A. The first-stage manufacturer of a vehicle shall assign a vehicle identification number (VIN) to each completed or incomplete vehicle it manufactures.

B. The VIN identifying the completed vehicle after multi-stage manufacture shall be the first-stage manufacturer's VIN, and shall be the only VIN which is recorded or data-entered in the files of the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

C. Transfer of ownership of a completed vehicle shall be made on the final-stage manufacturer's certificate of origin prescribed by the Commission pursuant to this act. All manufacturer's certificates of origin for a multi-stage vehicle shall accompany the application for title and the title document shall reflect the first-stage manufacturer's VIN and the final-stage manufacturer's make, name and model year.

D. Transfer of ownership of a multi-stage vehicle by first-stage manufacturer, multi-stage manufacturers, and final-stage manufacturers shall be made as provided in this subsection.

1. At the time that any first-stage manufacturer transfers to a multi-stage manufacturer an incomplete vehicle that is to be sold, or registered for the first time in this state, the first-stage manufacturer shall give the multi-stage manufacturer a manufacturer's certificate of origin for the incomplete vehicle assigned to the multi-stage manufacturer by the first-stage manufacturer. Ownership of the incomplete vehicle shall be transferred to the multi-stage manufacturer on the manufacturer's certificate of origin issued by the first-stage manufacturer; and

2. At the time that any final-stage manufacturer transfers to a dealer, distributor, or other purchaser a completed vehicle that is to be sold, or registered for the first time in this state, the final-stage manufacturer shall give the dealer, distributor, or other purchaser all manufacturer's certificates of origin. Ownership of the completed vehicle shall be transferred from the final-stage manufacturer to its dealers or distributors or any other purchaser on the manufacturer's certificate of origin issued by the final-stage manufacturer. Subsequent transfers between a dealer and a retail purchaser shall occur on the manufacturer's certificate of origin issued by the final-stage manufacturer.

E. To obtain an original certificate of title for a multi-stage vehicle that is being registered for the first time in this state a vehicle that has not been previously registered in any other state, the applicant shall be required to deliver, as evidence of ownership, all manufacturer's certificates of origin and shall otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 1105 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 1986, c. 147, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1986.