Title trouble, creative solution?
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 515
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Title trouble, creative solution?
Here's my new situation. My (new) '73 F100 project truck was given to my grandpa by a neighbor of his. The gentleman has passed away about 5 years ago, and my grandfather never got the title from him. From what I've researched, I need to apply for the title as if the vehicle had been abandon. Is that correct?
If that doesn't work, I have another idea: How much of a vehicle needs to be original for the title to apply to it? My Grandpa has two '69 f100s that have been rolled, both of which are titled in his name. My '73 is a rolling shell, just the body, frame, suspension, wheels, and rear axle. How much of a '69 do I need to transfer into my truck (or vice versa) to have my '73 under a '69 title. What do guys do who swap out the cab, bed and motor for older or newer ones? What if they swap out the frame, or use a custom frame? See what I'm getting at.
(Where does the DMV's fist end and my nose begin?)
If that doesn't work, I have another idea: How much of a vehicle needs to be original for the title to apply to it? My Grandpa has two '69 f100s that have been rolled, both of which are titled in his name. My '73 is a rolling shell, just the body, frame, suspension, wheels, and rear axle. How much of a '69 do I need to transfer into my truck (or vice versa) to have my '73 under a '69 title. What do guys do who swap out the cab, bed and motor for older or newer ones? What if they swap out the frame, or use a custom frame? See what I'm getting at.
(Where does the DMV's fist end and my nose begin?)
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 874
Likes: 0
From: Ashland, KY
People build crazy things and from what My DMV told me as long as your title and vin match then you are ok. But what ever you title the truck is what it is. Thats how people do frame swaps and so on. The truck I just bought had 5 yrs back property tax on it. They went off what it books for b/c of it being 25 plus yrs old and I was going to have to pay tax on $8900. YEAH right. She calls frankfort and 4 days later the truck had classic tags on it and I gave her the old tag which was a regular tag and I paid $18.60 instead of $461 dollars. So that tells me if your paper work is right and you at least pay them some kind of money then they are happy.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 796
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
If it was me and I was just going to drive it. I would put one of the 69 vin #'s on the 73 door and call it a 69. Alot of the frame #'s you can't read anymore even If you know where to look. I have never seen anyone look any farther as long as the vin matches the title.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: Chico, CA
The problem with swapping the vin on the door to the '69 is that any cop with a little tiny bit of knowledge about these trucks will realize that you have a dentside and not a bumpside, then will start to question everything.
I've done the abandoned vehicle title deal, and besides a bit of paperwork, and the requisite walk-around by a cop, I also needed to get insurance in case the original owner decided to make a claim on the vehicle (cost me about $50).
I don't know what it's like in your state, but for me it was fairly easy.
That said, my daily driver is titled and licensed as a '77 F150 because that's what the body is from. My frame however is from a '76 F250 and still has the original vin on it. I'm not worried about ever getting in trouble for it, as unless it's stolen and I need to file a report, no cop will ever know or ask.
I've done the abandoned vehicle title deal, and besides a bit of paperwork, and the requisite walk-around by a cop, I also needed to get insurance in case the original owner decided to make a claim on the vehicle (cost me about $50).
I don't know what it's like in your state, but for me it was fairly easy.
That said, my daily driver is titled and licensed as a '77 F150 because that's what the body is from. My frame however is from a '76 F250 and still has the original vin on it. I'm not worried about ever getting in trouble for it, as unless it's stolen and I need to file a report, no cop will ever know or ask.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 796
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
Yeah I think ShamelessMt is right the 69 thing would be harder to pull. Might be one or 2 smart cops out there yet. If it was a dent side though I would say no problem.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I'm not sure how things work where you are, but here in CA if a car/truck is not registered, etc. for 7 years then it leaves the DMV system.
You might look into a mechanic's lein (which will get you a new title). In CA the DMV has a packet that will walk you through the mechanic's lein.
In a lein you would state the vehicle has been left on your property and you need reimbursement for the storage fees. You will "auction" the car to re-coop what you are owed (no one will typically show for your "auction"). The DMV will have you send notices to all previous owners of the truck telling them of the auction, but if the truck is out of the system - no one will be on file to send notice to...
If someone is on file - claim that the "storage fees" for having the vehicle on your property are $5k or something more than the truck is really worth and explain that this is what the auction should start at, and therefore no one will bid.
If no bidder shows and buys the truck then it reverts to your ownership.
