[dablack]

I know there are ways around this. What is the best way to get a new title in my name. I'm sure some of you have run across this a time or two.

thanks
Austin

 

[Beoweolf]

Before starting down this road, get the VIN number and see if it is listed as stolen, missing or has disputed title in the local area, your state and any states bordering yours. That may save you a lot of grief down the road.

Second, what state are you in? Start at the motor vehicle department, agency, bureau or whatever they call it there. They usually have forms for unusual transactions.

The important things to consider are how old is the car?
What condition is it in, realistically - how much is it worth?
What would be its value after being restored?

Finally, how trustworthy is the seller, what is his connection to the vehicle.

It would be ill advised to start pouring money into a car without doing some homework to insure, to the best of your ability, that someone will not come knocking at your door to reclaim their car.

There have been several “lively” debates on just this subject in this forum. Boils down to “finders, keepers” and “What if it was your car, it was stolen…would you expect another Hot rodder to fake a title?” Pulling a rusted hulk from the junk or back yard is one thing. “Finding” a car without a title is a totally different animal.

 

[bytemydust]

In Texas you can get a bonded title. It's basically an insurance policy that protects you if someone comes to claim it and it provides money to the person if they have a real title to the car. It will end up costing you some money, but you will legally own the car.

 

[FEandGoingBroke]

Don't do a bonded title... they screw with the paper title for years and like to scare off potential buyers... Go through the DMV/MVA whatever you call yours and ask hot to get a title! I got one for my '70 F100 without paying a dime. I used what is called a Mechanics Lean- easy way if you have $15 bucks to mail a certified letter...
The second and most honest way is to have the DMV search the VIN for the name of the last registered owner, and send them a letter! But you must know the last state it was titled in for it to work sufficiently...
Thirdly-- Make it a totally custom ride and stamp your OWN vin# into the dash and frame and tell the DMV to register and title it in your name because it's your car that you Custom Made... that's a little extreem but they do it with Dune Buggies and the odd stuff like that!

FE

 

[bytemydust]

On 2006-03-16 07:04, FEandGoingBroke wrote:
Don't do a bonded title... they screw with the paper title for years and like to scare off potential buyers... Go through the DMV/MVA whatever you call yours and ask hot to get a title! I got one for my '70 F100 without paying a dime. I used what is called a Mechanics Lean- easy way if you have $15 bucks to mail a certified letter...
The second and most honest way is to have the DMV search the VIN for the name of the last registered owner, and send them a letter! But you must know the last state it was titled in for it to work sufficiently...
Thirdly-- Make it a totally custom ride and stamp your OWN vin# into the dash and frame and tell the DMV to register and title it in your name because it's your car that you Custom Made... that's a little extreem but they do it with Dune Buggies and the odd stuff like that!

FE
-------------------------------------------------------------
FE...not to pick on you but, in Texas, a bonded title is the best way, and it guarantees any future buyer that someone won't/can't come claim the car, because they legally can't do it. It took ten days to get the title the last time I did this. This is the next step after the VIN search and letter to the previous owner, as you suggested above. The custom ride thing......not if it was ever a production car, nice thought though.

 

[FEandGoingBroke]

I saw a bonded title on a car on e-bay last week from texas as well, and the bidding was way out of the normal range for it, even similar car's to it in rougher shape were getting better bids because of the word bonded in the title... I like the fact that Texas will CYA for you with a bonded title though! That's sweet!

FE

 

[FEandGoingBroke]

P.S. I never feel picked on... I am easily corrected when faced with facts, and or majority opinion, unless I know something as a fact and someone tries to refute that I won't get offended.

 

[dacofa]

Just take the VIN down to a cop and have them run the numbers. That'll tell you everything right there. Your insurance company can do the samething.

 

[v8shadow]

Yeah, nip it in the bud and have the police do a vin check before you buy for sure. It is quick. Takes me about 1min on my cars laptop and that includes typing. IF it is stolen, you and potential seller be prepared to watch it go away on a tow truck to a police impound. Good luck man.

 

[mailmandon]

If you have a friend or relative in a non title state like Alabama,Georgia or some others that did not title cars until the 70's,you could get them to license it and tag it as their own and then sell it to you so you could get a title in your home state.

 

[rayell]

Alabama started titiling cars in 1975. Georgia in 1963. However you don't have to have the title on a car before 1986, to register one. If you have a car between 63 & 86, you can register it to drive: but you can not get a title for it. Not even a bonded title. You sell it with a Bill of Sale. I have tried every way to get a title on my 64 & 63.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: rayell on 3/17/06 4:48am ]</font>

 

[sharpshot71]

I dont know where you are from but whatever you do, dont believe what the poeple at the DMV tell you. I had the same thing, and i was told two differant things by two differant people at the DMV office. We went searching on the DMV website and found out that all you have to do in minnesota is have the seller write a report on why he doest have the title, a description of the car, and a bill of sale from the seller, and pictures of the car, and send it in and you get your new title.

We did that of course after checking with the sheriffs department to make sure its not stolen.

