What to do w/o a title!
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 616
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From: WHITE LAKE, MI
What to do w/o a title!
I see lots of older vehicles for sale that the owners claim the title is lost, or just "no title". How do you buy one of these and protect yourself, legally, against anyone else claiming it? Anyone with experience at this?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
From: South Sioux City, NE USA
What to do w/o a title!
If the person selling the vehicle is the registered owner, they need to go to the DMV and request a new title. I know in Iowa, its $15 to get a duplicate title.
Roger Lane
Roger Lane
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,124
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From: Rural Florida Panhandle
What to do w/o a title!
Depending on which state, and how vintage-car friendly they are, you may be able to apply for a title with a bill of sale. There are a few places still around which will sell you a bill of sale for the vehicle, providing you sign a statement that it is not stolen, and that you have diligently searched for the original owner, etc. In some states, (Alabama, for example) the bill of sale is all you need for pre 1955 vehicles. You can then use that bill of sale to apply for a new title in your state, assuming you are not already in the state from which the bill of sale is made.
Another way to handle the problem is to buy two vehicles, one with a good title and nothing else of value, and one to restore. Then you can use the title on the restored one. You will need to move the ID tags over. This is really only parts-swapping to an extreme degree.
For example, you could replace all the parts on your 54 F100 except the glove box, and section of the frame with the id number stamped in it.
Winford
Another way to handle the problem is to buy two vehicles, one with a good title and nothing else of value, and one to restore. Then you can use the title on the restored one. You will need to move the ID tags over. This is really only parts-swapping to an extreme degree.
For example, you could replace all the parts on your 54 F100 except the glove box, and section of the frame with the id number stamped in it.
Winford
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