Cars without Titles

I was doing my regular craigslist browsing the other day and came across an old ford torino that caught my interest. The seller had dropped the price once or twice and did'nt give too many details but judging by the pictures it should at least be acceptable as a parts car for my 68' fairlane. Now if by some divine power the car actually turns out to be usable how hard is it to get a title for a car when you have purchased it with only a bill of sale? I live in Pennsylvania if anyone has had to go through the process here before.

It depends entirely on the state you live in. About the best thing you could do right now is call up your local title place (state, county, however they do it there) and just ask them. "If I buy a 1968 car with not title and with a bill of sale, how do I get a title?" Here in Arkansas, the law recently changed to make it easy on 25+ year old vehicles, but that doesn't help you there. That's how I got the title on my Europa, missing one chain of ownership document from a PO that is currently living on the street as a homeless person somewhere in the midwest, according to his sisters.

www.its-titles.com

The DMVs in some states may give you a hard time if you show up with a title from one of those title services, as they can also be used to launder stolen vehicles. As mentioned, check with your DMV first - many states have a pretty easy method to apply for a lost title that will cost less anyway. The information is often on their websites.

I've always wondered about all the old cars and motorcycles out there with lost titles...how do you lose a title, anyway? It just seems like an odd thing to me.

Edit: I had a '69 Torino GT when I was in college. It was a great car until the rust took over - the front seat was propped up on 2x4s, the driver's side rear quarter panel fell off one day when I was driving down the road (I heard this flap flap flap BANG noise, looked in the rear view mirror and saw this big chunk of metal laying in the road), and eventually one of the rear springs broke in two.

The legal way isn't so cheap in Florida.

They look up the registered title holder via VIN, then send them a letter asking them to authorize the DMV to give the Bill of Sale holder (you) their contact info, and you have them sign the title over to you, or if they don't have one, have them request a duplicate title (~$35?) then sign it over to you. If they don't get back to the DMV in a "reasonable amount of time" (deemed by you) you can go to court and have it signed over to you by the court for only $300.

I'm in this sort of deal now... have been for 2 years and the car is finally driveable... but I only paid $500 for the damn car (more in it now), I'm not trying to spend $300 more just for the damn title... (the registered title holder never got back to the DMV... or RMV or whatever)

The DMV LOVES paperwork. Paperwork that no will ever look at or check, ever again.

I have heard that some people "find" the old owner, have them "fill out" the paperwork, than "sign" the vehicle over. Obviously you will want to be very certain the vehicle is not stolen. A VIN inspection of some sort may also be required...

Stuc wrote: The legal way isn't so cheap in Florida. They look up the registered title holder via VIN, then send them a letter asking them to authorize the DMV to give the Bill of Sale holder (you) their contact info, and you have them sign the title over to you, or if they don't have one, have them request a duplicate title (~$35?) then sign it over to you. If they don't get back to the DMV in a "reasonable amount of time" (deemed by you) you can go to court and have it signed over to you by the court for only $300. I'm in this sort of deal now... have been for 2 years and the car is finally driveable... but I only paid $500 for the damn car (more in it now), I'm not trying to spend $300 more just for the damn title... (the registered title holder never got back to the DMV... or RMV or whatever)

crap. any idea how different that is if the vehicle came from out of state and is title exempt? I'm going to want to register the challenge car at some point after the challenge..

How can there be so many vehicles without titles floating around? In my case, I had a '60 TR3 and put the title in a place where the person who had custody of the car could find it. If that person forgets, and/or if I forget, or that person moves....well, you get the idea.

I also once owned a '69 VW that I don't remember ever receiving the title to (I traded a 914 to a friend for it). He must have gotten the title for the 914, as he subsequently re-sold it.

I have titles for 2 cars at the moment, even tho I physically only have custody to 1. What happened? I stupidly let someone buy the other car on a payment plan, but they decided to fxxx me by "skipping out" on half the purchase price and this person just disappearred. It's been 5 years and I still have the title....don't want the car back at this point.

In Georgia, you can register anything from 1985 or earlier with no title as long as you have a bill of sale signed by the previous owner. I've bought three different cars that way and it's never been a hassle.

SC is a biatch if you don't have a title. Not sure it can be done at all. Boats are hard to do too, but they can be re-titled. You have to take out ads etc.

Some of the titling companies have been investigated. I would use them with caution. As advised, call the state and ask.

I used a title company for an 83 car once, had no problems with the transfer.

NY also will send the last registered owner a new title if it's requested and then you have to have him sign it over to you. However, I worry about this method because what's to say he was the last titled owner but not the guy you bought it from and he decides, " Hey, maybe that 87 so and so was worth something after all", and then he refuses to sign over the title and claims the car stolen??

I'll use the title company, thank you, and take my chances that way.

