Yesterday, RVtravel.com reported on a Canadian couple and their Newmar King Aire motorcoach.
When attempting to sell their 2022 Newmar in the U.S., they were held up at the U.S./Canadian border. The reason? Inspectors could not locate the coach’s required VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
Widespread news coverage and videos reported how the motorcoach was seized and fines were charged to the couple.
The issue was amplified when YouTuber Liz Amazing posted about the couple’s experience. She called for the manufacturer to explain what happened. In response, Newmar President Casey J. Tubman sent an email to Liz on September 18, 2025. The company posted a public statement on its channels that echoes the same points.
Summary from Newmar’s post
Casey thanked Liz for advocating for RV owners but said he believed the public account didn’t include all the facts. He explained that Newmar does not discuss warranty cases or specific customer-service matters outside the direct customer relationship. However, he pointed Liz to a public response he’d already posted in an Endless RVing video.
Casey stated that Newmar believes its RVs (including units built on Spartan chassis) comply with applicable federal regulatory requirements. He directed readers to Title 49, CFR §567.4 for the relevant label/VIN rules.
Casey then described where Newmar places the required chassis VIN inside its coaches: a permanent label behind the driver’s seat on the column (and, as a courtesy, the same chassis VIN on interior labels in the kitchen and a closet). He added that, although not required, Spartan chassis also have the last five VIN digits stamped in four places on the frame (behind the steering axle tires on both sides and behind the drive axle).
The Newmar president framed the incident as isolated, noting the event occurred in May (not as the result of a new law or rule), that Newmar is not the only manufacturer using Spartan chassis, and that, to his knowledge, other manufacturers hadn’t reported similar international-crossing issues.
Casey further pointed out that many thousands of Newmar owners have crossed borders without trouble. Finally, he encouraged anyone trying to represent the situation fairly to examine both the dealer’s and the customer’s accounts. He noted that Newmar had been in direct communication with the consumer and had continued appropriate contact after being told the consumer retained counsel.
Regulations
The federal regulation Casey cited — Title 49, CFR §567.4 — sets requirements for the permanent certification label and specifies acceptable locations for that label on a completed vehicle.
The regulation makes clear that VIN labels must be permanently affixed and visible next to the driver’s seating position (or other specified locations if not practicable).
You can dig into the details of VIN label compliance for yourself. You may want to begin with the CFR text.
Border crossing
Border agents can and do inspect VINs and documentation when a vehicle is entering another country. A missing or nonstandard VIN presentation can trigger detainment, additional inspection, or seizure (as this situation documents).
If you plan international travel or are buying/selling a high-value coach, double-check where the VIN is displayed. Also ensure paperwork and broker forms match the vehicle details and consider getting a VIN inspection or certified documentation in advance when possible.
Have you ever encountered any issues when entering another country with your RV? Tell us about it using the comments below.
Make sure you read the original story.
RVT1228b
CFR line two reads, “The label shall be riveted or permanently affixed in such a manner that it cannot be removed without destroying or defacing it.”
The wall decals are not self defacing, as the border officer, peeled the label off of the drivers side wall.
Our 1996 Fleetwood has a metal plate that is riveted to the left front dash panel, visible through the windshield.
So, if the label were self-defacing, what would the owner do after the border officer peeled it off thereby destroying it?
I’m not about to try to peel mine off to see if it destroys itself.
Of course Newmar didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn I can sell them, toll booths and all. Newmar needs to step up and go to the border and tell them they’re wrong. Let us know how that works out! In my 53yrs of crossing into Canada & back into the USA. With all different types of equipment bought at heavy equipment auction. The vin plate better be where it’s supposed to be or it doesn’t leave the customs compound. So Newmar do not try to convince those of us who know how cross border works. This was being sold in the U.S.A. which is different than casual travel into or out of either country. If you can prove there is a permanent sticker in the coach do it.
As the Newmar President, Casey Tubman, tried defending Newmar in the IRV2 Newmar Owners forum, members continually challenged him to state the specific section and paragraph in the regs that supported his compliance claim. Members could post specific regs that showed that Spartan and Newmar are NOT in compliance. Casey would never respond to that request…because he can’t.
The regs are very clear.
Thank you for the update on the story, Gail! We had no trouble entering or leaving Canada or Alaska this summer. Our route included three entries into Canada and three entries into the U.S. Every transition was from one into the other. Late-May: U.S. into Canada at Kingsgate-Eastport; early-June: Canada into U.S at Alcan Land Point of Entry at Alcan-Beaver Creek border crossing; early-August: U.S. into Canada at Beaver Creek point of entry into Yukon; early-August: Canada into U.S. at Dalton Cache, Alaska; mid-August: U.S. into Canada at Pleasant Camp, BC; and early-September: Canada into U.S. at Sumas, Washington. At no point was our Newmar on a Spartan chassis questioned or …
… reason for a delay in our crossing. Guess that we were exceptionally blessed. 🙂 Have a great day and safe travels!
The guy is selling the coach; which makes it a different matter- Import. You did not get the import inspection because you were “vacationing”. Spartan is wrong, Newmar is wrong. The guy did his job, but now it was kicked upstairs and the Govt. is making a point to both manufacturers and screwing the owner in the process. The manufacturers should pay all fines and associated costs and make the coach compliant at their cost. They are making enough “profit” at 1.35 million on this coach alone.
You are correct Jesse. This is an import/export thing, not an international travel thing. I imported 2 vehicles from Canada when we moved here and the process is a bit daunting for the casual importer if anything is off. Safety certifications were toughest hurdle as I recall, for an Oldsmobile built in the USA but with only a 🇨🇦 safety certification sticker.
I bet it will be now, now that inspectors are aware of it. Memos are being sent.
The revenuestream for DHS is Huuuuuggggggggge
Sick and tired of this story with people’s and writer’s interpretations of so called facts.
It’s good that this issue was brought up to RVtravel readers. With our present party running the US. You never know what can happen.
I agree. It is good this was brought up with the present administration actually enforcing laws and rules instead of ignoring them.
😮 A pesky detail.
First attempt to import was April 2, second attempt was July 29. His fine is dated July 29 for knowingly attempting to import something he was previously told was unlawful.
The Newmar factory is literally 200 miles from Detroit.
200 miles.
If everything happened the way the tale has been told, it makes zero sense to drive to Florida via a different port of entry “for resolution” instead of simply taking it to Newmar in Nappanee Indiana.
Maybe they’re the only one who’s ever sold a Newmar back into the U.S. or the CBP has just recently decided to confirm authenticity of units crossing the borders but decal use is not new to RV’s. There’s more to the story folks….
9-27-2025
Regards,
M.
Honestly, Spartan & Newmar need to come into agreement on how & where the VINs are to be executed. As the Spartan chassis stamps the last 5 digits (of the VIN) on there frames (perhaps as a way to identify chassis delivered to Newmar). Hopefully, moving forward the full 17 digit VIN should be stamped in full on the chassis.
Secondly, the NHTSA, Newmar & Spartan need to develop a plan to rectify VIN placement and execution on the units already on the road for “xx” years in the past.
Newmar’s position is they ‘believe’ they are in compliance with federal law. The import inspector ‘believed’ they are not in compliance and siezed the owners property. The ‘poor’ owner is in the middle of a tug of war between Newmar and the federal government.
All of us armchair (or otherwise) experts and attorneys can beat this dead horse until the cows come home.
Has a conversation between Newmar and the NHTSA (or whatever relevant agency) taken place? Has the government agreed with Newmar that they are in compliance? Has Newmar agreed that they are not in compliance? Is there any legal action by anyone to get this resolved?