Hot Rods How do you guys go about getting a title/ paperwork for a car that doesn’t have any? (California)

I’m in a spot where I can purchase a 1959 ford ranchero with a 352 ford. The guy doesn’t have the paperwork/ title for it though. He’s my neighbor and he’s had it for 15 years, but the guy he got it from before didn’t have any paperwork either.

i know some of you might think it’s sketchy, but I’ve known my neighbor for years and I do trust him.

I myself actually had a field find 1957 ford country sedan. Bought it with a bill of sale, but sold it because I didn’t have time for it. No title or anything.

But this ranchero I REALLY want and I want the title. How would someone in the state of California go about doing this, and approximately how much would it be? I can maybe use that in a price negotiation

 

!. Do a HAMB search-this comes up-a lot.
2. Do a California DMV website search. Things change

Good luck

 

I would first call one of the private pro registration services. Last time I did they ran the VIN right while I was on the phone to see if it was in any databases (someone name, non op, stolen etc.). You'll need a VIN verification, someone (DMV, CHP, licensed private) to check the VIN in person and fill out the form, either come to where it sits or towed to their location. Then you can apply for a new title. I had the pro do it all for me, was around $400 but that was 8 years ago.

 

Get a bill of sale from the seller. Go to the DMV to get ALL of the papers needed. Take the VIN with you if you can't take the Ranchero.
Have a lot of money in your pockets in case the DMV wants you to pay all or some of the back fees. You might get lucky on the fees.
My Dad went through this many years ago and it worked out great.
Don't listen to conspiracy theories about the DMV.

 

I'd have the seller do all of this. I wouldn't spend a dime on someone else's car unless I knew I could get a title for it. Unless I needed a parts car. If you really want the vehicle, offer to go with the seller to the DMV and do it together.

 

Re-reading the OP's post, I'm not even sure who is the legal owner of the car-the current holder or the person he bought it from 15 years ago, or even someone before that?

 

Yep, you may trust your neighbor but can the person he got it from be trusted? You really have no idea how many hands this has passed through without any paperwork. Whatever route you take, don't spend too much money because this could possibly come up stolen and "poof" there goes the car and your cash.

 

I know this is a little irrelevant but. In Arizona they can run the vin.# and see if it is stolen or even in the books. Then you can bring it to the DMV and they have to look at the Vin. and you can do a Bonded title. They look up the price of it and you go to an insurance company and buy a bond for that amount. It protects you if a owner pops up and proves it belongs to them. They issue you a bonded title and in I think it's 3 years it turns into a regular title. Last one I did cost $125.00 about a year ago.

 

Same posted a few days ago
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...stration-in-california.1267834/#post-14528859

 

Look up the Vermont loophole

 

How do you get a title for a car that has no title in California?

If you don't have the California Certificate of Title, you need to use an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) to transfer ownership. The lienholder's release, if any, must be notarized. The buyer should then bring the completed form to a DMV office and we will issue a new registration and title.

In your case it's going to be difficult because the original owner never gave your neighbor a title, I don't know the laws in California, because of the lack of a title I have had to pass on a couple of cars I wanted desperately, but the South Carolina DMV just will not issue a title without the past owners title. a bill of sale doesn't work. HRP

 

There is an exemption for late fees for some of the old cars but I don't remember the cut off dates. Without the exemption the fees could be considerable.

DON"T start working on it until the paperwork is clean!!!

Charlie Stephens

 

You can say that again, so I will:
DON"T start working on it until the paperwork is clean!!!

 

Vehicle code section 4604 (d) (3) exempts vehicles described in VC 5004 from the Planned Non-operation program. VC 5004 describes vehicles of historic value ("at least 25 years old and of historic interest"). It does not say that the car has to be registered under 5004, just has to meet the description.

 

For which the DMV will laugh at you,regardless of weather you have the vehicle code with you or not.

