A vehicle’s certificate of origin is a document that comes from the vehicle’s manufacturer. The vehicle dealer usually provides it to the state department of motor vehicles when he sells you the car. This document is a legally requirement in several states for the registration of a new vehicle. These states keep the certificate of origin and subsequently issue a title to the vehicle to the new owner.
Assemble the necessary data for properly identifying the vehicle. This includes the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model and description of the vehicle, current odometer reading and any available bill of sale for the vehicle.
Locate the dealer who originally sold the vehicle. The dealer is responsible for legal custody of the certificate of origin. If the dealer does not have a copy on file, request that he contact the vehicle’s manufacturer to obtain a copy. If you do not know the name of the original dealer, you may choose to a vehicle title history search service such as CarFax.com, Carproof.com or AutoCheck.com to locate the original owner.
Contact the state department of motor vehicles or equivalent agency in the state where the vehicle got its first title. It is here that the original certificate of origin may have originally been filed by the dealer when the car was first purchased. Request that the motor vehicle department provide you with a copy of the certificate on file with them, or direct you to the proper location to receive a copy. This step is only necessary if the dealer was unable to locate the certificate for you.