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Have you ever had to title a car?

HollowBassman

HollowBassman

Jun 24, 2007
3,119
13
42
Hancock, MD
#1
I was planning on purchasing an old truck from Indiana this Sunday but now I don't know if I can. The owner does not have a title, just a bill of sale. Well, I called the DMV asking what I need to get a title, and they starting listing all of the stuff I need to do. This seems like it's gonna be a huge pain in the butt just to get a title for this thing.:(

Has anyone here dealt with having to do this before?
 
#2
Can the current owner apply for a lost title, then have the new one issued to you, providing a copy of the bill of sale? I don't know about WV or Indiana, but that can be done here.

BTW, yes, it is a major PITA, but depending on your patience and plans for the vehicle, could very well be worth it.
 
#3
It depends on why he has no title. If it's been lost, then he needs to get a replacement title before he sells it. Other possible reasons for his not having the title could be that there is an unpaid lien on the vehicle or it may even have been stolen.

Absolutely do NOT buy it until it has a legitimate title.
 
#5
hbarcat said:
It depends on why he has no title. If it's been lost, then he needs to get a replacement title before he sells it. Other possible reasons for his not having the title could be that there is an unpaid lien on the vehicle or it may even have been stolen.

Absolutely do NOT buy it until it has a legitimate title.
Click to expand...

I just called him to get the VIN so that I could be ready for the DMV on Monday, and he told me that he had the number for a local title service and that it would save me a lot of hassle(for a price, of course$$$). He said the truck didn't have a title when he bought it. I don't believe it is stolen, as he doesn't seem worried at all by me wanting a title, and he has been very helpful and patient since I started talking to him. If there was a lien or if it were stolen, I believe that would come to light when the run the VIN, but I could be wrong.
 
#6
Be careful, it may also be a damaged vehicle fixed up and sold. Some of these type of vehicles should have had a "salvage" title, but new owners state that they never got one in hopes to get a "clean" title after a search (which can take weeks to months). If a title cannot be found, many states will issue a "clean" title no matter what.

Before you buy this vehicle .... take it to a professional to have it checked out fully. These type of vehicles can turn out to be death traps... electrical fires are very common in vehicles that have been flooded (especially since Katrina), then sold as a "salvage" or with new "clean" titles.

IMO ... unless you really have to have this vehicle .... walk away.
 
#7
ubado said:
Be careful, it may also be a damaged vehicle fixed up and sold. Some of these type of vehicles should have had a "salvage" title, but new owners state that they never got one in hopes to get a "clean" title after a search (which can take weeks to months). If a title cannot be found, many states will issue a "clean" title no matter what.

Before you buy this vehicle .... take it to a professional to have it checked out fully. These type of vehicles can turn out to be death traps... electrical fires are very common in vehicles that have been flooded (especially since Katrina), then sold as a "salvage" or with new "clean" titles.

IMO ... unless you really have to have this vehicle .... walk away.
Click to expand...

:D
The truck I'm buying is definitely not fixed up. It lived in an old shed for many years. It has no engine, and I'm planning on rewiring the whole thing, so any electrical fires will be my fault(I'm not saying there won't be any:eek:).

I'm leaving tomorrow to go look at it, and hopefully buy it. I hope to post pics either monday night or tuesday.:)
 

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