Vehicle Title ? How to get one replaced ?

[Challenger340]

Here's the situation,
A Buddy of mine found a REALLY NICE Car sitting in a Barn up here in B.C. Canada, excellent shape, no rust or dings whatsoever, it even Runs GREAT !
The Guy who owns the car wants to sell it, my Buddy wants to Buy it.
Problem is this,
The Guy who is selling, bought the Car in California in 1991, and promptly hopped in it, and drove it ALL THE WAY back here to Canada, with the California Plates still on it, with NOTHING, but a Bill Of Sale from the Lady he purchased it from, and the California "Registration" in her name.
Apparently,
He can NOT transfer the car into his name in Canada,(if my Buddy bought it), WITHOUT the California "Title" ?

Does anybody know if it's possible to get a replacement "title" from the State of California for the Car ?
It still has the California Plates and last Registration(in her name) in the Car.
We can't find the Lady who sold the Car(registration), because we think she may have passed ? She would be 102 if still alive ?

Any help appreciated,
we tried the California DMV, but the only phone number we could find is a 1-800 #, that we cannot access from up here in Canada.

Thx
Bob   

[bobs66440]

This subject has been discussed on this and other forums many times, and the general consensus is that a situation like this in the States alone is a nightmare at best. Add a whole other country to the mix and my brain really hurts! 

Probably the best bet is to keep trying to get a good phone number to the California DMV, explain the situation and go from there. Or maybe contact your local DMV to see if it's even possible to get a title. Maybe someone else here has a better suggestion. 

Good luck   

[BananaDan]

Basically I think those are your only options.  California would only cut a new/duplicate title to the currently titled owner who is no longer alive.  Unless you can find her family who technically might have some legal rights to help correct this in California because someone would have been the executor of the estate when the will was probated.  When my father passed, my mother held that role and she had the legal right to move all of their assets and assets in his name only into her name.  If you're really interested, it might help to speak with a lawyer in California that could help you navigate this.

[Tilar]

I ran into a situation very similar to that with the state of California. I called California DMV and what I ended up having to do was relly very easy.  I had a bill of sale like your buddy. The lady from California dmv sent me a form that I filled out and then sent it registered letter so the person had to sign for it. Well since the person was obviously not there the letter returned to me. I then returned the original registered letter UNOPENED to the lady in California and she sent me a title to the car in my name with my Texas address on the title.

This was in the mid 80's so things may have changed, but it was pretty easy back then.