How to Tell if an RV Seller Might be Hiding Something

How can you tell if the seller is hiding something or neglecting to tell you some piece of important information about the RV you are planning to purchase? Things like if the RV has been in an accident and the frame might be in jeopardy or if it is really the model year that the seller claims it to be.

Every RV, and every vehicle for that matter, including automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles, comes with a VIN. In 1981, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation required all manufacturers selling motor vehicles in the United States to use a standardized 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This standard establishes a format that makes exact vehicle identification easy. Prior to 1981, numerous VIN formats were used, which made vehicle identification difficult.

The number is embedded into a metal surface that is permanently affixed to the body so it cannot be changed or marred. It is usually found on the left side of the dashboard so it is visible through the windshield. Some models place the VIN plate on the inside of the left windshield pillar. If this number is not present or if it has been altered in any way, do not even consider purchasing the RV.

What exactly is the VIN? It is a unique sequence of 16 or 17 characters composed of letters and numerals. (Most vehicles sold in North America after 1981 have a 17-digit VIN.) They are the main way vehicles are identified for administrative purposes, including registration and insurance. VINs are used in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.

Each of the characters is coded to give specific information about the RV, including the manufacturer, the assembly plant, the country it was manufactured in, the model, and the year it was made. Because everything is in code, this information is not obvious; in other words, the year is noted as a single letter and not as a four-digit numeral.

One simple tool that will decode any VIN and tell you the information it possesses is AnalogX VIN View, a free online VIN decoder that allows you to see the information about your vehicle that the VIN contains. VIN View supports decoding of any vehicle identification number that was issued after 1978, which is when ISO 3779 was established as a uniform way to track vehicles.

This free service can be found on the Internet at http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm. All you have to do is enter the VIN and voila, the information is decoded and displayed.

Besides the basic information about the manufacturing of an RV, the VIN can be used to get information regarding the RV’s title, registration, and usage history. You can find out:

»        Accidents

»        “Junk” or “salvage” reports

»        Flood, fire, or hail damage information

»        Odometer information

»        Lemons

»        Fleet/rental information

»        Any records of theft

»        Current liens on the RV

»        Gray market information

There are several good services that will provide the above information about your RV. Some are free, while others can be had for a nominal, though highly worth it, charge. All of them can be provided through the Internet.

To find out if the RV has a deactivated air bag or if it was sold as salvage because it was a test unit, go to VerifyVIN at http://www.verifyvin.com/. Like AnalogX VIN View, you enter the VIN and the information instantly pops up on your computer screen, free of charge.

Although CARFAX, the most well-known VIN service for automobiles, does not currently offer this service for RV VINs, there are several companies that do offer this service, and it is well worth the money for the peace of mind this information affords.

Jeff Radich is a professional research writer and active RV enthusiast.