 

[nhrae402]

you can register the car in a non title state and then take the registration to the dmv in your state and they will issue a title in your name for that state. call an automotive title company in your area and they will handle it for you cost is around $300 but well worth it.

 

[MHumpy]

I am sure this will ruffle a few feathers here, but I really have to ask this...why is it whenever some one needs to find out how to register a car without a title, they ask here first? I know the idea behind this board is to share information and experience, but this is an issue concerning legalities. To me it makes more sense to contact your local DMV, or MVA about this...since THEY will be the ones you need to deal with, it would (at least to me) be the BEST place to start with since they are the ones who know what you need to do. Here you will get (like you already have) a boat load of different suggestions and ideas, different laws and opinions for almost all 50 states (and sometimes Canada too...don't want to leave our friends up North out

) and hardly will the info be accurate for your specific area or situation (like the suggestion about putting on a new VIN, if the vehicle came from the manufacturer with a VIN, and you change it...I do believe that is a Federal Offense...which is why if you read about the Shelby history, Shelby had to have FBI watch them closely as the changed the VIN's on the left over 69's to make them into 70 models). I do agree with Sharpshot, you can (and probably might ) be told conflicting information in regards to what you need to do by calling the DMV sometimes, if that happens, question them about it, or check out the DMV online, most information is already posted there for you and generally is accurate. You can also run it by your car insurance agent, since they need to insure the vehicle, they should have a decent working knowledge on what you need to do to accomplish this.
Again, I know I may ruffle a few feathers, and that is not my intention...but I feel when it comes to issues of legal nature...contact your local authorities on it, don't rely on the suggestions from people who are in other areas and states, every state has it's own "policy" on what it requires. That is just my opinion, so hopefully no offense is taken by this. I just would hate to see a posting at a later date where you took someones "advice" here and later it cost you a bunch of fines, court time...or worse you lose the car after fixing it all up.
Just my .02 cents worth.
Mike

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Humphrey351 on 3/17/06 12:30pm ]</font>

 

[rayell]

 

[Beoweolf]

On 2006-03-16 21:28, Humphrey351 wrote:
I am sure this will ruffle a few feathers here, but I really have to ask this...why is it whenever some one needs to find out how to register a car without a title, they ask here first? I know the idea behind this board is to share information and experience, but this is an issue concerning legalities. To me it makes more sense to contact your local DMV, or MVA about this...since THEY will be the ones you need to deal with, it would (at least to me) be the BEST place to start with since they are the ones who know what you need to do. Here you will get (like you already have) a boat load of different suggestions and ideas, different laws and opinions for almost all 50 states (and sometimes Canada too...don't want to leave our friends up North out

) and hardly will the info be accurate for your specific area or situation (like the suggestion about putting on a new VIN, if the vehicle came from the manufacturer with a VIN, and you change it...I do believe that is a Federal Offense...which is why if you read about the Shelby history, Shelby had to have FBI watch them closely as the changed the VIN's on the left over 69's to make them into 70 models). I do agree with Sharpshot, you can (and probably might ) be told conflicting information in regards to what you need to do by calling the DMV sometimes, if that happens, question them about it, or check out the DMV online, most information is already posted there for you and generally is accurate. You can also run it by your car insurance agent, since they need to insure the vehicle, they should have a decent working knowledge on what you need to do to accomplish this.
Again, I know I may ruffle a few feathers, and that is not my intention...but I feel when it comes to issues of legal nature...contact your local authorities on it, don't rely on the suggestions from people who are in other areas and states, every state has it's own "policy" on what it requires. That is just my opinion, so hopefully no offense is taken by this. I just would hate to see a posting at a later date where you took someones "advice" here and later it cost you a bunch of fines, court time...or worse you lose the car after fixing it all up.
Just my .02 cents worth.
Mike

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Humphrey351 on 3/17/06 12:30pm ]</font>

You echo the same sentiments voiced in the first reply. Again, this subject keeps coming up because its something that car guys are often tempted with. The issue is whether that "derelict" wreck is really a good project or is it what was leftover after being stripped. You don't have to go too far back to find pleas for assistance in tracking down someones stolen project.

Something for nothing is seldom worth the price.

If it really is a just a good deal, it should be able to stand up to a little scrutiny! Isn't it better to find out where you stand before you put any money into a project?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Beoweolf on 3/17/06 7:50pm ]</font>

 

[MHumpy]

I did reflect upon the first reply, I agreed with it as well. But I wasn't wanting to debate the issue of what one person feels is "worth it" compared to another, but I do agree with the reply.
My point is about asking for a specific answer that will get you tons of generic information, 99% of which won't help out the individual asking. The DMV,or MVA depending on your state, may not be the most fun to deal with...but they are the ones you HAVE to deal with...it is a legality issue, and I find if I ask my friends a question like this, alomost all of the times they have a great way to do it quick and dirty...never legally.
So cover your butt and ask the DMV...if you don't follow their rules, they can make your life very miserable!
Mike