VIN history report

[SupercoolBill]

Does anyone know how to get a more complete history report on a car? I used Carfax and it doesn't say who owned the car, where they lived, and doesn't go back beyond 1995.
I looked on the DeLorean registry and it doesn't have info on my car.

Anyone a cop or investigator? PM if you know how to get more info.

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[Azar]

Same question. I have the history only from 2010. Would really love to know the history!

[David T]

The way it is done is to go to the last State the car was registered/titled in and do a record search by VIN #. That may lead to other previous owners or other States that the car was in. You must search each State if the car was in multiple States. Each State charges for a search. Some States don't charge much, some charge a lot. Some can do it via the Internet but most do it by mail. It can take a while. CarFax is not very good for old cars.

[JohnnyK]

I never had any luck with my other car (Which mind you is 14 years older). I even hounded the original dealership (in Kansas). :huh:

[Mark D]

Some states are free to search by VIN, like Ohio.

https://bmvonline.dps.ohio.gov/Search/Title

I haven't been able to track down any history on my car prior to 2001 when the PO purchased it. It only had 6925 miles on it back then, so it sat a lot for its first 20 years.

[SupercoolBill]

The way it is done is to go to the last State the car was registered/titled in and do a record search by VIN #. That may lead to other previous owners or other States that the car was in. You must search each State if the car was in multiple States. Each State charges for a search. Some States don't charge much, some charge a lot. Some can do it via the Internet but most do it by mail. It can take a while. CarFax is not very good for old cars.So I can't just go right to the first state listed on the car fax and start there? Are you saying I HAVE to start with the last state that it had a title in?

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[Gregadeth]

So I can't just go right to the first state listed on the car fax and start there? Are you saying I HAVE to start with the last state that it had a title in?

Sent from my SM-G970U using TapatalkI don't think the order matters, just that each state keeps their own records and you'll have to request from each state individually. Here in CA you just fill out a vehicle record request and it only costs 5 bucks. You'll get the names of previous owners and their first and last registration dates. Additionally you can order an "original owners certificate" for your VIN from deloreanmuseum.org which might give you the original owner's info/location and which dealer they purchased from. Mine even listed the date the car was first shipped to the states, the name of the ship, and which port it arrived at. Not sure if they still offer this though.

[SupercoolBill]

I don't think the order matters, just that each state keeps their own records and you'll have to request from each state individually. Here in CA you just fill out a vehicle record request and it only costs 5 bucks. You'll get the names of previous owners and their first and last registration dates. Additionally you can order an "original owners certificate" for your VIN from deloreanmuseum.org which might give you the original owner's info/location and which dealer they purchased from. Mine even listed the date the car was first shipped to the states, the name of the ship, and which port it arrived at. Not sure if they still offer this though.Ok
Well I sent an email to what I think is the right department for the state of Michigan..
Delorean Museum didn't have anymore info than I have.

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[David T]

The order does matter. To establish a complete "Chain of Ownership" you start with the last known owner/State and go backwards from there noting each owner. You could get lucky and the car was always in only 1 State. The record will show you where the car came from, the last owner and which State. That will lead you to the next one in the chain till you get to the original selling dealer. This will only get you Titled owners. If the car changed hands and was not Titled, you will not see that. If you do it right there should be no gaps and the mileage should look right. While it won't add to the value of the car, it is nice to have. While you are at it go over to the DoD and update your VIN there.

[Timeless]

The order does matter. To establish a complete "Chain of Ownership" you start with the last known owner/State and go backwards from there noting each owner. You could get lucky and the car was always in only 1 State. The record will show you where the car came from, the last owner and which State. That will lead you to the next one in the chain till you get to the original selling dealer. This will only get you Titled owners. If the car changed hands and was not Titled, you will not see that. If you do it right there should be no gaps and the mileage should look right. While it won't add to the value of the car, it is nice to have. While you are at it go over to the DoD and update your VIN there.
:8ball:

[SupercoolBill]

I did some research on this. Apparently you can't get previous owners names and addresses anymore. Its part of the Owners Protection Act or something like that. No matter what search you use, you won't get previous owner information other than the state and maybe the town.
The only way around this is things like someone abandoned a vehicle on your property, someone is threatening you (and they are driving a vehicle), etc. And it needs to be done through someone in law enforcement.
Anyone friends for a detective or police officer?? [emoji16]

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[dmcman73]

What am I missing here, why is it so important to get a previous owners name and address? To do what with it? Reach out to them “hey buddy, I own a Delorean that used to belong to you”. Yell at them for a previous modification?

