Has anyone bought a car without a title and tried to register it in a titled State.
 

I came across a car that I am interested in but the seller does not have a title. He can offer a bill of sale, but the DMV here in Delaware tells me they will not register a car without a title. The seller seems reluctant to help. The car is an early 911 in good shape and I’d hate to even think about it becoming a parts car.

How does one go about getting a title in this situation.

I was told the car came over from Germany in the early 70’s and that it was titled at one time, but then was registered in Alabama where a title was not necessary. The car was then sold to someone in Virginia and has sat. So the current owner has no title.
With out the current owners help how much of a PIA would this be to do the search and whatever else in necessary to get a title.

Hopefully I can supply more details if needed.

well im not sure about how the laws work in all states. but if you have a VIN. number the dmw should be able to find last registered owner. then here in Alaska we have two options on getting a title.
if the car has plates the dmv should be able to find the last registered owner. if no they can run the VIN.





1. we can purchase a bond on the current value of the car and they give you a title. the bond will be in affect for i"think" 3 years. this is to protect the old owner and you in case someone steps up and says they own the car. the bond will pay him the value of the car at the bond time. not its current condition. during the bond process you have to pay for a appraisal.

2. this is the much easier step we have and i have used it in the past and am in the process of getting a title again for a 65 912. if the car hasn't been registered in i "think" 10 years could be 15. the dmv sends a certified letter to the last registered owners address if the letter comes back undelivered they call you down to pick up yoiur new title. if the letter is delivered the recipient has 30 days to release title or contact dmv for solution to resolve the missing car or title.

hope this helps due your home work as the DMV isn't always a big help. but there are some options out there.

cheers ed

Its up to the seller to provide proper paper work. If the title is non existant then you should be able to use the registration to make title from a non title state.
Years ago, NY was non title state so I transfered the car to Delaware on the registration and they issued a title.
If the registration is assigned to the man in Va its up to him to make title. If it just an open reg that you can put your name on you should be good.
I would call Dover to check because the only alternative you would have would be a mechanic lean which could give you Delaware title.
Bruce

First off, the word "title" is so horribly misused that I feel compelled to provide an education.

Title is not a document or piece of paper, it's an idea. "Title" means "ownership". For those of you that have a title document, look at the top of it. It most likely says "Document of Title" or "Title Document" or "Evidence of Title" or something to that effect. Regardless of whether the seller is in possession of a document of title, it is correct to say that he "holds title to the car". Whoever owns the car holds title. Period. In your case, you bought a car from a seller who is not in possession of the title document.

So let's all stop saying that there's no title. Title means ownership, plain and simple. And every car has an owner. Hopefully, the guy who sold you the car holds title. If not, then it was illegal for him to sell it and there is NO SALE. Only a title holder has the right to sell property.

Now, in every state I've lived in (6 so far), if a title document gets lost, it's a simple matter for the owner to go to the DMV and apply for a duplicate title document. THEN, the owner (holder of title) can sign the duplicate title document over to the purchaser. THEN, the purchaser applies for a new title document when he registers the car.

Summary: The seller needs to get a duplicate title document, then he can sign it over to you. If this doesn't happen in a reasonable period of time, the car goes back to him and you get your money back. Sue him if necessary.

I don't know if you have AAA insurance back there, but if you do, and you are insured by them. They are much more helpful than the DMV.

Alabama is your friend. (wink, wink...nudge, nudge...say no more)

RI does not title a vehicle older than 10 years old. You get a letter from the DMV stating that's their policy, you provide your previous registration to the new owner along with a NOTARIZED bill of sale.

That is how I sold one of my Taurus SHOs to a guy from Tennessee. Their DMV had no clue, and we went back & forth with it, I ended up running to my DMV & got a letter stating this, all was well after.

It is a royal PITA, and one I'm about to endure again I'm sure, as my 911 will likely go to someone out of state (just playing the odds here).

I'm mailing in the final payoff amount for the 911 today in fact. One release of lien later... she'll be ready to go.

If the current owner cannot prove he 'owns' the car, I wouldn't buy it.

