[Thumper]

I wonder how stringent the VIN verification was for Vermont. Did you have to apply for a Vermont title to register a car?

Missouri requires inspection by State Police for VIN and odometer verification. I believe it's largely to ferret out stolen engines and chop shop cars. I bought a car from the impound lot that had been owned and properly titled/plated in Missouri and I still had to have the inspection.

I had replaced the control arms, struts, and a couple other front suspension parts, and they wanted receipts! But the engine had the matching VIN and it passed.