[Teej]

I know, I know...

Came across a guy selling a decent looking old 4 door. (Pre-1960) It's somewhat disassembled, interior is out. Rear seat is missing, door panels are gone. Starter just clicks so I haven't heard it run other than a video he had. Said it ran about a month ago.

But yeah, no title. He got it in trade and/or package deal and never got a title or registration. It's too nice to part out and it could be a decent deal, but I have yet to hear the success story from Florida.

What does a shop do if someone abandons a project car? Or if it's towed and not claimed?

I entered the VIN in the FL DMV site and it doesn't show up. The National Insurance Crime Board site has a VIN check but again it didn't show it as stolen. (No idea how accurate that is though..)

[David Jones]

There are no titles on Alabama cars of that age.

[goatless]

There are no titles on Connecticut cars of that age.

[goatless]

Living in a state that does not require titles on vehicles 20 years or older, I wouldn't let the lack of title be a concern to me.

[Teej]

Hmmm... So if I bought it from such a state, what does FL do?

[XLR8STEVE]

Michigan law: we almost had to go through this with a lost GTO title before we transferred it into our name. literally lost it right after purchasing vehicle. i am sure FL has something similar. See #3

If I lost the previous title before transferring the vehicle into my name and I can't find the previous owner, how can I get a title for my vehicle?

If you cannot locate the previous owner, it will be necessary to get:

1.A Court Order - A court order awarding ownership of a vehicle can be used if the order includes the year, make, and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle; or

2. A Surety Bond - Without a court order, you must obtain a surety bond. A surety bond is like an insurance policy, and is purchased by the applicant from an insurance company or bonding agency. It must be for twice the fair market value of the vehicle ("fair market value" can be established by a dealer appraisal or a recognized vehicle appraisal guide). The bond is posted for three years and is returned if no claims are filed during the three-year period, or

3.As a last resort when a Michigan vehicle title has been lost, destroyed, or stolen and the purchaser is unable to contact the previous owner for a duplicate title, a Michigan resident can self-certify ownership at a Secretary of State branch office if the vehicle is ten or more years old and valued at $2,500 or less. The self-certification procedure cannot be used for vehicles titled in another state or by nonresidents.


You will need to submit:

a) A completed TR-205 Certification of Ownership (available on-line at all Secretary of State offices) stating you are the rightful owner of the vehicle and including the vehicle description, the true value of the vehicle, and a complete explanation of how, when, where, and from whom the vehicle was acquired; and

b) Either of the following:
•A vehicle value appraisal completed by a licensed Michigan dealer, or
•A page printed from an on-line appraisal service such as Kelly Blue Book, N.A.D.A. Guides, Edmunds, etc. (www.kbb.com, www.nadaguides.com, www.edmunds.com).

On-line appraisal sites may provide multiple vehicle values (wholesale value, trade-in value, and retail value). Any of these values showing a value of $2,500 or less may be accepted.

[cdrookie]

i went through this when i bought my lemans in GA, them moved back to PA. You go by what the state you want to register it in says. It was a PITA for me to get the title, everyone I talked to gave me a different answer. There's places that specialize in getting you titles or registration so you can get the vehicle titled.

[Stuart]

People always respond with how titling is done in their state, but how they do it in your state is the only thing that matters.

SEMA has information on their website about how to title old cars, as a first step go there and see what they say about Florida. http://www.semasan.com/page.asp?cont...tling&g=semaga

[NEW64OWNER]

In Calif I wouldn't even bother with all the hoops DMV will make me jump through. From your description the car doesn't sound like it's worth the bother unless Fla makes it easy for you.

[72projectbird]

MA is a title state. I buy cars without titles all the time, and its very simple (here in MA anyway)

If the car has a registration in whatever state its in you're golden. Take the reg and bill of sale to the DMV, fill out an RMV-1 form, and wait for the new title to come in the mail.

You can buy cars without any paperwork, have a inspection done either by a police officer or garage, once that's done you apply for the title like you would normally.