I went through this a month ago when I bought a car in VT, were like RI, there is no "title" for cars older 1995. However, VT has an adendum to their registration certificate that is used in a change of ownership so getting it registered in NC was not too bad.

However before I figured that out, I call NC DMV and asked about this. Initially they said that if I have an "untitled" car the procedure is includes a State appraisal, then purchase a 2 year bond for that amount and at the end of that I would get a NC title.

Having lived here all my life - I know, poor me - I can without question say Alabama is Not your friend when it comes to motor vehicle registration, etc. They don't like us! :mad:

I could be off by a year or so, but I seem to recall 1974 being the year when we had to start having a "title document" for a car.

If the car is older than that it may have slipped by, but if it's a '74 you still have to 'title" them

Thanks for all the help.

I've learned a bit in the last couple days.

Looking_for_911 is correct in that Alabama didn't title cars before 1974.

porschenut you are correct in your definition of "Title", I think when most people ask to see the Title they understand the meaning of the word but really need to "see" that peice of paper. The paper is the "proof" and in this case there was no "proof" or title to be had. The seller was offering a handwritten " I sold it to you" type of deal. Not good enough for DMV. Or me.

CROWSC I never knew AAA could help in that way. They are next on my list. Thanks.


UPDATE:

I have been corresponding with the seller up to this point via e-mail.I had originally included my phone number for them to call me. Well it seems I have been communicating with the son (college bound) who is selling the dad's car for school money. His father called yesterday and was very helpfull. Seems he bought the car in Ohio, and then moved it to Alabama before relocating in Virginia. He remembers who he bought the car from and still has that info. The dad will be calling this weekend to see if the person he bought it from can send him the title.

I haven't even looked at the car yet. I wanted to be sure there would be no problems getting it registered if I do buy it. This is yet another 911 learning experience.

Well, I lived there from 59-75 and had no problems, and then got a title for one through the Ala. DMV back in '85, so I can only speak from personal experience. (Although the car I was titling was a '66).

Have been told there are "title wash" companies in Maine... something like $900 & you're golden.

Edit:

Here's a link to ONE such site.

http://www.getnewtitle.com/

Sounds fishy to me, but when you're desperate...

Hmmmm, sounds like that '72 targa in Gainesville VA that's been on Craig's list forever.
IMHO, not worth what he's asking, if that's the one you're talking about. Maybe half that...

This one:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/474387-72-73-barn-find-whats-worth.html

If I'm wrong and this isn't the one, I apologize for butting in....

Ah, a sweet '66! Back then we couldn't even spell "Title" much less know that one day we'd have to have them for our cars! It seems like a lot of the vehicles made in the 50's an 60's were simpler in many respects.

Ah, a sweet '66! Back then we couldn't even spell "Title" much less know that one day we'd have to have them for our cars! Makes me wish my 911 were a '74 or earlier because I wouldn't have had to stand in a 5-hour long line recently to title it. Our county is now bankrupt - almost - and has suffered a near shut down of county offices. 5-hour lines to buy titles and tags, etc. everyday because so many county employees are laid off.
It seems like a lot of the vehicles made in the 50's and 60's were simpler in many respects.


Didn't mean to double post.... my computer hung up and I didn't think the one above moved.

Or this company for $350.....

http://www.getcartitle.com/#specificstate?gclid=cjbjlymjtpwcfrkgswod9s0ioq

Gotta be a good reason it sat for sooo long, 5 years was it?. Maybe because they couldn't get it registered or titled????

Try a google search of (broadwaytitles) they are out of Alabama. I used them, it ran me about 200.00

dalematt---- that could be the one. the listing iv'e been looking at has expired. Haven't looked at it in person yet, not sure if I will. I wanted to look into the title thing first as I have seen a few cars for sale with out one and in DE i will need a title to register it. I could also pick any one of the options provided by the guys here. you sure do have choices once you ask the right people. And who would be better to ask that this forum?

Hopefully this info can help someone else as well, i doubt I'm the only one that has had this situation come up.

If anything transforms out of this I will keep you all posted.