How can I find previous ownership/location details of my car?

I am after some information/advice on tracking the ownership history of the Plymouth Valiant I imported from the USA to Australia in 2003.

I first saw the car for sale in Phoenix about 2001 but let it go as I thought it was the 2 door sedan; I was after the 2 door hardtop/coupe.

About 12 months later I received an email offering for sale a 2 door hardtop/coupe - low and behold it was the same one I saw advertised in Phoenix!

I still have the Certificate of Title at the time of my purchase and I would like to know how I can research earlier ownership - first & subsequent owners, locations, etc.

I would like to email pictures of the restoration, and details of my travels to these people. Since the restoration I have driven the Valiant about 50,000 kms.

Great if you can help, I am happy to pay for any costs involved.

Thanks

crickhollow said:

I am after some information/advice on tracking the ownership history of the Plymouth Valiant I imported from the USA to Australia in 2003.

I first saw the car for sale in Phoenix about 2001 but let it go as I thought it was the 2 door sedan; I was after the 2 door hardtop/coupe.

About 12 months later I received an email offering for sale a 2 door hardtop/coupe - low and behold it was the same one I saw advertised in Phoenix!

I still have the Certificate of Title at the time of my purchase and I would like to know how I can research earlier ownership - first & subsequent owners, locations, etc.

I would like to email pictures of the restoration, and details of my travels to these people. Since the restoration I have driven the Valiant about 50,000 kms.

Great if you can help, I am happy to pay for any costs involved.

Thanks

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Well, you could post every bit of information that you have about the car and of course pictures of before and after your restoration. There's over 50,000 members here and some of them may have known this car from way back when. I'm sure they would be happy to contribute to your search.
Steve

The fact is, you might not be able to. Carfax is over-rated, but will be happy to take your money. Frankly, I consider this kind of thing "private."

I was scared shitless when I got a VERY threatening letter about 2-3 years after selling my 86 Ranger, from the local county sheriff. This was a court type document, the truck had been impounded for some extended parking violation, and they made it sound as if they wanted me to pay

I called them up and raised hell. I KNEW the guy's "girl" friend I'd sold this to, and KNEW she had properly transferred the title into her name. There is no reason on God's earth why anyone should have legally connected that truck to ME for any reason.

The deputy told me "they have records just about nobody else can access" and "they are required" to contact all know previous owners in such a case. I was ******* livid.

I have loaded a 2 pics of the car I bought and imported from the USA in about 2003, and a pic since my resto completion.

Someone may recognise the old picture, probably taken in Phoenix about 2001. The number plate in Phoenix was DPL 283.

Please email me if you can assist.

Thanks, Peter

If the letter wasn't sent certified, shred it!

There are some pretty strict privacy laws here in the USA after 9-11-01. Even law enforcement officers can't just run VIN numbers for themselves or car buddies without getting in trouble if they get caught. They can supposedly only run them if they have probable cause or other investigative reasons.
You may check with a private investigator in Australia to see if they have any means to look it up for you. I had a private investigator look up an old tag number that I found in a car that I bought, and his help ended up getting me pointed in the right direction for some paperwork that I wanted for that car. Even if the private investigator in your country can't get access, he or she may have a peer in the USA that they have worked with in the past that can help. Good luck to you, and you did a beautiful job on your Valiant.