[SupercoolBill]

What am I missing here, why is it so important to get a previous owners name and address? To do what with it? Reach out to them “hey buddy, I own a Delorean that used to belong to you”. Yell at them for a previous modification?
Well first of all I think it would be cool to have a copy of the orogonal title like some of these other people have been able to obtain.
Secondly and more importantly with my car there are some weird inconsistencies that are haunting me. Like if it was made in 1982 then why did it not receive its first title until 1995?? What happened in those years?? From what I have read most of the cars made when mine was got re-vin'd as 1983 models but mine did not.

Then last but not least (and kind of tied to the second reason) I connected the dots and it's a long shot but my car could have been owned by someone important which may make the car worth more.
So why not try to find out? Especially before I potentially do a bunch of stuff to the car that isn't original.

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[David T]

The only way to get a copy of a previous Title is if a previous owner made a copy of it and kept it. Searches will not get you copies of Titles. As for not being Titled until 1995, the most likely answer is a dealer owned it and never titled it. They can drive it around on dealer plates. It is always possible someone of some notoriety did own your car in the past and that would make it interesting and maybe even worth something. Another reason to contact previous owners is that they may have parts or pieces or other bits that go with the car that they might sell. They certainly will have stories to tell. Two reasons NOT to look for old owners is maybe there is a lien on the car or the car was stolen! There are a few stories about how previous owners, once they found out about their old car, bought it back.

[Michael]

I for one, if/when I sell my car, would not want some freaking vin stalker knowing my home address 5 or 10 years down the road. I swear, the only bad thing about owning these cars is the creepy way some of you people act....it's borderline psychotic. To be honest, I would prefer not to have that info public knowledge at ANY time. Not now, not ever. I think this type of behavior is why so many current owners stay far away from the forums and social media and I can't really blame them. Why can't you people just be fucking normal??

[kbrown84]

I’m with Michael on this one…y’all are some creepy stalker folks…

[dmcman73]

It’s called the Drivers Privacy Protection Act and it was signed into law in 1994…..now you know why.

Previous owners of cars (not Delorean) were being harassed by current owners and some encounters turned violent.

There is absolutely no reason why you need a previous owners address.

You’re doing exactly why the law was drafted so don’t be so surprised why it exists. And stop asking for people who know police officers that can do an illegal search on someone on your behalf to find someone an existing law is there to protect.

[SupercoolBill]

The only way to get a copy of a previous Title is if a previous owner made a copy of it and kept it. Searches will not get you copies of Titles. As for not being Titled until 1995, the most likely answer is a dealer owned it and never titled it. They can drive it around on dealer plates. It is always possible someone of some notoriety did own your car in the past and that would make it interesting and maybe even worth something. Another reason to contact previous owners is that they may have parts or pieces or other bits that go with the car that they might sell. They certainly will have stories to tell. Two reasons NOT to look for old owners is maybe there is a lien on the car or the car was stolen! There are a few stories about how previous owners, once they found out about their old car, bought it back.Thanks for the info David.
Not looking to bug anyone about parts or anything. Just looking for the early history on the car.
It was titled later in the state I am in so not worried about liens way back then but I do understand what you are saying which is why I don't give out my VIN everywhere like so many people do.

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[SupercoolBill]

It’s called the Drivers Privacy Protection Act and it was signed into law in 1994…..now you know why.

Previous owners of cars (not Delorean) were being harassed by current owners and some encounters turned violent.

There is absolutely no reason why you need a previous owners address.

You’re doing exactly why the law was drafted so don’t be so surprised why it exists. And stop asking for people who know police officers that can do an illegal search on someone on your behalf to find someone an existing law is there to protect.Interesting. I didn't realize it has been a law for that long. I guess it has been longer than I remembered since I did a VIN search and it didn't give previous owners info.

Well I will stop trying to get the info I am looking for then. I didn't realize it was such a serious thing now.

I didn't really see it as being creepy or anything not sure why. Maybe because I grew up in an Era and area where it was common for people to track other people down for information about things like houses, property, vehicles, etc. I remember people just stopping in and asking you "Hey you wanna sell that truck?"
It was not a big deal and nobody got creeped out or offended about it. Well, other than people that moved into the area from the city. These were usually the same people that posted thier land for no trespassing.
If someone didn't want to share info they'd just say so and that was the end of it. No big deal.
Different time,..different place.
Thanks again for the information.

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[Timeless]

I for one, if/when I sell my car, would not want some freaking vin stalker knowing my home address 5 or 10 years down the road. I swear, the only bad thing about owning these cars is the creepy way some of you people act....it's borderline psychotic. To be honest, I would prefer not to have that info public knowledge at ANY time. Not now, not ever. I think this type of behavior is why so many current owners stay far away from the forums and social media and I can't really blame them. Why can't you people just be fucking normal??
+2

[CFI]

I don't give out my VIN everywhere like so many people do.

