Two Chassis Numbers?

[RobertCL]

My Mum took her car in for an MOT before xmas and was told that it has two chassis numbers under the bonnet which differ by one digit ! The garage suggested that this might mean it is stolen or have a dodgy history and offered to look into it.

They now want her to take in her registration documents and she's a bit worried about having the car taken away from her if it turns out it was stolen.

Has anyone come across anything like this before? Or have any advice on what to do?

Thing is, the car used to be mine and I sold it to her about 9 months ago. Before that I'd had it for about 4 years with no trouble. Bought from a "car supermarket" so as far as I'm concerned the history is sound.

It's an M-reg Clio btw, and it was about 5 years old when I bought it.

 

[172 Dave]

Speak to the Police, NO car should have 2x chassis numbers NO maunfacturer makes this mistake esp not Renault, it sounds well bent, if it has 2 it could well be that its had a reshell at somepoint and both sets of numbers are for Police ID purposes. Make sure the current one matches the V5 and the one on the top of the suspension turret if its a pre 2000 model, it should also be in the screen and on the B pillar on a sticker.

 

[RobertCL]

Yeah, I thought it sounded pretty dodgy really. I don't live near enough to go and check, but I don't really know what I'd be looking at if I could.

My first thought when she told me was that it might be two cars stuck together. I don't know where the two different numbers have been found.

 

[172 Dave]

Should be dot matrix system on pre 2000. 2 chassis numbers is simply a no no mate, as stated above unless for ID purposes, this should have shown uop when u bought the car from the 'supermarket' and they should have done the relevant checks, PM me the reg no.

 

[RobertCL]

Yeah, I thought it should have been mentioned by the "supermarket" when I bought it. They are reasonably large "chain" I think - Carnation in Bradford, if anyones heard of them.

If it turns out that it is stolen and my Mum looses the car for whatever reason do you think I'd have any kind of comeback against them?

 

[172 Dave]

Unless it was a Cat D write off they should disclose any problems they know of and if they checked it correctly they would def know m8

 

[RobertCL]

I'll wait and see what the garage say to her when she takes the registration doc down I guess and take it from there.

Some helpful info there though, thanks Dave.

 

[172 Dave]

no worries m8 keep me posted.....