Pin number? You mean VIN, yes? Did that, doing the check, but I haven't been impressed with carfax.
Good call on the maintenance records; that's going on my list.
As far as responsibility goes, all used vehicles are sold as is, whether by a dealer or individual; so once it's sold, only the new owner is responsible.
Consignment happens when a person doesn't want to be bothered with selling their rig (advertising, etc), and aren't in the market for a new one (thus, it won't be a trade-in). It's a perfectly valid way of selling off an unwanted vehicle; though I suspect you're right - that the owner just wanted it gone.