You won’t give out your VIN, but you’re upset you don’t have access to a group of strangers names and addresses?

[SupercoolBill]

You won’t give out your VIN, but you’re upset you don’t have access to a group of strangers names and addresses?

Who said anything about a group of strangers? I'm mostly just curious about a gap of 13 years from when the car was made until it first got titled. Wouldn't you be curious about something like that?


I am trying to obtain information on a vehicle that I own. To me that is different than exposing your VIN to everyone in the world.

If I once owned a vehicle and years later someone contacted me saying "Hey I own a vehicle you owned years ago, do you know anything about ____?" That would not bother me in the least. In fact I would probably think it was cool to find out what had become of it.
On the other hand I wouldn't take a whole bunch of pictures of a vehicle I owned, take pics of the VIN, then plaster them all over the internet for anyone in the world to see.
Although now that I know that people can't find you by your VIN I guess I shouldn't worry about it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

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[SonnyV]

When you have a creepy DeLorean stalker post a photo of you and a friend working on your car several hundred miles away from your house and tag you in it on Facebook, you'll want to delete your account and withhold your VIN as well.

Completely ruined that trip, as I was worried about my home being broken into until I got home.

[SupercoolBill]

When you have a creepy DeLorean stalker post a photo of you and a friend working on your car several hundred miles away from your house and tag you in it on Facebook, you'll want to delete your account and withhold your VIN as well.

Completely ruined that trip, as I was worried about my home being broken into until I got home.Yeah that is weird.
I guess that must be how famous people feel. Paparazzi...

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[NJP548]

When you have a creepy DeLorean stalker post a photo of you and a friend working on your car several hundred miles away from your house and tag you in it on Facebook, you'll want to delete your account and withhold your VIN as well.

Completely ruined that trip, as I was worried about my home being broken into until I got home.

I vaguely remember this happening. I don't remember where the pictures originated for them to connect the dots and tag you in the post though.

-Nick

[Dickey]

Some of y'all might be disappointed when you discover the VinWiki app.

[CFI]

Who said anything about a group of strangers? I'm mostly just curious about a gap of 13 years from when the car was made until it first got titled. Wouldn't you be curious about something like that?


You don’t know who owned your car during those years, which makes those owners strangers to you. Unless you have a different definition of strangers.

And no, I’m not as curious as you.

[SupercoolBill]

I meant the "group" part.
I am assuming that the period of time from when it was made to when it was titled would be one owner. Could be a person, could be a car dealership...

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[SupercoolBill]

Some of y'all might be disappointed when you discover the VinWiki app.I checked it out to see what you were talking about. I don't get it. What is the point of it? It looks like people put in their own vehicles information so it is their for other people to view. Is that correct?

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[SonnyV]

I vaguely remember this happening. I don't remember where the pictures originated for them to connect the dots and tag you in the post though.

-Nick

Creepy Chris Burns constantly searches for any photos of DeLoreans that pop up on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. My old license plate was visible in the picture and he identified both myself and my friend in the photo and proceeded to share it to Fanatics with both of us tagged.

[Dickey]

I checked it out to see what you were talking about. I don't get it. What is the point of it? It looks like people put in their own vehicles information so it is their for other people to view. Is that correct?

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Just car people sharing car stuff. I found these guys several years back through YouTube because Ed hung out with Tyler and Freddie who did some story telling back when they were still in the warehouse.

The VinWiki app itself is intended to crowd source information on specific VINs if people have it and wish to disclose it. This data is vetted as social media tends to do and can be considered a reasonable baseline at the very least. This is useful for researching peculiar cars and provides a safer method for people to reach out regarding specific VINs if they should happen to own a vehicle that has a lot of its history documented through VinWiki. For instance, they recovered a number of stolen super cars through this application. Others have documented accidents and subsequent repairs that may have otherwise begged off a potential buyer for a car with a salvage/rebuilt title. Things like that.

[dmcerik]

You mentioned the car was possibly originally from Michigan. There were a few dealers here, and one of the bigger ones was Dan Pfeiffer in Grand Rapids, MI. I went to visit them around 2002 or 2003 because I heard they still had a bunch of Delorean parts stock. They were nice enough to let me tour the old parts. Sadly they didn't want to sell. And very soon after that the outbuilding where all those parts were stored burned to the ground. Total loss.

In another building they had a few "new" Deloreans. Never registered. This was early 2000s. Maybe your Delorean shared a similar history in that it wasn't titled until mid 90's.

You could check with them to see if maybe they were the original dealership for your car. No idea if they'd have that info but figured I'd share my story and see if it helps you out. You could also search for all the original dealerships in Michigan and start making cold calls.
https://www.deloreandirectory.com/articles/delorean-dealer-list/

[Michael]

68007