I wont let paperwork stop me from buying a good car. Theres always a way to get it done.

[Chris65LeMans]

Originally Posted by Stuart

People always respond with how titling is done in their state, but how they do it in your state is the only thing that matters.

SEMA has information on their website about how to title old cars, as a first step go there and see what they say about Florida. http://www.semasan.com/page.asp?cont...tling&g=semaga

This.

[Teej]

More info:

Talk to a lady at the DMV here and she said they need some kind of proof of ownership. Old registration or something, even if it comes from a state that doesn't require a title. (I said I thought he brought it down from Georgia.) Guy has none of that.

So we got to talking and I ask if the FL DMV website VIN search covered just FL or nationwide, because I ran it through and nothing showed up. She said it was nationwide but would run it on her end. She comes back, "Is it a Pontiac?"

Turns out there is a Pennsylvania title in the system on the car from 2010. But she couldn't give me any more info, just that I have to track that person down.

[Teej]

Anybody in PA run a tow company or yard that can run a title number or VIN so I can get in touch with the people?

[GTOnly70]

Originally Posted by Stuart

People always respond with how titling is done in their state, but how they do it in your state is the only thing that matters.

SEMA has information on their website about how to title old cars, as a first step go there and see what they say about Florida. http://www.semasan.com/page.asp?cont...tling&g=semaga

Anybody from Canada or Australia want to chime in?

[nytrainer]

Originally Posted by GTOnly70

Anybody from Canada or Australia want to chime in?

In Mexico they don't need no stinking titles!

[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by Teej

Turns out there is a Pennsylvania title in the system on the car from 2010. But she couldn't give me any more info, just that I have to track that person down.

Yeah, you're hosed. It's in the system as being registered in a title state and the guy you'd get it from has no proof whatsoever that he owns it legally in a state half the country away. Run away.

[Sirrotica]

There is a way to get a title through a mechanics lien in PA. I used to live there and owned a garage, so it is possible if the bill is enough and the owner won't pay the storage/repairs to get a lien and then get a title from PA. My 73 T/A was left at a body shop damaged and the storage got high enough that the title holder (in my case a bank, because it was financed) just signed off the title. I now have a clear title on my 19,750 mile 73 T/A.

I won't tell you it was easy (nothing in PA concerning titles is easy because I have junked cars because of all the BS I've had trying to get titles in PA) it is however possible because I've done it. The mechanics lien angle makes it easier than trying to find the people that are on the title last.

It all depends on how much effort the car is worth to you.

PA mechanics lien statute: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI...63/0/0497..PDF

A wrecking yard legally needs titles to scrap cars in PA, the mechanics lien is how they get legal title without finding the last legal owner. Does every yard use it before they crush a car? Probably not, but the option is there to do it legally.

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by Stuart

People always respond with how titling is done in their state, but how they do it in your state is the only thing that matters.

SEMA has information on their website about how to title old cars, as a first step go there and see what they say about Florida. http://www.semasan.com/page.asp?cont...tling&g=semaga

X3. Just because the state of origin does not require a title does not mean you get a pass.

[Trulyvintage]

I hauled this 1922 Studebaker recently from Indiana to Pennsylvania.



The Seller - an older lady - signed over the title.

Turns out it was an open title from the 1960's that her husband
(who recently passed) never closed out when they bought the car
years ago ...

Neither she or her husband were listed on the title she signed over ...

They only drove the Studie on tours - had it insured - but never
had a legal title.

New owner now has to get a bonded title.

Always get a copy of the title front & back to review before purchase.
Make sure it is the name of the Seller you are dealing with ...


Jim

[dataway]

Wondering about my GTO that has been off the road for 35 years. Last registered and titled by me in Tenn. Still have the title and all, but NY is a non-title state for cars that old. But I DO NOT want to give up my original TN title .... which I heard you have to do to get a NY reggie. Wonder if they would allow a photocopy since at this point the 35 year old title I consider part of the provenance of the car and I would like to keep it. Rather than trade it for a crappy little piece of paper from NY.