Buying a car with no title? Only Bill of Sale?

[h76]

I've seen some posts on here asking car title ?s.Has a car with only a bill of sale provided-caused any of you to pass on a good deal.Makes me leery when I see a car(good deal) and only a bill of sale.In Wisconsin they make it virtually impossible to get a title with only a bill of sale.The  title companies won't do business in WI and I know a few other states as well.It's very hard for me to justify plunking down $ on something I realistically/legally have no rights to if the original title someday down the road magically appears.My state told me the original title is the first and overriding document to show ownership.Anybody have any thoughts or situations that have popped up like this?A lot of people I have talked to won't even consider a car with no title because it's just too much hassle to deal with.

[Charger-Bodie]

get a buddy from another state to do it and then sign the title over to you!

[41husk]

If you are unsure, talk to the DMV, they will tell you just what you need to do.  Many states don't even need a title after so many years.

[tkkruzer]

   check with this site, looks promising.  www.its-titles.com  TK

[1carcrazyguy]

I have a question about this process. 


Once a title has been obtained through a title service.  What would happen if a previous owner (which was the last title issued before title was obtained through the title serivce) came along with a state issued title??  Does it go by last title applied for??  What would keep someone from selling a car with out the title thinking the car would never be worth anything.  Then years later the car gets restored by the person that obtained the title through a title service.  Then the owner that has the "original" title sees his/her old car all restored, so he claims the car is his with the "original" title.   

Or is that even possible??
Does that make any sense??

[41husk]

 

[400/6/PAC]

I purchased a 69RR with no title.
I had to send a regersterd letter to the last known owner to see if he/she would sign for the letter.
When the post office returned the letter as unsigned, I took it to a bond company and placed a bond on the car.
It's called a bonded title.
It will cost you around $400.00 to do a bounded title and some leg work.
If the car is worth it, call your local bond companys to see if they will do a bonded title.
I bought this car from a guy that never owned it, but with a bonded title I was able to place it in my name.
I agree with 41husk
In my case no one wanted the car and after the bonded title went through, it ment the state agreed that it was my car now.
If the state granted a bonded title to you then the state would reconize that car as being your's.

[The70RT]

I purchased a 69RR with no title.
I had to send a regersterd letter to the last known owner to see if he/she would sign for the letter.
When the post office returned the letter as unsigned, I took it to a bond company and placed a bond on the car.
It's called a bonded title.
It will cost you around $400.00 to do a bounded title and some leg work.
If the car is worth it, call your local bond companys to see if they will do a bonded title.
I bought this car from a guy that never owned it, but with a bonded title I was able to place it in my name.
Good luck.

I agree. I have just got a power of attourney though and checked for the last registered owner and have them sign that. If you find them.

[400/6/PAC]

Your on the right track.
Most states will requier you to try and find the last registerd owner.
if you go through the red tape you wont have to worry about the previous owner trying to get you'r car.
You don't have to find the last owner, You only have to show the state that you tried.
I'm in, Texas, Your state may be different.
Check with Your local DPS.

[694spdRT]

In Wisconsin there is a process to follow which is rather involved and requires and insurance bond for the value of the vehicle. You need to right up the history of the car, take pictures, and i even think the Vin# needs to be verified by a officer. The lady I talked too at the DMV says the bond needs to be held for 5 years and after that the title is cleared. I have know idea what happens if some previous owner shows up and wants his car after you just spent $$$ restoring it though.

[The70RT]

 I have know idea what happens if some previous owner shows up and wants his car after you just spent $$$ restoring it though.

I do ...........

[HITMAN 149]

I have know idea what happens if some previous owner shows up and wants his car after you just spent $$$ restoring it though.

you ask him to come over so you can show him the car all restored... and tell to look how nice the trunk came out.... AND WHAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hit him in the back of the head w/ a cinderblock...throw him in the trunk... drive to a secluded area & dump the body!!!!!!!!!!! voila....end of last owner tryin to steal his old beat up car back that you just painstakingly restored to mint $$$$ condition!!!!!!!!!
opppps did i type that out loud!?!?!?
welllllll i wasn't born a  hehehehe
mua-hahahahaha


yea definatley check your states div motor vechicles!!!

[694spdRT]

The bond is to cover the value of the car at the time of registration so if a previous owner makes a claim the bond is in place. What I am saying is if a previous owner claims it was stolen or contests the bond amount you may have quite a problem on your hands.

If you guys want to risk going to jail for assault or worse that is your option. Just remember you won't be able to sell or borrow against the car to post bail because the ownership is in question. 

[C_stripes]

I can get a title for any car that has not been registered within the last 10 years.  It is so easy in Utah, If you know how to do it.  You also have to be a resident.  But if you need me to. I can do it for you.  It will cost about $45 and I need a pic of the front driver side and the rear pass side. Also a pic of the vin#.  I can get a bill of sale made up and I am a licensed inspector.  Just don't tell anyone I am doing this. lol.takes upto 6 weeks to get the title. I just done it on 3 cars, 67 coronet R/T, 70 charger R/T, 70 Road Runner. If your interested.  PM me.


Jeremy

[Chatt69chgr]

I bought my car from my brother-in-law in Alabama who bought it new.  They didn't have titles in 1969 in Alabama.  I called Tennessee DMV and they said I will have to bring a notarized bill of sale from the original owner plus the original bill of sale which I have.  They will be able to fix me up with a Tennessee title then.

While at the local junkyard recently I saw a older Chevy that looked interesting.  They are into one of those town cleanup deals here and are pulling in any old vehicles that don't have a license.  The junkyard operator said they don't have titles on most of these and that you couldn't get a title from the state.  You would have to go back to the original owner and get them to sign it over to you.  They can only sell these cars as salvage.  Interesting, huh! 

[waroc]

   here's what you do....  buy the car with a bill of sale. do a title search in the STATE THAT YOU LIVE IN !   not the state the car came from. your either going to get the search back with the last known owner, or the state can't find the owner. ( state dmv's do not communicate with each other... this is an advantage to you if you buy the vehicle from out of state ! )).  in either case, store the vehicle ( at $25.00 to $50.00 per day )  for about 30 days,( in this time, DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE VEHICLE ! DON'T EVEN TAKE A LUG NUT OFF IT ! ) then file a file a mechanics lien against the vehicle. once you file the mechanic's lien, you have to... a; send a letter to the last known owner telling them they have 30 days to pay the lien off ( which would be the price you paid for the vehicle and the storage charges. there is a chance the owner wants to reclaim the vehicle which at the very least , you made some money for storing it ! ) or b; store the vehicle for 30 days ...then in either case you have to place 2 consecutive ads in your local paper announcing that you are going to auction off the vehicle 30 days from the last ad placed in the paper. if nobody comes to the auction you keep the vehicle. if someone comes to bid on the vehicle, have a ringer there to bid a crazy price on it so you'll know you'll get it back. now once that's done. you'can take the bill of sale from the mechanic's lien, proof that you placed the ads in the paper, proof you did a title search and if you had to notify the last owner, proof that you sent the letter to them. ( a signature confirmation from the post office will do) fill out a dmv form for a new title send that and all the paperwork and you should recieve a new clear title for that vehicle. i know this works as i have done it plenty of times ( i work at a used car lot ) anybody can file a mechanic's lein against any vehicle as long as it's legitimate and can prove that you have monitary claim against said vehicle.  try it , it WORKS !  ( WELL I DO HAVE TO ADMIT THOUGH, THAT THIS WORKS IN WISCONSN AND ILLINOIS ONLY AS FAR AS I KNOW, OTHER STATES I DON'T )