How can you tell if a rig is being sold by the original owner? I don't think the nameplate is good enough, is it?
Thanks.
Mimi
Mimi I cant imagine why the nameplate would not tell you that, but the best way I can think of is a service like Carfax.
The name plate was issued to the original owner, but the rig may have passed through subsequent owners without being changed. Also, the name plate, original or not, may show wording other than a name; I've seen several phrases following the "for" on name plates, e.g., "The Road Ahead". It seems simplest to just ask the current owner if he/she is the original. ;)
Joan
The factory will sell you a new nameplate to spec for your LD. The seller will likely have service records, insurance records, DMV records, etc., and if honest will be able to supply proof.
Steve
Paul nailed it: Carfax (http://www.carfax.com).
I've found this website helpful in the past:
Check Any VIN Free | Free VIN Check | Free VIN Decoder (https://www.vehiclehistory.com/vehicle/land.php)
The "Odometer Records" block indicates a change of ownership.
I tried this out just now, and neither our Lazy Daze nor Sportsmobile were listed. Both came back as "not found". It seemed simple enough, but maybe I left out a step somewhere. ???
Virtual hugs,
Judie
I always want to see a copy of Registration and Title. We just sold our LD in CA. and people from Alabama bought it and requested copies of both.
Sandra
I tried this out just now, and neither our Lazy Daze nor Sportsmobile were listed. Both came back as "not found". It seemed simple enough, but maybe I left out a step somewhere. ???
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Maybe it's an RV thing? Works fine on both my non-RV vehicles.
I've found this website helpful in the past:
Check Any VIN Free | Free VIN Check | Free VIN Decoder (https://www.vehiclehistory.com/vehicle/land.php)
The "Odometer Records" block indicates a change of ownership.
It worked on our Subaru but not on the LD.
Jim
I guess Carfax seems to be the best option. I'll tell you what happened. There was a LD for sale in CA by the original owner and it seemed to be in great shape. I thought the price was a little too good to be true so, while I was tempted to buy it without an inspection, I called to make an appt to see it. The owner told me it had already been sold to someone outside the state, sight unseen. I was so disappointed. I kept looking for my dream LD, but couldn't forget about the possible lost opportunity, so I called the home number and spoke to someone else in the household, possibly the seller's wife, I'm guessing. During our conversation, she said they'd gone all the way to Seattle to buy this LD. Hmm...that was curious to me since the ad said "original owner". So, the folks who bought the rig thought it spent its life in CA and that they were buying from the original owner.
I realized then that I was kind of glad I hadn't jumped and bought it. I realized I couldn't buy a LD without knowing its history. I didn't know Carfax included the all the names of previous owners. I thought they were omitted due to privacy issues. EDIT - I guess they can list previous ownership using criteria other than names like location, dates, etc.
So now the question is, how does one get the vin to run a carfax on a rig without actually buying it since it will likely be gone before the report comes back! good grief....
Mimi
Mimi I cant imagine why the nameplate would not tell you that, but the best way I can think of is a service like Carfax.
Thank you Paul. I've never run a Carfax report. Are you sure they list previous buyers if not by name, by registration or date of purchase, etc?
Maybe so, but our Sportsmobile is a Dodge Ram 2500 van, which I would expect would be a "regular" unit, but maybe not. Maybe the site is for only passenger vehicles that are NOT vans or trucks.
Virtual hugs,
Judie
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The Carfax website says:
"CARFAX Vehicle History Reports™ are available on all used cars and light trucks model year 1981 or later."
So has anyone been successful looking up a Carfax report on an RV?
So now the question is, how does one get the vin to run a carfax on a rig without actually buying it since it will likely be gone before the report comes back! good grief....
Ask. If the owner isn't willing to give you the VIN number, look for another rig.
How long does it take to get a Carfax report? It's not instantaneous once you fill in the information and pay for it?
I used it to research B vans. Showed a change in title, not the personal information. And the response was within hours. Getting a VIN- sometimes in the ad. Other times simply asking.
Good to know the report comes back so quickly, though I do hope it works for RV's. Showing a change in title is great. Does it show where the title changes took place ie. state?
Ask. If the owner isn't willing to give you the VIN number, look for another rig.
How long does it take to get a Carfax report? It's not instantaneous once you fill in the information and pay for it?
Linda, you're absolutely right. No VIN? I'll pass, no matter how painful it might be. lol
The Carfax website says:
"CARFAX Vehicle History Reports™ are available on all used cars and light trucks model year 1981 or later."
So has anyone been successful looking up a Carfax report on an RV?
I'd like to know this as well. I hope someone chimes in. <edit> I just called a local RV dealer and asked him if he provides a carfax report for his used RV's. He said he does. What it contains is a bit of a mystery to me, but I may stop in there later on and ask to see one.
