-
Hey Guest!
British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!**Upgrade Now**
(PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Car title
- Thread starter budk1953
- Start date
Share this page
tomshobby
Yoda
Offline
One of the first steps here in Wisconsin is to do a search to see if it is stolen. If it does not show up as stolen then we can get a provisional title which means that a legitimate owner can claim the car for a period of time, three years, I believe, and that is <span style="text-decoration: underline">after the provisional title is issued</span>.
The thing is that somewhere and at some time the car did belong to someone. The question is, does that person(s) still have a legal claim. This was the final deciding factor that caused me to not go ahead with a project I once had in mind. I could not see putting a lot of money into a vehicle and with the chance that someone might come along and want it back. In which case they would not have to reimburse me a dime.
The thing is that somewhere and at some time the car did belong to someone. The question is, does that person(s) still have a legal claim. This was the final deciding factor that caused me to not go ahead with a project I once had in mind. I could not see putting a lot of money into a vehicle and with the chance that someone might come along and want it back. In which case they would not have to reimburse me a dime.
longbridgehealey
Obi Wan
Offline
I just applied for a replacement title in Maryland. Luckily for me, the title originated in MD, so it was an easy process. However, I would think the search method would be basically the same in any state. They were able to find the original title number by cross referencing the VIN #. Then we were able to request a replacement title with the title number. If you know what state the car was last titled in, you go go through this process, however you would need the co-operation of the last owner of record.
As far as the online title services, I think you technically sell the car to them, they obtain a title in a state the honors a bill of sale, and then they resell the car to you with a good title. I think it's rather expensive, but I don't really know, I've never used their services. They were my next option if the Maryland title search didn't work.
Good Luck,
Larry
As far as the online title services, I think you technically sell the car to them, they obtain a title in a state the honors a bill of sale, and then they resell the car to you with a good title. I think it's rather expensive, but I don't really know, I've never used their services. They were my next option if the Maryland title search didn't work.
Good Luck,
Larry
Banjo
Yoda
Offline
Personally, I'd go through your state's DMV to obtain the title. Every once in a while you hear of those onlins sites getting nailed by the feds for "title washing" and all the owners of cars titled through them are stuck. Even if they claim to be 100% legal, it's still a shady way of getting a title. They usually charge between 100$ 200$ depending on the age of the car.
It can be a daunting task depending on your states laws, but you're better off in the long run.
It can be a daunting task depending on your states laws, but you're better off in the long run.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Is it an MGB? If so, what year?
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
o, if someone has an old, rusty car with a good title...just switch their VIN tags to yours & use their title....after they've crushed theirs.
TR4nut
Yoda
Offline
I just went through this here in Texas - I did use some online help, but it was specific to Texas titles. In Texas, wading through the DMV rules is a bit of a pain, mostly to come up to speed with all the requirements. If you go the online route, I recommend finding someone who can helps specifically with Maryland DMV rules.
Randy
Randy
Healeysince59
Jedi Warrior
Offline
I am going thru this now in Arizona. I have a Calif title that was signed over to a buyer in 1972. It went thru 3 more owners before it got to me. Each transaction occurred on bills of sale which I have. Arizona doesn't recognize a BOS and the '72 title isn't signed to me so they don't recognize that either. I have to get a Bond to protect the state. Looks like it will take about 90 days and about $250. Part of that is to a title agent to have them wade through the DMV process. I could have gone with one of those services that sell you a title (most are based in Alabama) but they just didn't smell right.
Story: I have a friend that bought a Porsche 912 from a used car dealer and drove it for over 20 years. He sold it to a friend in Texas who started to restore it. He had the body work finished and took it to the Texas DMV for verification and registration. The Texas DMV located the "Hidden" VIN stamp and found the car had been stolen before my friend bought it. It was confiscated and, since too much time had elapsed to locate the legitimate owner, the JP said "Crush It".
Marv J
Story: I have a friend that bought a Porsche 912 from a used car dealer and drove it for over 20 years. He sold it to a friend in Texas who started to restore it. He had the body work finished and took it to the Texas DMV for verification and registration. The Texas DMV located the "Hidden" VIN stamp and found the car had been stolen before my friend bought it. It was confiscated and, since too much time had elapsed to locate the legitimate owner, the JP said "Crush It".
Marv J
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
They've pretty much put those on-line services that go to easy states to acquire a title out of business...thank goodness!
In Alabama, there is no title until the car is a 1975 model....so, it's easy to get the proper paperwork in Alabama.
Wonder how many DMV's know where the hidden VIN is on a 1972 Midget? & there are no hidden VIN's on most early MGB's!
In Alabama, there is no title until the car is a 1975 model....so, it's easy to get the proper paperwork in Alabama.
Wonder how many DMV's know where the hidden VIN is on a 1972 Midget? & there are no hidden VIN's on most early MGB's!
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Yep - under & just behind the passenger front shock...but the ones on my Midgets are stamped into the 'frame rail'.
OP
budk1953
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Well stopped and got the VIN, the car also apparently was last registered in NY state in 1986. Seller has no clue about title. I stopped at the MVA and the nice lady told me without a title forget it, she also said a friendly state trooper could possibly run the VIN. Tomorrow I'll try NY and see what they say.
Still might grab both cars but the intent was to keep the Midget and part out the MGB, now I might have to do the opposite. The VIN on the MGB is a little different, ends in 3000000G.
Bud
Still might grab both cars but the intent was to keep the Midget and part out the MGB, now I might have to do the opposite. The VIN on the MGB is a little different, ends in 3000000G.
Bud
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
First off...that's a RWA Midget...if it's solid, don't part it out...
& that MGB VIN will also cause you problems!
& that MGB VIN will also cause you problems!
AweMan
Jedi Knight
Offline
A mechanics lien or storage lien might be another way to go.
you place a lien on the vehicle then after a waiting period while the state notifies the last legal owner of the lien. If they do not respond within a certain time frame you can then obtain a legal title. {Rules may vary in your state}
I know in the State of Utah if you want to dispose of a vehicle you must have a valid title and be the legal owner. {A signed notarized title will work}. Even if you cut the vehicle into pieces, if it is recognizable as a vehicle the salvage yards can not legally dispose of it without the title. {Takes a lot of cutting to disguise a vehicle} {dont ask me how I know this}
The best way to dispose of a non titled vehicle here is tow it onto the side of the roadway take anything that can identify it to you off of it and leave it, let the state impound it. If it has ever been registered or titled to you that won`t work either.
I CAN be a REAL P.I.T.A. to get rid of a lost or non titled vehicle here!
you place a lien on the vehicle then after a waiting period while the state notifies the last legal owner of the lien. If they do not respond within a certain time frame you can then obtain a legal title. {Rules may vary in your state}
I know in the State of Utah if you want to dispose of a vehicle you must have a valid title and be the legal owner. {A signed notarized title will work}. Even if you cut the vehicle into pieces, if it is recognizable as a vehicle the salvage yards can not legally dispose of it without the title. {Takes a lot of cutting to disguise a vehicle} {dont ask me how I know this}
The best way to dispose of a non titled vehicle here is tow it onto the side of the roadway take anything that can identify it to you off of it and leave it, let the state impound it. If it has ever been registered or titled to you that won`t work either.
I CAN be a REAL P.I.T.A. to get rid of a lost or non titled vehicle here!
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Which car? the MGB or Midget?budk1953 said:
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
So, after you've checked with your state....contact Jack Laird...he's getting ready to crush a Midget - don't know if he has VIN & title for it though.