OK guys, here's my situation: I have a line on a nice little shoebox Ford...belongs to a "friend of a friend", and could likely be had cheap. (This girl needs money, and this car has been sitting for a LONG time.) But here's where things get sticky....she has a title for the car, which normally would be good, right? Not necessarily in this case. This girl's father bought the car from a guy sometime in the 70's (IIRC). The previous owner signed over the title in PENCIL, and then her dad never bothered to re-title it in his name. In the intervening years, her dad has passed on. So while she technically HAS the title to the car, it's a complete mess as far as legality goes. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas/experience with this kind of thing? With my luck, I'll try to figure this all out and never see the car again...the chick is pretty flaky and prone to bouts of heroin and coke use, so the reliability level here is pretty low. But, figured it was worth at least asking. If I end up with a nice shoebox for cheap, it'll be worth it! Thanks in advance...
I would check first thing with the Missouri DMV as to what can be done. Here in Nevada in a case like that you have to send a registered letter to the last known address of the owner & the Dad requesting a properly signed title , or a duplicate title. When the letters come back undeliverable ( Dead people can't sign fot em!) you take the UNOPENED returned letters to the DMV & they give you a good title. Also there are places that advertise that the sell title --don't know how that works --some one else on the board may. If the Car is cheap enough I'd grab it before it gets away & sort it out after I had the thing locked in my garage --- ever see how good one of those shoebox Fords run with a 354 hemi in it? dave
If that were here in TN, I would buy it, forget about the old title, and title it from the existing VIN # in the car. Works like this: Buy the car, Have the owner/seller fill out a bill of sale and an afidavit stating they owned the car for the last 7 years or so.... Do a pencil rubbing of the VIN # and take it to the DMV. They should be able to get you a title from that... Good luck.
Don't you "know" a notary? Just have them stamp it that they witnessed the signature and thats it. Or have a "buddy" sign it in front of a notary.
Did the father sign the title? New York title cars the seller fills out and signs the back, the seller fills out and signs the back. If it just has a seller sig you are all good - in fact as kids when we got title cars to re-sell we used to just have the owner sign the title and leave the rest blank. If the title is just signed, do what I successfully did twice in a row with the DMV: Fill out your info. Hold title up to window in broad daylight, trace old sig onto blank paper. Make up receipt above sig. Fill in whatever $$$ you feel like. Go to a busy DMV, they won't question it. If not, just produce a reciept showing original owner selling to father, one showing sale to daughter if she can't produce death certificate and lawyer papers showing she inherited it, then one for her to you. That may be good enough to transfer title. Sounds like she is not reliable enough to produce the lawyer paperwork. You might be able to even cut her out of it by copying sigs from dad to you, just date it before his death. in NY if it is not titled in your name they want reciepts back to the last titled owner. It never hurts to call your state DMV and ask, in NY there is an 800 toll free number to call and ask these questions, too.
If the title is a Missouri title, maybe it will be somewhat easier. If the title is from out of state you will have to take it to an inspection station and get an IDOD, that's just where they check the VIN against the title. I would call the DMV first. General info for the Missouri DMV is 1-573-751-4509. I'd explain the scenario, that you DO have the title and so on. But I wouldn't give any particulars. No names or any other information that may mess up the works later. If her father DID sign the title, you could get a new title with his name on it (there will be some late fees no doubt). Then I think with a certificate of death you may be able to get clear title in your name. Also, remember that Missouri no longer requires titles to be notarized, so.....ah, it was him that signed it....right? Call the DMV, like I said before, I really don't want to lead you astray. JayD
BTW...........grab the car.......AND the title.........AND a copy of the death certificate (if you can) before it gets away. Things will work out somehow.
that's what i would do, i didnt get a title with my '57 so i got a bonded title. i had to get the car appaised, then an insurance company put up a bond for the apraisal price, i cant sell the car for 3 yrs. or something like that i guess incase someone reports it stolen within that time. anyway good luck.
well, if i remeber right i think it was a certain percentage of what it appraises for. i dunno its been awihle since i did it, i think i paid around $100.00 for it.
That car and title are only worth scrape here in Nebraska. You have to the title with the car's vin and you cant use a title that is screwed-up. As the local DMV said to me -- "You are screwed!" Good luck! jeff
Thanks for the input, guys. I'll try calling the DMV on Monday to investigate. This is a car that I've been in and out of touch with for about two years now. Every time I ask about it, I get a different answer on what's happening. At one point, this chick wanted to restore it herself and paint it pink!! At a different time, I was told that just a couple hundred bucks would buy the car, so long as it was going to someone who would "appreciate" it. With my luck, it'll be two more years before she makes up her mind...
I had the same basic deal on the title for my F-1. Bought it from a guy who bought it from the owner on the title, PO had signed the title but I had no transfer form for it. just had to get a market value on it from a reputable dealer and they issued the title. Got it in the mail Saturday.
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