Experiences with getting new title?
 

What’s everyone’s experience with moving from one state to another and the vehicle title?

Seems like every state has different rules.

When my buddy bought a Packard from another state, Georgia refused to issue a Georgia title for the car because it was over 25 years old. Years later he tried to sell it to a buyer in New Jersey and the deal fell through because NJ required a Georgia title.

I’m not selling the car, just registering it in another state (FL).

Most of what I can find online is the buying/selling case, not just a move.

I tried calling the local DMV office in FL and they weren’t any help.

I just want to be sure I’m not creating a problem for myself down the road if I keep the Georgia title and not pursue getting a FL title.

You're asking a Florida question (so I have no idea). Maybe a call to this group might help?

Contact — WE ARE YOUR TITLE EXPERTS!

Florida Fast Title, Inc
6310 N. Nebraska Ave.

Tampa, FL 33604

PH: 813-237-5805

Fax: 813-237-5709

email: karen@floridafasttitle.com

But a quickie internet search suggests that cars over 30 yrs of age might not need titles in FL?

My experience is from 43 years ago when I moved to Oklahoma. Back in those olden days Alabama had no title at all, just a bill of sale. When I moved to Oklahoma and needed new license tags I went to get a tag and they of course asked for a title. I said there is no title, and it was like I dropped the F bomb, everyone went silent. The lady went to a book that looked like a prop from a Harry Potter move, a book that was HUGE. She started flipping through it and found the right page. Yep, no title in Alabama back then. I handed her my bill of sale and of course they got to charge me a title origination fee and a title filing fee.

No help for your situation but to answer your question that is my experience with moving to another state.

Good luck. Nothing more fun that state licensing.

My 911 came from Seattle to San Clemente, and it was a hassle to get it titled because it's a RoW car. The guy I got it from had it titled in Washington state as a collector car. I had an official licensed title/car inspector lady do an inspection on it with the official form, paid her, AAA accepted it, took my money, and gave me my license plates and a temporary registration.

The Ca DMV rejected that and kicked it back to AAA, then they called me to bring it back to them and then THEY inspected it.

DMV rejected that too, so it had to go to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP officer who came out to the parking lot was a Porsche guy, so it took two minutes and done. We talked about the car longer than he looked at the stamping in the chassis.

A lot of hoops to jump through, but RoW cars aren't plated and stickered like USA cars are.

I use one of the title services whenever I'm registering an older car or motorcycle in PA. They charge about $15-20 for the service and it's worth every penny. If they charged $100, I still wouldn't hesitate.

Find a DMV expediter. Totally worth the incremental cost. I bought a Florida 911sc. The VIN on title was missing the first two letters “WP”. I wanted to register the car in New York with the correct VIN. Major brain damage for DMV clerk. Expediter got it done for $175.

this link appears to cover your situation https://www.flhsmv.gov/new-resident/

Moved my cars from CA to WA years ago. No problem but I did have to get them inspected by Washington State Patrol.

It’s still not completely clear to me. It seems to suggest that I would turn in my GA title and be re-issued a FL title. I asked the DMV what they do in the case of old cars and she didn’t seem to know. If they take my GA title, I’d like to make sure I get something back.

That’s good to know. They did say all of the cars have to be physically inspected so you can’t just bring the paperwork.

Never heard of a DMV expediter before. Will have to investigate this further.

Wasn’t familiar with this until today. Thanks!

Just transferred one in Texas. Super easy. Can't imagine Florida being difficult.

Gotta love the grey area! It’s so frustrating when you get ‘opinions’ instead of answers.

Yep. These state-by-state rules are maddening. I’ve talked to cops before and the appropriate way to transport firearms over state lines. So far I haven’t heard the same answer twice.

Did they take your old title and issue you a Texas title?

Tim -- I think we all can agree that the last thing any sane person wants is to take unnecessary trips to the DMV (or try to find somebody on the phone who can give you a straight answer). My advice would be to prepare the packet of info specified in the "For vehicles without a lien" section of the link I provided, take it to the Florida DMV office when you go to get a FL drivers license and register your car for Florida plates and ONLY give it to them AFTER they've satisfied your concern that once you give them the packet of info, you'll get a shiny new Florida title.

Take a high resolution color scan of both sides of your title before you go to the registry. That way, if they take the original, you can print a copy and keep it with your records.
The copy may have a watermark indicating it's a copy, but at least you'll have something. Massachusetts requires a title if an out of state car comes from a title state, or the original copy of the active registration if the car comes from a non-title state. Even Massachusetts, which is a title state, is now using electronic titles, whatever that means.

I can say in my experience registering a CA car here in Texas was easy. Three years ago I went to the tax office and showed bill of sale, CA title with signatures and payed my taxes. The lady kept the title gave me a receipt. I got the title in the mail a week or so later. Again not a lot of help for you in FL but I don't see that they would take registration payment, your title and not issue you a new title in return. Just my $.02.



Ctopher

Had a Utah title from 1991. Hadnt been registered since 1991. Moved to Idaho this year, Went to the DMV, took it, entered everything in had a new title in two weeks ...... Id say its state specific or even DMV person specific.