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I thought of something else: this may be a car which was totaled out and the current owner bought it as salvage. Which would be a reason for no title. The missing VIN is major.
OP, you sound young. Buying a POS like this for the "high MPG" is your recipe to **** away all your money just making it legal. Which you would likely have to do, your "not register or insure it" not withstanding, in order to drive it on public roads. Even if the car was whole I would advise against buying it simply due to its presumed age and mileage.
If it was totalled and bought back, I would expect it would have a salvage title. The missing VIN tag, though, really makes me think it was stolen. And it still might be "hot", I would assume it is until the current owner gave me proof that it's not.
OP, you didn't say, but what about tag and registration? That current?
Honestly, if you are down on funds and don't know how to DIY car repairs, you are probably better off without a car of your own until you have more cash and/or learn more about how to inspect a car you are considering buying, and how to tend to the needs that a cheaper old used car almost inevitably has.
Look, I daily drive an 82 Scirocco that I bought for $1000 about 10 years and 200K miles ago. But I knew what I was looking at when I bought it, I got a good deal for what I got, and yeah, it definitely has taken me some wrench turning and troubleshooting to get it from where it was to where it is today.
Go to public auto auction and buy a beater car that drives. You can get them, legally, for several hundred. Also, participate in ruffles, you can even win a free car.
Go to public auto auction and buy a beater car that drives. You can get them, legally, for several hundred. Also, participate in ruffles, you can even win a free car.
If you do go the auction route take someone who knows cars with you. You sound like you're not real knowledgeable about them. Also, know the market value of the various ones there and DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES fall in love with something and get into a bidding war. Another reason to take someone with you.
And a car that you have to use a screwdriver to start the car? Can that be fixed so that an actual key would start the car and how much would that cost?
In Eastern Europe and the capital cities of South America
No way. If you were stopped you might get into some serious trouble. You can't register it so how would you drive it on the street. What would you tell a cop who might pull you over. A missing VIN is just asking for trouble. Don't do it; no matter how good a deal it might be.
And what parking lot are you buying this in? Does it have a broken window also? I have a suggestion. Call the local police and ask them what they think? They may want to go in place of you and solve a recent auto theft.
So many red flags here I'm amazed its even under consideration. No VIN, no title, broken key cylinder on steering column = very likely stolen. Many older cars are stolen in this exact way with the steering column and key cylinder torn apart until a screwdriver can start it.
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RE: Would you buy a used car without a title nor VIN number?