I'm thoroughly amazed at the number of people I see trying to sell cars for which they lost the title, and they won't even try to get a new one issued. The state has it on file, just write and ask for a new one. If they won't try to do something that minor that will mean so much to the purchaser, they probably didn't take good care of the car either.

spitfirebill wrote: I'm thoroughly amazed at the number of people I see trying to sell cars for which they lost the title, and they won't even try to get a new one issued. The state has it on file, just write and ask for a new one. If they won't try to do something that minor that will mean so much to the purchaser, they probably didn't take good care of the car either.

In Connecticut, you have to fill out a lost title form, submit it to DMV with a check and then wait 4 to 6 weeks for a new title to be issued. People are often too cheap or lazy to bother.

I'm from PA so I've looked into this, but have no personal experience.

Had a friend get a car this way, was told he could have the car if he could get the title. His wife is a notary so she did the paperwork. I guess the big deal is if the application is accepted. It costs you $20 to fill out the paperwork, if you don't get it approved, no title.

Quoting directly here;

Replacing a lost title is simple. Complete Form MV-38 O, Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title and submit it to your local service center or messenger center office by mail to the address below.

If your title has been stolen, report the theft to local law enforcement and submit a copy of the report with your application.

The fee for a replacement title is $22.50.

• PA Department of Transportation

  • Bureau of Motor Vehicles

  • Harrisburg, PA 17104-2516

the address, and paperwork

good luck

But, if the seller has a lien on the car, and that is the reason for "no title", looks to me like you could be seriously screwed. There are lots of title loan companies out there, so watch out for that.

In Ohio the answer is easy, find another car with a title.

Depends on the state and the age.

GA doesn't require a title to register a 1985 or older car. And they WON"T ISSUE ONE. So when I sell my 1960 El Camino street rod to one of you guys from another state, we will have to deal with this.

They also have a reasonably easy way to register a newer car with no title. It's called a bonded title. Basically you buy a bond from an insurance company at a fairly reasonable rate. This is essentially an insurance policy in case the car is reported stolen. If it is not reported stolen for a short period (I think 2 years), they will issue you a new title.

Sounds like there's a fair share of Florida and Pennsylvania folks on here so I'll ask.

I bought my Challenge car from guy who never transferred the Pennsylvania title to his name. The original owner signed it and dated it but left everything else blank, which is good. There's a spot for a notary seal so do I HAVE to have his signature notarized for Pennsylvania to release the title to Florida? I'm applying for a Florida title since that's where my residency is. Would Florida even care?

Take a copy <<<<<<<<<< copy not the original !!! iinto your local tag agency and "ask Can you help me with this title transfer "" show copy >> I need to know what to tell this owner he is going to send the title to me <<< big lie but they dont need to know that . Make sure you get his or her name and they will give you a form of everything that is wrong . Then make sure you go back to the same person next time after you have straightened out title .

Karl La Follette wrote: Take a copy <<<<<<<<<< copy not the original !!! iinto your local tag agency and "ask Can you help me with this title transfer "" show copy >> I need to know what to tell this owner he is going to send the title to me <<< big lie but they dont need to know that . Make sure you get his or her name and they will give you a form of everything that is wrong . Then make sure you go back to the same person next time after you have straightened out title .

If that doesn't work try these people "Best Lien & Title Service" in Miami (305) 267-8813 and speak with Marlen. It will cost you more than the DMV but a lot less hassel. She had the new title in my name sent to me in less than 2 weeks, I had been trying for 6 months to do it the way the DMV was telling me to do it.

Bruce, I went through almost exactly what you describe with my Europa. Owner #2 sold to Owner #3 25 years ago with signed Illinois title, rest blank. Owner #3 never transfered title. I bought from #3, got bill of sale, filled in my name on the title, sent off paperwork (Arkansas). Little Rock freaked. I was one transfer chain short (#2 to #3 Bill of Sale). Tried to locate #2, who, near as any of his family can tell, is living on the streets somewhere in the midwest. My options were bonded title (about $200), sue the state of Arkansas (about $175 with me being my own lawyer, I've done this before for the Locost title), or, gosh, there is this new thing that they almost forgot to mention to me. Cars over 25 years old can now be registered as Antique and transferred with just a bill of sale. But, I needed liability insurance. No problem. Clicky clicky on Geico.com, print, back down again. Got a title now. I'll spot Geico 6 months of insurance, I still come out about $75 ahead of suing the state, and I save a lot of time.

Every state is different. Just telling you how it works here.

Thanks you guys. I just sent off an email to PA to see what they had to say. I'm close enough to PA that I can run up there if I need to.

As for Florida, the ladies down in Sarasota County know me and help me out regularly. I've been doing crazy stuff like this since I've been in the Air Force.

Dr. Hess wrote: sue the state of Arkansas (about $175 with me being my own lawyer, I've done this before for the Locost title)

I simply must know why you have to sue the state? What are you suing them for? How does it work?

I'm not from Arkansas, but this seems weird to me so I must know why.

Daniel

Dr. Hess wrote: sue the state of Arkansas (about $175 with me being my own lawyer, I've done this before for the Locost title)

Dang, you're an Esq. too? Is there a Big Box Store Poof in your future, Hess?