I have followed a few threads that speak of a car's title and its registration as being two different things. Is this true? I have some difficulty in understanding how a vehicle registered in your name does not give you title.

When I purchased my 1967 I received a "Certificate of Title" signed over to me and notarized. I now have a "Vehicle Permit" that indicates that I am the owner. Am I missing something obvious?

Here is an example:

If your DMV only accepts titles: they didn't even exist in America until 1975. A midyear with only a hand written/signed bill of sale and at most the previous owners registration should be the rule ..not the exception at any state DMV. What about a car thats sat in storage for 30 years ? - would never have been titled ..ever. Explain that to a senior manager at DMV - don't deal with the desk clerks, most were born after 1975 and just do what the training manual says

As far as lost registrations; The multitude of titling companies just "buy" your car from you, title it in any state that only requires a hand written bill of sale (see above), then "sell" the car (with new title) back to you. At least this is the way they worked 20+ years ago, not sure about now.

And:

The "titling companies" usually work out of Alabama, which didn't have titles prior to 1984; you "sell" them your pre-1984 car (on forms they provide), they register it in their name in Alabama with a "tax receipt", and "sell" it back to you on the Alabama "tax receipt", which is a valid Alabama registration for pre-1984 cars. I've titled many kit cars I've built (Cobras as "Ford" and my Grand Sport as "1963 Chevrolet Corvette", etc.) this way over the years in Michigan, which accepts the Alabama "tax receipt" (although the DMV Manager usually has to handle the transaction with his reference book, as the desk clerks aren't familiar with the Alabama document). There has been lots of abuse of these "title services" in recent years, however, to "wash" titles on stolen or salvage-titled cars, and some states won't accept the Alabama document any more without a major hassle, inspections, investigations, etc. Depends where you live.

 

If you pay cash for the car you get the title and the registration. If you finance it the bank gets the title but the car is registered in your name.

I bet others may have more details.

David

 

They are two different things. "Title" equates to ownership. "Registration" pertains to State requirements to legally drive/operate the car on the street. Most states require "registration" be renewed yearly. "Title" is not renewed. "Title" stays the same until ownership of the car is transferred.

 

DMV laws vary from state to state and you are subject to the laws of the state where a vehicle is titled or registered. These terms vary in meaning from state to state also.

Generally speaking the registration refers to the document carried in the car that determines who has put plates on and insured the vehicle. The title is the document that refers to the owner of the vehicle and is used for transferring ownership. In most states these parties are one and the same.

Other states have unique laws, New York being one of the most confusing. New York became a title state in aproximately 1974. Any vehicle older than that does not have a title in the State of New York they instead have a transferrable registration which is used when selling the car. This is like a title document but looks like a registration and is acceptable as a title document in other DMV's in the US. The other DMV's will take the registration and issue a title for their state upon transfer of ownership outside NY.

For vehicles built in 1974 or later New York issues a title and if you want to put plates and drive the car you can get a registration. The vehicle can be registered by someone other than the owner. So you can own the car with the title in your name and have someone else drive it and insure it in their name.

All of this is a plot by the DMV people to assure that their jobs are secure because no one else can understand what they are doing or why.

 

Patrick73 is right on, at least for here in Colorado. I've owned my 69 for over ten years and have had the title changed into my name. It's been sitting for 9 years and undergoing restoration for 1 year. I haven't registered it yet for street driving. Hope to this coming summer when it should be driveable. Will need to get smog inspection and then registration from county clerk's office, license plates, etc. Will get collector plates that provide for 5 year registration (by paying 5 years license fee) and no further smog checks as long as I own the vehicle.

 

Probably depends upon the state your in

 

It starting to make sense although as noted the rules vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. My "vehicle permit" has a "plate" portion and a "vehicle" portion. My name is on both. But I would imagine that if I were leasing from GM, the vehicle portion would show GMAC as the owner holding the title. The plate portion would show me as the person who has registered, plated and insured the car. BTW plates here stay with the person, not the vehicle.

And as further noted it is possible to hold title/ownership and not register/plate the car for the road. Here that is an "unfit" vehicle ownership.

 

The title is the Pink Slip--the ownership document. The "owner" of the car holds that, whether it's you or the lien holder (finance company) or whoever.

The registration just shows that you paid your licensing fees every year. It has nothing whatsoever to do with ownership, strictly speaking.

Sometimes, like in California, your registration will show the name and address of the lien holder. Once you pay off the car and get the "title," you have to go to DMV and have them remove the lien holder's information from your registration.

 

Paul, It is different in Canada!! I bought my vette from a Canadian, and I was a bit suspicious when all he gave me was a small "registration" certificate. I asked where the title was, and he told me that was all I get. Fortunately they took that little registration document at New Jersey DMV and gave me a nice New Jersey title which I keep in a file in my drawer. Then I went and registered the car and I have the little laminated registration card which I keep in my wallet.

 

PRND21,
Conversely, I had a huge two-page title from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when I bought the 1967. I thought it was a State, but that shows my ignorance of the USA. That word Commonwealth must go way back to the days of British rule.

 

yeah, like Rhode Island isn't really "just" Rhode Island. it's THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS. Who Knew??? and what's a providence plantation anyway?

 

Texas also has Title and Registration. The title describes the vehicle and has the VIN number. It lists the owner or owners of the vehicle. If your paying a note on the vehicle then technically the bank owns the vehicle until the last payment is made. you can also have a vehicle "titled" in the name of multiple persons. The registration is an (usually with some exceptions) annually renewed document. The vehicle must be titled in your name in order for you to register it. It also contains a description and VIN number of the vehicle. There is, of course, a fee for each annual renewal. Much or most of this money is "supposed" to be used for maintaining the roadways upon which you use your vehicle. so, drivers pay for some (or much) of their own road maintenance this way. Also, by having annual registration, the state can control (somewhat) the drivers compliance with state laws. such as, you must show proof of liability insurance in order to renew your registration. also, in texas you must have a current registration in order to have an annual (also required) safety inspection done on it.

My vette was "titled" in my name for many years and sat in a garage undriven. i did not keep up the registration. once i wanted to start driving it again, i had to get it registered for the current year and had to show proof of current liability insurance before being able to do so and had to get it registered before i could get it inspected. In my opinion, "registration" in Texas is mainly just another way to generate some more revenue for the state so the buerocrats in Austin can continue to sit on their fat A**es, collect big salaries and do nothing. (sorry for the rant).

 

No problem with the Rant. It was very informative. Thank you!

 

Paul,
You are only half correct about Alabama.

Alabama became a title state in 1975. Not 1984.

Everything pre 1975 does not get a title. You just take the car in to DMV for inspection and give them a copy of your bill of sale or title from another state and they give you a registration form that allows you to buy a license plate and drive the car.

There has been one dealer arrested by federal agents for registrating these old cars. It was not because they were stolen, but because people in Calif. bought a collector car for $50,000 to $100,000 and did not want to pay the sales tax on that much. He would pay the Ala. person $200 to have it registered for like $10,000 and then send him the paper work, and he would then register it in Calif. for the smaller amount, saving him a lot of money.

The Alabama registration form is legal proof of ownership, even if
Canada or N.J, is not familiar with it. All they have to do is phone the State DMV for verification.

All states had a first year for titles. They did all began issuing titles in 1918 with the Model T. There had to be a first year for all states.

 

In Florida:

Registration means you have compiled with State requirements.

Title means you own it outright. If not, the bank holds it.

 

thanks. you more or less said in two sentences what i said in 20.

 

yeah we have a couple of commom wealths....