I have a chance to get a 53 chevy with no title, the guy has some austion paperwork that says it's an abandoned vehicle. Do i just need to call the dmv on Monday and get them to run the vin? Or can I just talk to a title office?
Have him get it titled first in his name so there are no problems later on down the road. And pay him extra for the fee's if he does it. There was just a thread a couple weeks ago about a title-less car getting repoed by the original owner after 6 years.
Hey, Depending on which state you live in this could be easy or a real PITA! I'd ask to see the paperwork. Does it contain any lien paper- work with the vehicle's VIN number on it? What about a notory public's stamp or any paper to cover the chain of ownership? Can you contact the auction company for record of sale? Will the seller cover the title, in the event something goes wrong? Better get his driver's license number to cover your ass. Sometimes vehicles with "haunted paper" jus' ain't worth the trouble when ya get through with the state dmv. Your state may require you to bond the title for a year or two. This covers the state in the event someone comes forth and challanges the title later. Swankey Devils C.C.
I don't know about where you are but here in Alaska cars without a title require a 3 year bond just in case some "owner" comes out of the woodwork. The state also requires an appraisal before you can get the bond. food for thought
Get the vin number on the car and have it ran to make sure there are no issues with the car, ie outstanding tickets, outstanding registration, stolen to name a few. if the car has not been on the road longer then six years and there is no record on file, you can get it registered in your name failry easy here in calif. you will need to have the vin verified a bill of sale, a few other formalitys and you can have plates and tags. but you DO NEED to make sure its clear of any issues.
I think I would only make this purchase AT the DMV, going there WITH the owner/purported owner, documents he has, you, and the money in cash. Let HIM initiate the proceedings at the counter, and see where it goes. Hand him the money when they hand over useable paper. If things get too nasty/impossible/whatever, you know where the door is. Any trouble stirred up by the ceremonies at the counter will belong to him. The abandoned certificate likely means that re-titling is possible, but you don't want to be too involved til re-titling is DONE.
Buying a car with no title is a BIG risk. Once paid, the seller (even if he is your BEST friend), has NO motivation to get you the title, even if he really has the means. It should definately reduce the price by alot, and you are STILL faced with the very real possibility that you own a parts car that can NEVER be titled. There are a lot more ways to get hung on this kind of deal than there are ways to "beat the man" and get a title. Buyer beware.
I bought a 55 chevy from a junk yard without a title I live in tenn. and thought it would be easy. after 3 times going through the dmv and 1year later I was about to give up. get lucky and in the right place at right time and found a guy who had a title with the vin plate. took it to the dmv and had a title in my name in 10 days . good luck and listen to everyone thats been there
I know you already made your decision but I agree with the rest of the guys. I bought a car when I was 15 (with Dad's help) It it had no title. We took posession of the car and tracked down the original owner. He said the guy we got it from "stole" it. The guy we got it from said he fixed it for the owner and the owner didn't pay up so he kept it. The owner finaly caved and just asked for $50 bones and he sent us the title. If he wanted to he could of came and got the car but I think he didn't care to much about it anyway cause we told him it still wasn't running. We got it running with a new battery and plugs adter is was all said and done.
Just Google Broadway Title Co in Birmingham Al.I've used them 4 times with cars I bought for"parts"at impound auctions!Worked every time.I usually keep this stuff hush but I likes you HAMBers!
Abandoned vehicle, auction- in Texas it sounds like it is a car that was sold at a police auction, wrecker services do this on a regular basis, I have an old '50 Ford truck that I purchased as high bidder that was towed in as abandoned, wrecker service went thru all the legal moves, police officer came out, auction was done, all paperwork done, I took the paperwork to the tax office, got a title, lists the police department as the previous owner. If he has all the paperwork and it is in order and he is shown as purchaser just a matter of him getting it titled. If paperwork does not show him as purchaser then you need to find the person listed as purchaser and go from there. Could be easy, could be a pain. Good luck.
I have a kool ass '69 BUG, yeah a VW!!!! that was abondoned on my rental property, I followed the "normal" suggestions and built it up and was gonna get the 3 year title. BUT TO GET THAT 3 year title the car had to be running and driving and inspected, well I had the VIN checked "by a friend" and it came back clear, (no liens, NOT stolen etc.) SO... when I went to have it inspected for the 3 year title, (after getting it running and driveable and safe) the State Patrol wanted a reciept for EVERY SINGLE PART on the car, to verify that I had rebuilt an "abandoned car!! A lot of the parts I got off of E-BAY and they would N O T accept my reciepts from there!!! They had to be recipts from a business!!! SO now I have a kool ass '69 Bug that sits in my back yard with $1200.00 invested into it and I can't do ANYTHING with it!!! They will NOT give me ANY info on the previous owner to get them to sign a release of interest, PLUS I HAVE the "abandoned, will be impounded" sticker that was placed on the windshield of the car BY the state patrol..... still NO help... just some more info to think about...KEN
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