I plugged the VIN into the internet. Nothing. Just wondering if it's still on the road... What's the best way?

TIA.

 

Pull a Carfax. It'll tell you if the registration is still being renewed

 

Figured on Carfax, but any other sources?

 

Tricky one. Carfax will tell you something, but it could mean nothing. For instance, there is a long period of time my Formula had no activity and was never renewed because one of the previous owners had it in a collection for several years and just did not renew it. Plus he is a dealer, so he would just put dealer plates on it when he took it to shows. Also, a friend of mine was searching for a car and also found no activity for several years and later learned through a cop friend of his that the car was stolen, ditched and sat on fire, burned to the ground. Not the outcome he was looking for, but Carfax didn't know about it.

 

Carfax is definitely the first place to start though. If there are no recent records, hopefully there's at least a service note at a dealership or shop. Call that shop and pick the trail up from there. It may not be perfect but it'll likely give you at least a start

 

Interesting enough, the VIN does not come up on the internet at all. I doubt paying for a Carfax would show much either. Any other thoughts?

 

I don't know why you're turning down the Carfax unless there's something else I'm not seeing. Is there any reason to believe that car isn't still on the road? Did you sell it decades ago? Every registration renewal and ownership change will be on it, including any kind of servicing from major shops or dealerships. WORST case, the records stop in like 2005, but at least you'll know what state it was last registered in. Then go back and find the last recorded service date. That dealership will be listed in the Carfax, so call said dealership, give them the vin, make a good connection with the person behind the counter, then there's the name and (at the time) contact information of whoever got the car serviced there. It's pretty cheap to run one, and it's a better lead than you'll get through any other route, unless someone on here happens to know or own the car.

 

In Ontario when you register a used car, there's something called a Used Vehicle Information Package that's a mandatory purchase, and it tells you every previous owner of the car including dealerships. You "technically" can't get one without the ownership though, but sometimes a good teller will pull you one with just the vin. Do you have anything like that in your state?

 

Inquire at the Motor Vehicle Department of any state in which you think the car may have been registered at one time. Some state agencies and their employees will be more helpful than others, as you'll find out if you pursue this avenue of inquiry. Additionally, some State Police/Highway Patrol agencies may be able to help.

Also, post the VIN ITT; you never know who might see it here.



Good luck with your search; if you manage to find the car, let us know.

 

IIR, I sold the car 15 years ago

 

DMV offices are closed for CV

Here’s the vin, if anyone knows the whereabouts of the car

1G2FW2188KL211719

thanks!

 

I don’t know where you are located, but most DMV Offices are closed to walk-ins, but still available by phone or online. If you’re serious about finding the car, you need to try every available avenue. Emails or phone calls explaining why you are trying to find the car, might catch a friendly employee who will help.

 

Car now has 150k at last report (been dormant for years with no records since 2014 when it traded ends to a new owner). I owned it from 1991-2005, sold w/ 139,000 miles, as I seem to recall. Would like to see the car again, maybe buy it.

Many thanks to those who responded here, or privately.


Any other details appreciated.

 

High miles and no registration renewal since 2014. Not a good sign. It could still exist though.

 

When I sold it in 2005, it was gorgeous. Garaged most of the time. 99% of the time I had the car, at least. I do not think the buyer had a garage, full time. I wonder about the car often, and if in good shape, would be interested in the car again. But who knows... It was a daily driver for me, that's why the 139k mi. Loved that car, as it was a wonderful driving machine.

 

Do you still have pics of it?

 

...here is the car 🥰‼️

 

Beautiful car. I’m not sure if you have had any luck yet finding it but there are a couple of GTA’s on OfferUp and the Craigslist that are really nice looking. I can PM you the links if you want. They’re from various parts of the US but if you don’t mind having a car shipped to you it might be a great alternative if you can’t track down your original car.

 

Appreciate it!!

That particular GTA was a beast. It has a 383 from the late John Lingenfelter, and ran 12.2@115 MPH in the 1/4 on regular street tires. Fun car.

That said, I would take a hardtop Gunmetal Gray 1989 (and only an 89), and open to a 5 spd. car, thanks.