.

Our 2005 GeorgieBoy Pursuit is on a 2004 Ford Chassis. All documentation
is indicated so.

The following link provides as good of explanation that I have seen. Thanks.
http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=15697.0

Jack H

When a vehicle is built, the manufacturer issues a MSO (Manufacturers Statement of Origin)which is the controlling document for the vehicle. The MSO will contain the serial number and the year model. The manufacturer can designate any unit the next model year if it is built after January 1. They could call a unit built in January of 2005 a 2006.

On the other hand, the chassis manufacturer can designate the year model of the chassis and because of mandatory changes decreed by the government, may well call a chassis a 2004 right up to December 31, 2004. This has been particularly common with some of the mandated diesel engine changes in the last few years. It would be easy for a chassis to be produced late December 2004 and then shipped to a motor home manufacturer in January. The motor home manufactured could then produce the motor home in March or April based on 2006 specs and designate it a 2006 model year.

When the dealer sells the unit retail for the first time, they supply the MSO to the DMV of the state it is to be titled in. The DMV then simply designates the model year the same as appearing on the MSO. If you go back to the DMV that titled it originally, they should be able to verify they titled it correctly the first time.

From the view of the dealer who sold it to you, they simply purchased the motor home or traded it in and received a title reading 2006 with matching serial numbers. They cannot title it any other way when they sell it and would have no reason to suspect it to be the wrong year.

Should you go back and trace the title lineage and find a mistake in the chain, you will set off an entire series of problems. Each person who has ever held ownership since the mistake may or may not have been made will have liability. It would be an interesting discussion as to what the value difference would be today. On a used seven or eight year old motor home, mileage and condition are far more important than model year to determine value.

You can pretty well bet the dealer who sold it to you did not make the mistake, if in fact one was even made. Most likely he is a victim as well if there is a mistake. Unless you know there was a substantial difference between a 2005 and a 2006 that materially would effect value or usability, you are financially ahead to leave it alone.