[Mike/Lisa]

Without wanting to encounter a lot of grief at the DMV I accept whatever model year ends up on the title or registration. Depending on the converter and how the coach is titled the model year is affected.

My first coach was registered and titled as a 1987, and it was listed as a Prevost with the VIN agreeing with the model year.

The second coach was also registered and titled as a 1997 Prevost, but the Prevost VIN was for a 1996 model year.

My current coach is registered and titled as a Liberty, model year 2006, with a Prevost VIN being for a 2005.

There have been Prevost coaches registered as a model year up to 4 years newer than the Prevost VIN because they were in the converters inventory for up to 4 years from the chassis date. I know of one Parliament with a model year 4 years newer than the chassis VIN and 5 years newer than the engine date of manufacture.

I wish I knew and could understand why some of my coaches were Prevost coaches and one was a Liberty coach. All were build by Liberty.

[Jerry]

When we bought our 97 Royale in 2016, it came from AZ so I had to take it to the DMV in Paso Robles and had to park on street and after paper work in side the guy came outside to look it over and the Vin said it was a 96 and that is the way it is, so at that point I wanted out of there so I left the DMV with a 96 Royale, The next year when I had to get new tags I made an appointment, After waiting a while the DMV guy came out with his tape measure and paper work and again looked it over measured width- length and wanted to go inside and look for a tag and inside a plexi glass panel over passenger side windshield there is a label he looked at it even know it says 96 he said it is a 97. I left DMV with a 97 Royale, I was surprised but I’m glad I did it.

[Rudy]

YES…..I just went through an issue that was all a result of the correct year of the coach on the title. I purchased a 2006 Royale Coach a few years ago. It had a 2005 identifier on the vin, which identifies the conversion as a 2006.

Due to some back and forth with the original owner, the title wasn’t immediately available for us to view and we took possession of the coach with the title showing up several weeks later.

Fast forward to a month or so ago, I traded the coach and during the transaction, it was discovered that the title was issued in Montana and for some reason was described as a 2005. So…..when TN issued my title to me, they used the previous title to date the coach and I received a 2005 TN title.

The tag agency manager even agreed it looked wrong (lots of Prevost MH’s in Tennessee), but they were unwilling to change the date on the title without proof the coach was a 2006. Only a few ways to validate the date:

1). Previous title (which was wrong)

2). MSO (MFG Statement of Origin)

3). Original sales contract

Well…..#1 was out as it was incorrect. #2 was impossible to get as Royale Coach is now out of business. I even contacted Royale Phoenix to see if they could help. No go. #3 was out as the PO had the coach registered in Montana and the law firm destroyed all documents related to this coach when it was transferred to my name.

So……long story, but I had to accept that my once 2006 Royale Coach was now a 2005 Royale Coach. Believe it or not, that little mistake cost me money. during the trade in process.

[Archived]

Folks that buy a coach for the long term are relatively unaffected by what the title or registration shows. But for those that buy and flip a coach relatively fast a VIN that does not agree with the registration or title have a potential loss of value.

[George]

I disagree with that big boy, even if you keep the coach 10 years, the sales price will certainly be less if the title is one year older due to the fact they used the chassis year instead of the proper conversion year. We’ve seen some with 2 and 3 year differences, that would be a big hair cut at selling time.

[Bill]

At last years Prevost show, I saw a 2020 Foretravel conversion on what I was told is a 2016 chassis.

[Jim]

When I got my coach they used the bill of sale to issue title. No question to year or vin. They just put it in and issued tags. No reference to vin.

Listed as 1998 Roya

[Archived]

All depends on the state. My 2020 Super C has a 2019 Freightliner chassis and my GA title was held up in review and they were going to title it as a 2019 even though I surrendered the Florida title reflecting a 2020. Took some phone work and the MSO to sort it out.

In GA, if the vehicle isn’t in their data base you have to have the police do a vin inspection. Of course when the state pulls up that vin inspection it shows a 2019 Freightliner.

I have a friend in FL that had the same problem with his 2001 Marathon. Same deal, FL makes you get a vin inspection if not in their data base and he had a hell of time convincing them it was a 2000 Prevost chassis, but a 2001 Marathon conversion. Had to get a letter from Marathon to help.

[Archived]

I have to disagree to an extent that model year plays a major role in resale with older coaches. I know and agree it will result in a big loss of value on a 3 year old coach. But on older coaches, such as those 15 to 20 years old or older I think the greatest influence on value is condition and documentation.

It is easy for me to justify a higher price for a coach that is clean, well documented, and reflects careful maintenance than a 2 year newer coach that doesn’t show as well.

My previous coach selling prices were above market for their age, but they had extensive maintenance logs, everything worked, and they showed well. I have looked at coaches that would never bring market value because of signs of abuse and lack of care. The point is the Prevost VIN, which will be the oldest date possible for the title is as old as the coach can possibly be and even with a registration and title date up to 4 years newer a savvy buyer is going to know that coach was a dog, sitting in the converter’s inventory with potential damage such as faded interiors, the effects of age on tires, air bags, batteries, etc all making a several year difference kind of bogus.

[Bob]

I’ll share my experience on value…..(See my story above). My 15 year old coach, when traded in, cost me $12,500 in value for the 1 year change on the title. (the buyer originally proposed $25,000). Now, that value may not be significant to some, but I still consider that a large financial impact.

BTW….I still sold the coach for just about exactly what I paid for it 18 months earlier. I consider that a win.