I had an interesting experience with a '69 Charger I bought. The VIN on the ND title was a screwy combination of letters and numbers. But the price was right so I took the plunge. Called up the DMV and said I just bought a car with a ND title that the VIN is incorrectly listed. The lady on the phone told me emphatically that the VIN has to be correct, that it is verified with every transaction. So I read off what the VIN was. Silence for a moment and then "that's not a VIN". Gee, you think?

Well, the DMV started running the title and found that it had been transferred in PA years before and the PA DMV had incorrectly entered the VIN. In the end all was good. But it has always tickled me that sometimes people who are so sure of a situation.....aren't.