Car with lost title
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
Car with lost title
Looking at a 73. Guy got it from a guy got it from a guy...title long gone don't know name it was last titled in. Pa. Are there any legit methods of getting it titled? I dont think car is hot. Had a tag service run vin and came up no records.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Titles don't disappear. You should ask yourself why this car has not been titled by either of the two previous owners. I agree with MelWff. If you're serious about this one, see what your DMV has to say.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Some states do not issue titles after the car reaches a certain age. CT does not require a title for a car over 20 years old. Not sure if they'll issue a new one when the car changes hands after 20. I bought my car when it was 14 years old, hanging onto that title....
Agree, best consult DMV in the state it was last registered.
Agree, best consult DMV in the state it was last registered.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
it is a pa car. i got vin run at a tag svc which has harrisburg's files...no records found. so i assume it is not stolen. old vettes can sit 15 years at a time with 3 different owners, and they weren't so expensive back then. somebody buys an old bomb with no engine for 500 bucks and it sits a decade, paperwork can disappear. odds are titled owner has left the planet by now. i am gonna take a shot with the tag and the philly cops. i fix their copiers so i kind of have an in. but if title info is purged from database i bet reg info is too...
Last edited by derekderek; Sep 28, 2015 at 07:04 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,192
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From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
It passes. But that database shows vehicles totalled or reported stolen in the last 5 years. This beastie and many other of these have been resting for a LOT longer than 5 years. That is a nice site though. Like the most important piece of carfax for no charge...
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
thanks. this is what i am looking for. i heard of this service which does something like this, but i would rather not pay somebody a couple hunnert bucks if i can just do it.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,657
Likes: 3,117
From: Shamong, NJ
It's not your responsibility to come up with a title, that's the responsibility of the seller. If they aren't willing to do the leg work needed to get a legitimate title, I'd walk away.
Do you really want to buy a car, that you may not be able to get the title too? What if the state decides they want to do a state issued VIN? That will greatly effect the value of the car. What if you run into an issue, and can't get a title? Once you buy the car, it will be your problem.
If there are no issues with the title, or if it's so easy to get one, let the seller do it. If they resist, they either don't want to sell the car that bad, or there's a reason why they don't or can't get one!
Do you really want to buy a car, that you may not be able to get the title too? What if the state decides they want to do a state issued VIN? That will greatly effect the value of the car. What if you run into an issue, and can't get a title? Once you buy the car, it will be your problem.
If there are no issues with the title, or if it's so easy to get one, let the seller do it. If they resist, they either don't want to sell the car that bad, or there's a reason why they don't or can't get one!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
Likes: 284
From: Ocala FL
Craigslist is full of ads with "Lost title, but you can get one easily."
If it is so easy, why didn't they get one?
There are ways and there are right ways and if you make a mistake, you can watch everything you have invested roll out the driveway without a dime's worth of recourse.
Many of the "ways" can be a bit slippery and worse if someone shows up with a 15 year old title in their name.
Have them get a title. Or walk.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
it is a pa car. i got vin run at a tag svc which has harrisburg's files...no records found. so i assume it is not stolen. old vettes can sit 15 years at a time with 3 different owners, and they weren't so expensive back then. somebody buys an old bomb with no engine for 500 bucks and it sits a decade, paperwork can disappear. odds are titled owner has left the planet by now. i am gonna take a shot with the tag and the philly cops. i fix their copiers so i kind of have an in. but if title info is purged from database i bet reg info is too...
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,368
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
My 68 had been last registered in California in 1985. From 1985 until I went to register it in 2005, it had been in storage. I had lost all the paperwork, title, etc with the car. When I went to the So Cal AAA to register it, the car had dropped out of the California DMV computer system. Basically, my only proof of ownership was that I had (1) physical possession of the car, and (2) the VIN was not on the stolen car list. I filled out a paperwork form affirming that I owned the car and that it had been in storage since last registered in California and had not been driven. I was issued a legal title to the car, registered it for license plates and went on my merry way. This was at the AAA So Cal auto club, not the DMV! I'm pretty sure this went so easy because I appeared to be very honest about everything. I had the old license plates from California dated 1985. I also said my insurance company could prove my ownership since I had paid fire and theft insurance on the car continually from 1985 to 2005. The lady at AAA said that was not necessary, and issued me all the paperwork and license plates. She was impressed with my restored 68, she said she and her husband had a restored 1967 Chevelle!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Craigslist is full of ads with "Lost title, but you can get one easily."
If it is so easy, why didn't they get one?
There are ways and there are right ways and if you make a mistake, you can watch everything you have invested roll out the driveway without a dime's worth of recourse.
Many of the "ways" can be a bit slippery and worse if someone shows up with a 15 year old title in their name.
Have them get a title. Or walk.
I agree ..... Something is wrong .
Either people are trying to avoid JAIL or TAXES or Both
Car thiefs should be in jail....I'm old school on this .
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,979
Likes: 6,207
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
This statement is part of the User Agreement for members of the forum:
"Do not discuss, suggest, engage, or encourage any illegal activity on the forums. Linking to locations that deal with any such activity are also forbidden. "
I'm thinking any plan or suggestion to get around a missing title short of going through your DMV is illegal, whether there's skipped title games going on, avoiding taxes, whatever.
Please check with your DMV. Otherwise, let's not have this discussion in an open forum. Thanks.
"Do not discuss, suggest, engage, or encourage any illegal activity on the forums. Linking to locations that deal with any such activity are also forbidden. "
I'm thinking any plan or suggestion to get around a missing title short of going through your DMV is illegal, whether there's skipped title games going on, avoiding taxes, whatever.
Please check with your DMV. Otherwise, let's not have this discussion in an open forum. Thanks.