We are assuming you purchased this car from someone within your state. Typically, if you purchase a car from another state a police officer has to verify that the VIN matches the title and checks the car to see if it has/had been reported as stolen. There is a form he/she must fill out and sign before you can put the vehicle in your name and license it. Without a dash VIN this would not be possible.

So have you checked the body numbers to see if they match the last few digits of the VIN on your title? If those don't match you have a big problem.

And I wonder why the previous owner removed the dash VIN???????????