Need help with used car VIN check issue

I found a 1999 Ford Escort Wagon on Craigslist that I'm interested in buying. Owner says he's selling because he has another car that he prefers driving and doesn't need this one anymore. Ran a VIN check that looked pretty good (clean title, two owners of which the first was a corporate lease, regular maintenance, no accidents) except for one thing: In 11/2007, it's as if the car dropped off the face of the earth. No records at all after that date. No maintenance, no DMV renewals, no smog checks. Also, if the mileage the seller told me is accurate, the car has been driven only about 10,000 in the last 4.5 years.

And it gets even stranger: The seller maintains that the car has current registration and smog. I paid for Carfax and Autocheck reports and neither has a record after 2007. Has anyone heard of such a thing? What could explain this discrepancy?

Many thanks for any and all help!

Interesting post, lets start with you posting 2 simple answers before I hit you with a dozen more ,,, is the vehicle in the name of the person you been communicating with ? if so, for how long ?

http://www.usedcartips.org/ (http://www.usedcartips.org/)

He is selling the car for an older friend, but I told him that the registered owner needs to be present when I purchase the vehicle and needs to have ID that matches the name on the title, and he said that's no problem. The current owner has supposedly owned the car since 2001. Before then it was on a corporate lease.

AutoCheck shows a title event in 2001 and a registration renewal in 2007, but no registration renewals between 2001 and 2007 or after 2007. It also shows 4 passed emission checks between 2000 and 2007, but none after 2007 although the seller's friend says they have a valid smog certificate that's less than 30 days old.

CarFax also shows the title event from 2001 but no registration renewals at all. They show the same 3 emissions inspections as AutoCheck between 2004 and 2007, but they don't have a record of the 2000 smog check. They do have a bunch of maintenance records that AutoCheck doesn't have.

I somehow had a gut feeling the ownership would not be in sellers name, but with seller saying owner will be present no problem showing legitimate ID will be a very rare case and one I will have to swallow as a first. lol

Have you test driven this car ? what's the asking price - Silly Q to ask " is the car white "

Yes, the car is white. Why? What does that mean? He's asking $2,400.

I haven't test driven it yet. They were going to drive here tomorrow (I'm currently without a vehicle so asked if they can come to me) and offered to go to DMV with me.

Forgot to ask, what do you make of the missing DMV/smog records on AutoCheck and CarFax? Have you seen such a thing before?

Yes, the car is white. Why? What does that mean? He's asking $2,400.

I haven't test driven it yet. They were going to drive here tomorrow (I'm currently without a vehicle so asked if they can come to me) and offered to go to DMV with me.

Is the guys name Lee

The guy I've been dealing with is not named Lee. Don't know about the registered owner though.

Since I'm supposed to meet the guy tomorrow, I would appreciate any insight you can share into what may be going on here.

Forgot to ask, what do you make of the missing DMV/smog records on AutoCheck and CarFax? Have you seen such a thing before?

There is something that just don't sit right with me,,, I could care less about history on a 1999 model, all that matters is present CONDITION that will outlast the investment, and that starts with a clean title.

I have my reasons for asking if vehicle was white, what area is this guy comming from ? about 2 hrs away ?

More like an 40-60 minutes away (Cathedral City). If he's prepared to go to the DMV with me and I'm able to get the car registered in my name, could something still go wrong later with the title?

More like an 40-60 minutes away (Cathedral City). If he's prepared to go to the DMV with me and I'm able to get the car registered in my name, could something still go wrong later with the title?

Look I am sorry to ask questions you can"t answer, guess I been in this game to long. When you buy private yes things can go wrong,,, study this link on my website http://www.usedcartips.org/privatevsdealer.html

As for the test drive make some notes from this link http://www.usedcartips.org/TESTDRI.html

Is there a link you care to share where I can see this car ?