How do I get a title for a car

[troy.70R/T]

Does any body have any idea how I go about getting a title for a car that was never in my name? I thought i saw a place once on the internet that said they could get you a title for any car. I think it was about $500.00. I just was wondering if it was legal or not and if I do get a title from one of these places what would happen if someone showed up a few years down the road saying that it was there car? I am aware of all the controversy that surrounds the last Dukes of hazzard car (the one with the mid engine that was supposed to be used in the last episode but never was) I just don't want any trouble like this after I spend alot of money restoring it. I bought the car from a guy that did not have the title and never did have it in his name. He did however have a hand written bill of sale from the woman that he bought it from.  I do have that bill of sale got with the car when I bought it.

[oldcarnut]

Maybe you could try and get in contact with the lady on the previous bill of sale and see if she had the title or at least some history of where it came from. Do you got a friend in the PD that can run the vin to see if it shows up?  At least it may give a little peace of mind about somebody from the past coming up saying its theirs.  I sold an old VW years back to someone and just signed the title on the back without filling in his name.  He never registered it and drove it around on dealer tags from the auto lot he worked out.  4 yrs later I get a certified letter stating I owe a huge mechanics/storage lien on it from somebody else that dropped it off for repairs and never picked it up. .  Must have been sold to other folks and never registered.  Still had my name as the owner.  They wanted me to just write a new bill of sale and sign the title over to them since it obviously wasn't mine still.  Lucky for me I still had a copy of the hand written sale to the first guy to prove it but I wouldn't sign it over again not knowing what  the car had been involved in.

[troy.70R/T]

I have thought about getting in touch with the woman but I can not find here name in the phone book. I do not have a freind in the PD but someone told me I could go to the DMV and they would tell me if the title was active. They won't give me any names though. I would assume that since the car was last titled in MO the previus owner would have had to tell the state they sold it to keep from paying property tax on it every year.

[Cooter]

Troy, once you go to the DMV, you will know if that car has an active title or not depending on how far back the DMV records go..MOST don't go back far enough to even be worried. IF you get a title issued in YOUR name then, all other titles are Null and void at that point...The DMV WILL NOT issue a title if there is a current owner on file...I however, would STAY AWAY from places like "Broadway Title" in Alabama..These places are a gamble at best, and when I'm gambling, I like to bet on a sure thing...I've found it is just as easy to go through the proper channels and do it correctly than to go around the DMV like they are some kind of arch enemy. Now, if this car has some kind of pedigree, then you are correct to be worried...IE: Painted the original color when done, original VIN number, etc...Someone may recognize their car and try and get it back..I never had this type of problem, cause NONE of my cars have pedigrees...They are all plain Jane cars...

[ACUDANUT]

 Troy, In Missouri, all you need is a bill of sale if the car is older than 35 years old and the car has not been registered for many years.  They will have to inspect it and verify the VIN and run it.

[troy.70R/T]

Thanks Cooter and Acudanut. I was wondering about those type of title places. Also I just read in my local paper a few weeks ago about some car and they said in the article that in the state of MO if a car is sold without title the deal is void. So that is a new worry.I am gong to paint the car a diffrent color anyway. It is a 68 Charger R/T

[Daytona R/T SE]

I've used this place to get a title for one of my cars:

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

No problems.

A guy I work with has used them several times.

No problems.

And this is dealing with the DMV Nazis here in Illinois

[FLG]

In NY all you need is a registration for old cars (forget the exact cut off year)

When i bought my T-Bird and the guy didnt have the registration i just had my father fill out one of the "lost registration" forms, said it was my fathers and he was selling it to me and they just issued a new registration.

[troy.70R/T]

Thanks for the site Daytona R/T SE I will give them a try if going to the DVM next week gets me no where. Any idea how much it costs to get a title from them? FLD I guess I could also try filing for a lost title if all else fails. I just want to make sure everything is on the up and up and legal. 

[ACUDANUT]

Thanks Cooter and Acudanut. I was wondering about those type of title places. Also I just read in my local paper a few weeks ago about some car and they said in the article that in the state of MO if a car is sold without title the deal is void. So that is a new worry.I am gong to paint the car a diffrent color anyway. It is a 68 Charger R/T

I have a form from the MO DVM. Your car is old enough that it will not be a void.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Thanks for the site Daytona R/T SE I will give them a try if going to the DVM next week gets me no where. Any idea how much it costs to get a title from them? FLD I guess I could also try filing for a lost title if all else fails. I just want to make sure everything is on the up and up and legal.  

