Buying without a title

I've been checking threads on the HAMB site. A lot of discussion about cars without titles and engine swaps.
Laws have changed a lot over the years. Be very carefull when buying any vehicle without a title or with a title from another person or state.
A different engine, altered seriel numbers, or parts with non matching numbers can get the car impounded.
Not only can you loose your project car you can end up with hugh storage and towing fees.
Be sure to have documentation and lots of proof when applying for title and tag. Our hobbies have turned into money making con games and expensive business deals for many.

 

I am with you on that. It has changed so much in last few years I tend to stay away from no title cars. Mississippi issues "Bonded Titles" on old cars without titles but I was told Louisiana no longer recognizes them and will not let you transfer them. Not sure but it just seems more of a pain these days than anything.I prefer current paper work in current owner name. Just me some might have a way around it but I sure don't.

 

That's good advice from 1tire and the CatMan. We all know there's a huge amount of naughty people out there ready to prey on the uninformed and/or unsuspecting. Any legitimate seller should have proper paperwork.

 

I guess it depends what state you're in but getting a title is getting harder and harder all the time. I might still buy a parts car with no title but that's it. Bottom line is if a title was really that easy to get the seller would get one before selling.

 

DMV.org is a good place to check on what you as a seller or buyer need to know when you buy or sell a vehicle in your state or buy or sell to or from a person from out of state.
The number one thing is to never buy a car without proper documentation, even for parts. The judge will just tell you that ignorance is no excuse when you're sentenced to serve time in the hoosegow or fined for receiving stolen property, or an even worse crime in the eyes of the state, tax evasion.
It's the seller's obligation to obtain a duplicate title or to have the car re-titled if the title is lost or if they never had one for the vehicle. They aren't allowed to sell it without one so don't fall for the old you have to get one after you buy it line. Boneyards won't and can't even take cars for scrap without the proper paperwork.

 

Yes they CAN take them IF they have a salvage license and the proper paperwork is filled out.( then after 60 or so days they get a salvage title) But they cannot PAY for them, That's why I argue with idiots advertising that they buy junk cars with or without titles. I ask them do you have a salvage license? The reply is always oh yea I do LOL ok what's your license #(knowing that they are advertising that they BUY them) They have no reply or argue they don't need one ahhhh OH YES YOU DO! Just wait till you get caught with one that money is owed on or belongs to someone else!

 

All you need is a bill of sale and the vin number.
Just take that to the DMV and apply for a lost title.
It takes a few weeks while they do a title search but... you then get a clean title eventually.

 

In Arizona the only way to get a lost title is if the title on record is already in your name.

 

That's called "States Rights", and of course I was only speaking from experience here in the Beautiful Pacific NW... namely Oregon.

 

I think the biggest problem is every state has different title laws. New Hampshire doesn't title cars over 15 years old, Vermont didn't title cars until 1972.

 

Why is that a problem?
States Rights were set up to keep the Federal Government in check.
You don't like the way your state does what it does then change it through the normal procedures.
They are elected officials and under the thumb of the ballot box.

If we were to make Federal rules regarding our beloved automobiles.... you would NEVER get anything fixed or changed with-out appealing to a majority of states and billion people.
Instead you only have to appeal to few million individuals who live locally and are impacted locally to change laws.

All it takes is a ballot initiative and a few thousand signatures to get it on the ballot. Much easier!
Call your local state representative if you want to change the state rules regarding vehicle titles.

 

Titles

To argue about our government, laws, and our rights is a total waste of time.
The only reason I even wrote this thread was from the confusion over titling on the HAMB forum. It all started when an owner of an old hotrod Ford with a Chevy engine had his car impounded when he tried to get a title. The engine numbers had been tampered with.
It ended up that many were saying the engine number is the serial numbers. Of course this is not true. Most cars we buy and love have the serial numbers on a metal pad on the driver inner door post and on the firewall. On later cars it is on a pad located on the dash on the driver side visible from outside the windshield. On older vehicles the original serial numbers were stamped roughly at the firewall on the driver side of the frame. Also it was stamped several other places which were no longer accessable after the body was installed. Before this there were only a few cars with a number stamped anywhere.
The Model T in question may have had many other Model T engines replaced long before someone put in the small block Chevy engine. The police had a right to think the engine was stolen because of the tampered and punched out numbers using a pointed instrament. But that does not prove the Model T was stolen or even the engine.
I have several cars with later model Chevy engines and titles matching the original frame serial numbers. I could change engines every week and the title remains the same. Except for the size designation.
I also bought a 1946 Mercury without title. Dealer said it was lost. Surprisingly here in this small town I met the original car owner who had the original title that matches the bare frame. But the shyster dealer got it first and I paid $100 for the title. What a fool I was. it is illegal to sell a car without a title. He owed it to me.
When getting a title or tag, just make sure you have plenty of paperwork proving who owned the car and your name as the new owner. Also having receipts for parts helps.

 

Not in this state my friend.

 

Not here, either. Bill of sale means nothing on a titled vehicle transaction here.

We are subject to the state's determination of value on used vehicles...even with a bill of sale. Bought a fixer-upper Mustang GT for $1500...paid excise tax on $3500 because that's what our state's valuation was for it. Law even states that no consideration is made for condition or whether the vehicle is inoperable.

I'd guess it stems from all those "sharp thinker' guys that cheated the system for so long...you know the guys..."yes, I paid $400 for this 5 year old car"

 

Where we are in Florida we need a bill of sale for a reasonable amount and the title. So far never any problems.
Several years ago a friend built a 31 Model A woody of his own from parts of a two door sedan. He had someone from the State check it out and issue a metal plate with a VIN number and other information. Took a lot of time but he finally got a title and tag.