So, I just called a rather large RV dealership. He said the only thing Carfax shows is if the RV has been in any accidents; that there is no way to acquire vehicle history reports on RV's. He said, they sell RV's that were used as rentals, so they know the history of each vehicle that way. He said for the private party RV's they sell, they have no idea about where the RV spent its life or how many times it changed title.
Great.
Puzzled why anyone would care if it's one-owner. Are they presumed to take better care of a vehicle?
I guess some buyers think that. Some buyers also seem to think that sellers are trying to put one over on them.
When the time comes to sell KoKo, I would walk away from any buyer that thinks I am out to con them.
I wrote the value off to zero the day I bought it, so I don't need any grief from a buyer.
My rig, my rules. Anyone that questions my honesty can jolly well take a hike.
The original owner would have been given the "papers" by Lazy Daze when they picked it up.
Sorry for the misinformation about Carfax. I thought it gave information about RVs as well as cars, but evidently not. I should have checked before posting!
Puzzled why anyone would care if it's one-owner. Are they presumed to take better care of a vehicle?
I guess some buyers think that. Some buyers also seem to think that sellers are trying to put one over on them.
When the time comes to sell KoKo, I would walk away from any buyer that thinks I am out to con them.
I wrote the value off to zero the day I bought it, so I don't need any grief from a buyer.
My rig, my rules. Anyone that questions my honesty can jolly well take a hike.
The original owner would have been given the "papers" by Lazy Daze when they picked it up.
I think for me, it wasn't the fact that it was one owner. It was more of a concern that he wasn't being honest. I don't think I gave him any grief. I just moved on.
Sorry for the misinformation about Carfax. I thought it gave information about RVs as well as cars, but evidently not. I should have checked before posting!
Like you, I also thought Carfax offered the entire history of a vehicle. For me, that's why I would pay for it, though I guess it's good to know about accidents. Just wish there was a way to get a complete picture. Given that there isn't, it makes inspections all that more important, for me anyway.
I paid for the 5 report package that cost $50 after tax. It saved me a bad buy. What I learned was that the class B coach I was considering had been titled in Georgia, written off as a total by insurance due to a flood claim, and retitled in WA.
It also helps to show if recall work has been done on a vehicle.
Motor coaches are covered, at least they were two years ago. RVs such as trailers and fifth wheels are not covered by Carfax.
A sample report is available at CarFax Sample (https://media.carfax.com/sample_report_value.html)
You can enter the VIN to confirm it will find it before buying a report.
I bought the 5 report option and used three on LDs and one SOB during my RV search in 2016.
The DMV reported items like title changes and smog certifications were on all the reports.
Service records seemed to depend on where it was serviced and whether they reported to whatever database CarFax uses.
Dealer service record reporting seemed most consistent. Independents were not always there. Based on comparing PO service records with carfax on the LD I bought.
It's just one more research option out there if one chooses.
I'd do it again and coincidentally just bought another 5 reports last week for toad research.
Let's see if this screen shot from a page of the carfax report on the LD I eventually bought works...
Rich
So apparently Carfax does do RV VIN's. The report looks pretty good- I would go that route but be aware the reports are only valid 60 days from date of purchase which could be a problem when searching for that elusive, pristine used LD!
I agree that any honest owner would gladly give the vin if you asked.
Note: Carfax does not necessarily have accurate info. I had a car I sold years ago and I was surprised that carfax didn't show major repairs nor that it was in an accident (I thought at least an insurance reported accident would show up). Only some companies report to carfax, not many of the mechanics people use (why would they, more work for them). I have heard more dealers report, probably so they get free car faxes in exchange.
Vehicle license records (DMV) in the state the RV is registered in has the most accurate information of who owns something and for how long. A concern would be if you were dealing with the actual owner (one day someone will offer a LD and ask for a deposit to hold it and either not even own it or not even have one, scam artists do that for cars often but then fraud seems to be rampant here in AZ).
DMV if you give them a vin should be able to confirm the owner and how long they had it (e.g. when it was first registered with them under that owner name). You just say you are buying it and want to confirm the ownership (sometimes there is a small fee or a small wait).
When I buy from private seller, I went to the bank (cashiers check) then to DMV with them and get the vehicle transferred to my name right there and then while confirming they own it and how long (they have information such as when it was first registered in the state, where it was registered before that and to whom).
Don, if someone is honest, they have no problem sharing maintenance records, vins, etc. If someone is dishonest, they lie about things and do not share information (always a side step when they are asked). So if you share accurate information no one would not have a reason to distrust you. In looking for a LD, unfortunately I ran into equal amounts of dishonest and honest people, so it is a concern so a double check is important so they confirm you are one of the good guys.
I still say asking for a copy of records early on in the "talking to them" process and/or the name of the dealer they had it serviced is a way to check things out. If the dealer gives a different story on maintenance or how long they have owned it, I would suggest walking away. Too many people trying to sell something they know has problems or has not been maintained at all for a problem-less price.