I'm thinking their fee was in the $125-$140 range  

This was back in '06 and I'm not getting any younger.

I know they were cheaper than Broadway title, and from what I've heard from people that have used Broadway, I.T.S. is a lot faster too.

It was easy.  

[troy.70R/T]

Will I be able to get that form from the DMV as well? I will not be able to get to the DMV before this Friday. Thanks Daytona R/T SE that is very reasonable if I decide to go that route. Well at least I have some ideas on what to do now. I will keep everyone posted as to what needs to be done to get a title in MO.

[ACUDANUT]

 Sure. Call Jeff City DVM directley and talk with them.  Tell them you have a bill of sale from the lady who owned the car, AND DROP THE 3RD PARTY (the guy you bought it from).

[troy.70R/T]

Well like I said it is a hand written bill of sale and I can't even make out the last name on it. Well I can't tell what the first two letters are in her last name. There is also another signature on it but I can't read any of that one. The bill of sale is also written out to the guy that I bought the car from. I guess I will just have to make some calls and see what I can find out. 

[ACUDANUT]

 Just mentioning a 3rd Party could lead to problems.  Just delete this guy from the get go.  They will run this Lady's name and hopefully she was the last "real" owner.  You'll be okay. 

[troy.70R/T]

I was thinking about that as well. maybe this guy didn't get the title because she didn't have it either. I think I found someone who will do a title search for me so I can find out if the woman on the bill of sale actually had the car in her name. I would like to find the Lady and just deal with her like you say. No sense bringing up another name if I don't have too. She might be the last owner and could file for a lost or duplicate title for me if I was to offer a couple hundred dollars for her trouble.

[nascarxx29]

I did it for 2 cars a challenger conv and challenger hardtop from Broadway title .But see what states they service.Other companys as mentioned ITS international title service

[troy.70R/T]

Thanks I am just going to take my time and do a litle reasearch with this person that will do a title search for me. She works for a car dearlership so she has to do this kind of thing all the time.

[200MPH]

I used Broadway title twice  just follow their instructions and make sure it is not stolen..and as said before Do Not mention the other people involved

[troy.70R/T]

So what do you all think then use a title company like ITS or broadway and not even mess with the Missouri DMV?  Are you guys that have used these places confident that no one will ever show up claiming ownership of your car?    Did you guys go the title company route because you had no other leads or because you thought it would be easier to get the title at the time or because you did not want someone (an old owner) to find out that they still had leagal ownership to the car?? sorry for the tough questions. Like I said before I just want to do this legally and don't want someone coming back 10 years from now and taking my car. If the car is gone now I am out $1500.00 but down the road when it is fixed up I will be out alot more.   

[694spdRT]

My brother in law tried Broadway Title and I helped him. We followed the instructions and were promptly rejected by Wisconsin DMV.

That was 4 or 5 years ago and even after calling Broadway I see they still have Wisconsin listed as a state to use their service in.....good luck with that.  

[200MPH]

Due to changes in their title laws, we are unable to due titles in the following states under ANY circumstances. Alaska, Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, North Carolina, Wisconsin. Please note, Laws change on a constant basis. So please check with us on any of the states listed. Please call for additional information.


its always been this way  This from their web site

[squeakfinder]

   A mustang I got had the sellers signature in the wrong spot. The person I got the car from had not changed the title over into his name. The DMV would not change it over into my name without a bill of sale from the person who was listed on the title. I had no way of finding that person. Well I knew the owner of a local wrecking yard real well and ask him for help. He impounded the car on paper, and put a lean on it. I think it was 30 days and I had a title.
I've heard of people putting a mechanics lean on cars with problem or no titles. I haven't tried it myself.

[694spdRT]

Due to changes in their title laws, we are unable to due titles in the following states under ANY circumstances. Alaska, Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, North Carolina, Wisconsin. Please note, Laws change on a constant basis. So please check with us on any of the states listed. Please call for additional information.


its always been this way  This from their web site

No it hasn't always been that way. Wisconsin's DMV was not happy at all.  The lady at the DMV said that they had notified them previously. They may have changed it recently but WI was not listed when we tried.

Check out the important notice about all cars having to be road worthy now.  I would think that project cars are a large portion of the lost title market.

[troy.70R/T]

I did think about seeing if I could get someone to do a mechanics lean on it, but I really don't know anyone who would do it for me.  I  think I am just going to call one of those title companies and the DMV and go from there. I hope to drive the car. It would just be a real shame to part out a 68 R/T