went to get it registered and it came up with the wrong year.

 

He looked at the serial number on his Ownership and the ones stamped on the ATV and they did not match.

How many people here ever bothered to look at there actual serial number on there car, trucks or what have you to see if they match the title. I know I don't.

I don't, even know where the serial number are located on my ATVs or sleds.

 

Doh! Is that when they ran the vin and found out it wasn't stolen?

 

yes

 

In Michigan I think its called a TR-56 form, they will issue a title in your name after 3 weeks if it comes back clean.

 

the problem I see is somewhere the ATV exists that you have the VIN#'s for, if you register yours with that # it may be a problem if the original is registered also.
I don't believe the seller did not know what he was selling, sounds like he acquired paperwork for a similar machine because he did not have or was not supposed to have what he sold.

 

Some people buy crashed write off ATVs from wreaking yards just to acquire the Ownership.
In those cases its likely not registered.
I bought a wrote off snowmobile just to get the motor off of a insurance company , they still gave me the ownership.
Some guy with a stolen same make and model sled would love to buy that ownership off of me I would guess.