When the DMV issues a duplicate title, the original title is void. The DMV has a record of a superseded title and should reject the original title.
Oh that makes sense. Thanks.
So what if someone sold a different vehicle (with a faked VIN) using a duplicate title, and then gave you the buyer of the correct vehicle the original title which is now void? Then they skipped town.
edit:
So here in Illinois I’m not aware that VIN inspection is required when purchasing a vehicle. It certainly isn’t for older ones. When a duplicate title is issued, there are now two titles in existence for the same vehicle. Someone may try to use one of the titles to sell a stolen vehicle, and then sell the correct vehicle with the other title that is now invalid. Then they would skip town before the second buyer makes it to the DMV and finds out that the title is void.
A solution to this would be to require a VIN inspection if a duplicate title has ever been issued for that vehicle. It looks like Illinois does have a site where you can check the status of a vehicle: https://apps.ilsos.gov/regstatus/
I was at the DMV where the person next to me had an issue where the title for the vehicle that he just purchased had already been assigned to a new owner.