Lost title? Help?

[moparqueen]

Hi everyone, I know this question has been asked before but I noticed they were kind of long ago.. I bought a 68 charger in New Mexico without a title, I currently live in California and I was wondering if anyone has gone through something similar? How did you obtain a title? How did you find the original owner for your car? It seems like no one will work with me unless I find out who that was... new mexico dmv confidential records is the only thing I can probably find information on which i'm going to fill out a form for but I'm worried if  they won't find anything on the car still, I'm afraid it's been out of the system for so long.. If anyone knows any business that can fix a mess like this. Please let me know... I want to get another charger back on the road and I don't want to give up on this one.. 

[skip68]

If it's out of the system Just file for a lost title.   Or, you can do a lien sale and get title.   

[Lennard]

I don't know how it works in California or New Mexico but here in Arizona I had to get print outs from the Nevada DMV and from the  California DMV that stated that the car was not reported stolen in those states. With those papers I went to the Arizona DMV and they then gave me paperwork that I had to take to a place where they do bonded titles. It had to pay them $300 and two weeks later I had a new title in my name.

[RallyeMike]

It varies from State to State. Check your DMV website.

In WA,  I bought a car without title that was last titled in OR. I had to present a notarized bill of sale to the DMV, the name and address of the seller, and have the car inspected by the State Patrol to check if the VIN was clear and not reported stolen. All that got me was a registration.

After a 3 year wait, if nobody has claimed ownership I can go back to the DMV and get a title in my name.

[moparqueen]

Thank you guys so much for your help and advice, I will look into all your suggestions.

[Daytona R/T SE]

I used this place a few years ago:

http://www.its-titles.com/

It was easy.

I've heard that some of the laws have changed since then. 

[John_Kunkel]

The California DMV is very wary of those title mills, usually won't honor a title from them.

You need to claim that the car has been yours for many years (yes, you'll have to lie) and that you've lost the title then apply for a duplicate title. You'll need a request for duplicate title form, a statement of facts form, a certificate of non-operation and have the VIN verified by a certified individual.

[Lennard]

Maybe cbrestorations can help you out:

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,118808.0.html

[Dino]

I did not say thiss and you are not reading this.  But seriously, last resort.

"Sell" the car to a friend in Michigan.  File for lost title.  They do a vin check and you pay tax on the value of the car.  Whatever vakue you tell them they accept but don't go stupid here.  As long as it is not reported stolen, you'll get a new title.  They do not want to see the car, at all.  Once you have the title, your friend "sells" it back to you and you transfer the title to your name and state.  Do this all within a few weeks and the dmv is going to ask you some not so pleasant questions so I would advice to take your time with the process.

[moparqueen]

Awwe thank you so much guys, I'm really happy I have many options now to choose from, this really means alot. Hopefully everything turns out for the best.

[Lennard]

You're welcome and good luck. Keep us informed how things are going please.
Also, pictures of your Charger are very welcome! 

[moparqueen]

I will for sure Lennard.
Here are some before and after pictures, it's my first restoration project.
I shouldn't have worked on it since it's not in my name when I got it, it killed me to watch it sit there and rust so I did something about it lol..
here's when I first got it..







and this is what it looks like sitting now in my backyard where I sandblasted it,  stripped it completely so I know what to replace, 80 percent is epoxy primered.



I don't wanna invest any more of my time or money if something bad happens, this is its stopping point.
It needs alot of work that I hope I will get to move forward with.

[Lennard]

Thanks for the pictures. Holy crap that thing is crusty!  . That's a huge project for a first timer. Smart decision to wait with the rest of the restoration until it's 100% yours.
You don't want to buy eight grand in sheet metal for it and then not get a title!

[Daytona R/T SE]

Looks pretty good to me.

Get that title thing straightened out and get back at it.

   

[HPP]

It varies from State to State. Check your DMV website.

Yup, best place to start is your state DMV.

My state wanted a title search done in every state it may have been in, copies of certified letter mailings to any owners found in previous title search, a pile of paperwork for title work in my home state, and then a certified vin inspection by the State Police. After all that, they issued a title from the DMV head office. The research part of everything took 2 months. Once all the papers were presented to the DMV, title arrive two weeks later.