Ok guys I need some help, I'll try to keep this short so bare with me. I've wanted a 4 wheeler for awhile but just didn't have the extra money set aside for one, I know how to ride one but other than that I don't know a whole lot about them, this being my first. Well this year I got a pretty decent tax refund and finally had the funds. I start searching on CL (probably my first mistake) and find a nice looking one for sale. I contact the guy and arrange to meet, I looked him up first and found his address, where he works, etc. and he doesn't appear to be a shady person. So I rent a uhaul truck and drive an hour and forty minutes to his house. I get there and he shows me the 4 wheeler, it starts up and runs nice so I agree to buy it. I ask about a title and he said he didn't have one and that machines built before 2007 came with origin certificates that some people didn't treat as importantly as titles and may have been lost or tossed out. I called a buddy and he confirmed that I just need to make sure to get a bill of sale with the VIN. So he writes out a bill of sale and signs it, I pay him and off I go happy as can be. I get it home and order some new parts for it along with an owners manual off ebay. Well, the manual arrived this week and as I'm flipping through it I find a page about the VIN #, it says it's 17 digits. I look at my bill of sale and there aren't 17 digits written down. So I go out and look and notice he wrote down a serial # off the engine. Not only that, it says the VIN is located on the front of the machine and I can't find it anywhere. It doesn't look like anything has been tampered with it's just missing. So now I have a machine with no title and I'm unable to even locate a VIN. I'm in full blown panic mode. What should my course of action be? Should I try to go after the guy? Is it even legal to own a 4 wheeler with no VIN on it? I don't even know for sure this machine is stolen but I can't prove that it's not either because there is no visible VIN. I'm nearly sick over this and now I don't even want it anymore. But I don't feel like I can morally or even legally sell it now. I hoping an attorney or Leo will chime in here but any advice on what I can do is greatly appreciated, because I don't know what to do. And before anyone says anything I already realize my stupidity and ignorance got me into this, and I'm nearly sick to my stomach about it. I always try to be careful when buying used stuff and I guess I trusted this guy too much let my guard down.