 

To answer your question, paper trail . Bill of sale, and power of attorney , signed, from your neighbor, or last registered owner, if it's in the system, statement of facts, application for new title, vin verification if out of system , and a weight certificate California is supposed to purge records after 12 years of inactivity. Any search is activity. My current 59 Ford truck has back fees, despite being abandoned 20 years,word to the wise(I found the owner) . A title company that deals in classic cars is well worth the effort. I have done this at least 7 times I can remember, by myself and with a title company. I recommend Ken Leek at Peninsula registration service. Pay the fees, let him do the work. You will need a truck and trailer, and it's easier to get a weight certificate if it runs. A lien sale can also be done, based on towing and storage fees.

 

If the the vehicle is out of the CA DMV system...there are no "back fees". Call Sacramento and give them the VIN, they will tell you if it still exists. If not, it is a pretty simple process. This has been covered before...too many times.

 

If the vehicle is in the system, you are hard pressed to get the DMV to recognize the vehicle code. I have argued this point with relevant documentation at multiple offices.

 

BINGO!!! If all of the above becomes a hassle, try this.

 

As stated, your first stop should be Ken Leek.
https://www.peninsularegistrationservices.com/

I used them when his mother (Donna) ran the company. My '54 Ford had been sitting in a field for 20 years. No title, no registration and multiple owners prior to the guy I bought it from. All I had was a handwritten bill of sale. 2 phone calls and 1 email to Donna plus a check for $400 got me a new title in my name titled as a '54, up to date registration, the car placed on non-op and new plates if I wanted to use them or I could use the original plates.
With that said, that happened in 2016. Apparently, there's been some changes since then. Hopefully, Gimpyshotrods will chime in with details.

Give Ken Leek a call and see what he can do for you. That was the best $400 I've spent on the car!

 

The major downside to this is you have to pay a percentage (10% I believe) as a fee and you HAVE to use the NADA gold value book and it doesn’t go down to a parts car status. My parts Hillman was estimated at $10,500 (at the lowest). Plus the legality of it all is suspect.

 

About 450 for a 59 El Camino, June 21, 400 for a 53 Henry J, December 2020, title, plates, current registration. There is a reason why he registers them instead of non op. part of the process I suppose

 

Why pay registration if it is a project that may take a year or more to finish-which is the case with most cars missing a title; also once registered, you need to provide insurance.
A title will cost you $35 in California, doing it as the state requires. The only time you would need a "title service" is to have the VIN verified, if you cannot get the vehicle to the DMV.

 

I am only stating how I have done it, in California recently, by hiring a title company that specializes in classics. Your results may Vary. Enjoy.

 

A registration service may be the way to go. They know the ins & outs of the DMV. No need to register the car. Go straight to Non-Operation.

 

I have never tried this method so have no endorsement for it.
I do watch Uncle Tony Garage on youtube. Not H.A.M.B. friendly.
There is a kid there that is building a 60's Dodge and is a paralegal in real life. This video he does a pretty good job explaining how he got a title for his car ... the little gotcha's you have to watch out for while filling out the paperwork etc...

 

I still say it's stupid that can charge you taxes and fees on something that has been sitting and not being used for years.

 

Welcome to California

 

When I did mine, I said I inherited it (which I did) and couldn’t find the title. . Filled out a lost title, had a cop verify the vin..done. About 35$

 

Yeah, a couple of things:

California now has scalable storage for records, and no longer purges them.

If you try the Vermont route, you will be making a trip to CHP, within 20-days of when you "import" the vehicle to California.

Private verifiers cannot verify a vehicle that has no supporting documents (title, old registration, old plates, etc.)

Vehicles out-of-the-system will need to be complete to be verified by a DMV VIN verifier. It is at the discretion of the DMV if you are refered to CHP.

CHP will not inspect an incomplete and/or inoperable vehicle.

Trust is the endorsed title, that is in the name of the owner that you are looking at.

Make them get the title.

Or, try your luck with a private service. That will be $400-700.

Also, a Ranchero is a pickup truck in body type.

You will need to take it across a certificate scale to get a weight certificate. Certified scales in California are linked to the DMV, and upload automatically.

My 1929 Model A closed cab pickup has a weight certificate (only a thing if you want to run YOM truck plates earlier than 1934).

My shop car I converted to a pickup, filed for a new BTM, and it now has a weight certificate.