My 1950 Ford F1 did not have a title nor a frame but I noticed on one of the photographs a VIN plate on the firewall and the owner gave me a close up pic and typed the number for me. I had worked with Louisiana state police before concerning a VIN number and they checked it last time but now they were telling me to go to the Office of Motor Vehicles. I called OMV to get more information. Anyway, I bought the truck after that by going with the owner to the notary public at his bank for a notorized bill of sale only. Louisiana easily accepted it and I had a title in two weeks. All this to say I moved from Virginia 25 years ago and it may be easier to title it in another state first and then import it into VA with a clear and clean title.

On my 1953 Chevy I had the original title and original bill of sale. The bill of sale I received from the current owner did not match up with the title nor did the prior owner before him. I paid a tow truck $100 to haul it to the state police and another $100 to haul it back home. LASP charged me $0 for the document. Took the paperwork to a notary and paid $$. Took said paperwork to a justice of the peace and paid $$. Court awarded ownership to happy me. Took document to OMV and applied for title $$. Six months total and I finally had a title. No one of that car, except the original owner (and me), bothered to put the title in their name. It would have been easier if the title were lost.

 

All I can say is good luck if you ever try to sell that truck to somebody in a state other than Louisiana. That 'plate' on the firewall is NOT a vin plate, but rather a patent data plate, that is not supposed to be accepted by any government or law enforcement agency as a legal identifying tag, that is why it is legal for companies to sell blank tags. The only true Serial number on these trucks is the one stamped in the frame.
In your scenario I could steal somebody's finished truck, swap the patent plate from a junker that has sat in the fields for 30 yrs and sell it to you for a handsome profit and walk away clean. This is the very reason that plate is NOT a vin plate.

 

That is good to know. I thought the attached plate was correct for a VIN and the stamping directly on the firewall was not a VIN. Reason I thought this; when LASP checked my Chevy VIN they looked at the plate in the doorway, not the frame.

 

What year chevy? BTW, VIN's didn't exist prior to 1954 and there was no accepted standard VIN until the current VIN system was established in 1981.

 

Well, then I won't mention who it was.

 

Agreed the 'running and roadworthy' thing is a pain if the truck (or in my case, motorcycle) isn't in good shape, but after it passes inspection they will still issue a provisional title that becomes a bonded title in three years without any paperwork whatsoever as long as the VIN does not come back stolen or embezzled. Not too many states will do that. In some states having no paperwork makes it literally impossible.

 

oThis is what the cal DMV told me and the CHP also said.
so I checked with some hot rod guys and they gave me the phone number of a gal who works/advises them, She also works for used car dealers
Got a non op took about 6 weeks she is a pro at this and cost some but she knows the law better than dmv

 

The state of Maine may be another exception. There is no title required on vehicles over 20 years old. Just need a simple bill of sale, evidence of insurance, pay exise taxes, and fill out a standard registration form.
If the vehicle is to be registered with antique plates that are exempt from inspections and exise, and extra form is required to swear that the vehicle will not be used as a primary vehicle.
Very simple.
I have bought three vehicles without titles that were formerly registered in other states and it only takes 10 minutes at town hall to get a set of plates and be on the road. To then sell that car to someone from another state is a little bit easy because Maine is recognized as a title free state. That buyer will have to go through less hassle to get a title issued in their name.

Has anyone mentioned this government website yet? It's about nationwide title searches.
National Motor Vehicle Title Information System

Tom



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I moved here in Tn from KY back in 2004, I did not license the 53 till around 2008, all i had from KY was a bill of sale. The truck was given to me from my Dad in 1979. I had to get a letter from the DOV of KY showing that titles were not used back then. I took the bill of sale, picture of the vin tag in glove box to the court house and the lady sent it all to Nashville, got a new TN title within 2 weeks.

 

There is a company that will title your vehicle in Maine on line, you can find them here:

https://www.getnewtitle.com/

I have used them in the past for motorcycles; because of PA laws however they will not title vehicles without titles from PA, you still must go through the courthouse there and take your chances.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm - The OP is asking about VA - What does it matter what they do in Bum F Egypt or any place else besides VA

 

The moral of the story is: Every state is different, some much more difficult than others. It is getting more difficult every day as the FEDs and insurance co. are pressuring the states to crack down to reduce auto thefts, black marketing and "washing" of salvage titles. There was a real big stink (in more ways than one) after hurricane Sandy because a lot of storm damaged and salt water flooded new and used vehicles were having their titles transferred thru several states, washing them of any indication that they had been flooded/salvaged and then resold at a huge profit to unsuspecting buyers.
Don't take anyone else's word for it no matter how much it is offered in good faith, unless they work at YOUR state's DMV, Contact your state DMV preferably main office in your state capitol, or research their online info site. Don't be afraid to ask to talk to a senior supervisor if whoever you first get doesn't seem to know or be interested in helping you. Then don't delay getting a valid title in your name, the rules could change tomorrow leaving you with a very expensive lawn ornament.

 

You send your info to the company in Maine, they title it there and send it back to you. You then transfer the Maine title to VA.

 

That's called Washing The Title - That is what DMV's and Police are cracking down on - It is illegal - There are members of this forum that are Police Officers - They don't patrol the site but if the see you doing something they will speak up - After that it's up to you where it goes to

 

There used to be a title mill in Nevada but I believe that they are long gone. Too bad that some thieves and low-lifes have taken advantage of lenient ways to re-title old cars and trucks and "washing the title" is no longer an option to save an old one from being junk or just parts.