[John10608]

Sal,

This is important info, not to scare you, but this is what you will have to do to register your car.

Being a retired CHP officer, I hope that you received a title and sales receipt to the car. I also hope that you have good previous owner info... cell phone, address, maybe even a driver's license.
A removed vin plate would make me suspisious about it being a possible stolen vehicle.

Every CHP Office has a vin officer that can verify the vin ( usually on one or two hidden areas on the car ) You will have to make an appointment for that.
Make sure that you have a sales agreement or something from the owner.
Take in all of your current paper work for the car when you go in.
I'd do it as soon as you can, I'll tell you why shortly.

The manufacture sticker on the door is peeling off ? It could have been put there from another vehicle to look as if it was original. Red paint under primer black paint ? A fast paint job to cover the original color after it was stolen ? Does that plate on the car match the title also?

This might be why there are back fees on this car. IF it is stolen, they weren't about to take it in to register it and get caught.

Just a little warning to you, when you make your vin appointment ( which DMV will require you to do with a removed vin plate )
Be prepared...... IF while at the CHP office the officer finds that the car is stolen, you WILL be arrested for auto theft. Just purchased it or not.
They will hook and book you right there in the office and take you to jail after
getting your statement on the car.

My advice........... IF there is a vin # somewhere else on the car besides the door sticker, call a CHP office, see if it is stolen or not. Ask them if the plates you have are correct for that car. If not, give them the plate on the car see what that brings up.

You may be able to go into DMV and get this info also. IF it comes back stolen, and you are on the phone or at DMV, just tell them that you are looking at buying the car.
But most likely they will want to know where it is at and call an officer to come talk to you. They will want to recover it.

It may be clear title, no problems, get a new vin attached by CHP.
but primer black over red, a peeling door sticker and no vin plate are signs of a stolen vehicle. Just my thoughts on this is all.

Anyway, I hope there is no issues with the car. I just want you to be aware of what will happen IF there is a problem with the car.

Good luck
John