You take the lein paperwork to the DVM and you get a new title (with VIN verification - so be careful on the 69 parts swap here). You will most likely have to have a vehicle inspection to get the truck back on the road.
You might look into a mechanic's lein (which will get you a new title). In CA the DMV has a packet that will walk you through the mechanic's lein.
In a lein you would state the vehicle has been left on your property and you need reimbursement for the storage fees. You will "auction" the car to re-coop what you are owed (no one will typically show for your "auction"). The DMV will have you send notices to all previous owners of the truck telling them of the auction, but if the truck is out of the system - no one will be on file to send notice to...
If someone is on file - claim that the "storage fees" for having the vehicle on your property are $5k or something more than the truck is really worth and explain that this is what the auction should start at, and therefore no one will bid.
If no bidder shows and buys the truck then it reverts to your ownership.
You take the lein paperwork to the DVM and you get a new title (with VIN verification - so be careful on the 69 parts swap here). You will most likely have to have a vehicle inspection to get the truck back on the road.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,680
Likes: 1,000
From: Near Yosemite CA
You can also apply for a "lost title", I picked up a truck, lady had no title, hadn't been registered in yrs, went to DMV explained it to her, she looked up VIN, had me fill out a request for duplicate title due to loss, and pay to register,,, all done in one trip, I did have a bill of sale, that helped out. One thing to consider, I live in the mtns, and we have a small DMV,,, 3 people work there, so it is easier to deal with them, I HATED the DMV's down south there where ChaseTruck is... was there for 12+ yrs dealing with them 
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I was told by a DMV employee that when I took my truck off of the non op status that I would have to pay for the ENTIRE registration cost for all the years (5 or more) it has been filed on non-op. I was trying to explain that she was wrong, and that was the entire point of non-op - to keep the vehicle IN the system, but you are not using/driving the truck - so why pay all regular registration fees/road taxes.
She sat there and argued with me - even know she was completely wrong. I went back to the DMV later and pulled the truck off no-op using a different employee and I only paid for the registration for coming year the truck was going to be used! Man I love morons who get paid to do something and don't know how to do their job!
Also - I have called the state DMV headquarters in Sacramento to get back fees due on a vehicle. I then went straight to the local DMV and got a completely different total on the SAME vehicle/VIN. WTF is up with that?
Sorry for the
rant - but Pickupmanx2 reminded me how much I hate the DMV!
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 515
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Thanks guys. I feel a lot better about the outlook now.
Alot of guys around here have fabricated 3-wheel motor cycles or dune buggy's with VW Bug titles, not one stitch of VW parts on them, and they pass my house everyday on the highway.
I'm in NC, I tried using the DMV website, but it's not very good, it's very confusing, with a horrible search engine, and the documents are a pain to navigate. I think I'm going to call the highway patrol station with an anonymous question about abandon vehicle/lost title. From what they tell me, I'll go from there.
Alot of guys around here have fabricated 3-wheel motor cycles or dune buggy's with VW Bug titles, not one stitch of VW parts on them, and they pass my house everyday on the highway.
I'm in NC, I tried using the DMV website, but it's not very good, it's very confusing, with a horrible search engine, and the documents are a pain to navigate. I think I'm going to call the highway patrol station with an anonymous question about abandon vehicle/lost title. From what they tell me, I'll go from there.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I would also call the DMV and tell them you are looking at buying a vehicle and want to see if there are any back fees due on the registration. Give them the VIN and license plate number and see what they say. If they say "sorry sir - that vehicle is no longer in the system" - then ask them how one would go about titling such a vehicle...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 17
From: Hesperia, CA
ChaseTruck has a good idea here. It would even be better if your DMV website has an email feature. (Some do) Then you could get the info and print it out and take it with you to the DMV. That would eliminate any arguments with the morons.
I think most government or large websites are this way. They make them more confusing in trying to make them "easier" to navegate. Simply annoying!
Good plan!
I would also call the DMV and tell them you are looking at buying a vehicle and want to see if there are any back fees due on the registration. Give them the VIN and license plate number and see what they say. If they say "sorry sir - that vehicle is no longer in the system" - then ask them how one would go about titling such a vehicle...
Good plan!
I would also call the DMV and tell them you are looking at buying a vehicle and want to see if there are any back fees due on the registration. Give them the VIN and license plate number and see what they say. If they say "sorry sir - that vehicle is no longer in the system" - then ask them how one would go about titling such a vehicle...