Purchasing a car from a private seller. Nightmare.

I agree w the framerail assessment. Looks pretty crusty. As far as the vin goes, all you have to do is take the vin number to any state DMV and ask them to run it. All state DMV databases are hooked together 50 state wide. Any cars that are recorded stolen, or have a lein on them in any state are not dropped out of the databases. By checking the number on any car you potentially want to buy you can easily eliminate these 2 questions about the vehicles title status. .