VIN location on melex 512 E?

[UnclePirate]

I screwed up purchasing a melex 512 E with zero paperwork. I paid cash and didn't even think of getting a bill of sale. Now I face a penalty for not getting it titled within 15 days of purchase as required under Arizona law. And I must do a title/lien search for MVD to get a bonded title which is going to cost me. I have the serial number but don't know where to look for a VIN. I'm disgusted with myself for not getting anything in writing. I should know better. I'm not going to do anymore work (rebuild) until I know that I can get it titled/registered. Without a title, I might as well scrap it.

Can anyone tell me where to find the VIN? That would at least be a start.

[Reddawg454]

Don't know what year your cart is but most older carts never had a title. There is no 17 digit vin number either on most carts. It'll have a serial number somewhere but I doubt you can title it altho I'm unfamiliar with Arizona law.

[UnclePirate]

The 512 E began in 1992 IIRC. You could be right, I haven't found a VIN on it. But unfortunately, that doesn't help in itself. The process for getting a bonded title for it requires a title/lien search which requires a VIN, then an inspection and assessment by MVD. Based on their assessed value, I would then have to put up a bond for 1.5 times that value. I guess I will have to talk with MVD about it again. When I bought it, I thought I would be able to get a builder's title. They told me that I would have had to have built it from "ground up." I am building it from ground up, but not according to the person I spoke with. I knew about builder's titles from a BIL that built motorcycles. Though he never built a frame from scratch. Maybe New Mexico and Arizona differs on that.

Operating on a golf course, I highly doubt it has ever been registered, but did it come with a title? That, I just don't know.

Monday, I guess I will go to MVD rather than a phone call. Though, I'm not yet willing to trailer the cart down there. Though, if that is what I have to do, I want to do it sooner rather than later making their assessment of value as low as possible.

Thanks for your reply.

[UnclePirate]

I think I may have a solution to my problem.

1. Take it to MVD for a level 1 inspection which can assign a VIN.
2. A bonded title can then be issued.
3. Purchase the bond.
4. Build to satisfy street legal and safety requirements.
5. Take in for level 2 inspection and registration.

This from the Arizona DOT, I hope it can help someone else in similar circumstances. Thanks to https://www.buggiesgonewild.com/member.php?u=96079 (Reddawg54) for pointing out that it may not have a VIN and may have never been titled.