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Car Title help!

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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Gentlemen - I have just discovered that the Ohio title for my 1957 Morris was never signed over to the company which sold me the car. All I have is a signed BOS (company to me) and a scan of the original Ohio title. Company never sent me the actual title.

Without the actual title, I can't register it with Connecticut DMV. I can't sell it to a new owner.

Ohio DMV shows the Ohio title is still active.

Would you have any advice on how I should proceed? I paid the seller and have the car now. But if the seller didn't actually have a valid title, is the car even mine?

oy

Tom M.
 
Last edited:
Thanks. For the last four years I've called and emailed the seller. No response.

Edit: the seller is a classic car company in Maine.

What is a bonded title? The current title is still an active Ohio title.
 
Time to engage a lawyer?
 
OK - maybe I'm dense again ... Connecticut does not issue titles for cars over 20 year old. Do I even need a bonded title?

The Ohio title is still shown as "active".

TM
 
I had to do something similar with a car that I bought in Georgia. I went through the bond process and it was actually very easy. I paid a fee and they issued a bond that protected me in the event that another owner surfaced later on. That said, I would contact the Ohio DMV and ask how long a car stays in their system.
 
Thanks! So the bond protects only me? or any future owners of the car?

The Ohio DMV still shows the title "active" eight years after the title was issued.
TM
 
NutmegCT said:
Gentlemen - I have just discovered that the Ohio title for my 1957 Morris was never signed over to the company which sold me the car. All I have is a signed BOS (company to me) and a scan of the original Ohio title. Company never sent me the actual title.

Without the actual title, I can't register it with Connecticut DMV. I can't sell it to a new owner.

Ohio DMV shows the Ohio title is still active.

Would you have any advice on how I should proceed? I paid the seller and have the car now. But if the seller didn't actually have a valid title, is the car even mine?

oy

Tom M.
Click to expand...

Possible Solution:
  1. Try to identify the titled owner. (Hopefully their name and address are on the scanned Ohio title.)
  2. Contact that person (or their estate, if deceased). Explain that the car was sold through an intermediary company who never transferred the title, and ask them to help correct the chain.
  3. Ask the original owner (or estate) to apply for a duplicate title at an Ohio DMV and sign it directly over to you. Most states allow only the titled owner to request a duplicate.
  4. Once you have the properly signed Ohio title, Connecticut can issue a new title in your name.
I had to go through a similar process when I bought my 1950 Daimler from a local guy who had bought it from an estate sale and the title was not properly signed over. It was a PITA but I finally got sorted out.

If you can't find the original owner/ estate or they are uncooperative, then contact your local DMV and ask what their process would be to establish legal ownership.
 
When we were in South Carolina, I had a similar situation. I went to motor vehicles, told them of the missing title, and they eventually sent out a retired state trooper to inspect and verify the MGB VIN number. He said everything looked ok and gave the report to motor vehicles, and they in turn, gave me a title for the car. I bought it from a college student who lost the title. PJ
 
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