URGENT title help needed!!!

Found a dream car but need some ASAP help! It was abandoned 20+ years ago at a repair shop. The shop owner repo'd it, held it, and it was sold after he closed the business and passed away (about 10 years ago). Current guy has it for sale, has no paperwork, and thinks the car's history should make it easy to title.

According to Washington DMV though, it's SOL for everybody because shop owner never got the title (though he did do the lien, supposedly). Original owner is probably long dead by now.

Normally I'd run away screaming, but the car itself is special enough that it would haunt my dreams for the rest of my life. Any ideas???

Call or email one of the online title services and see what they can do for you.

I bet it's an AMC

May be a couple of straight up ways. If you know a shop owner they may be able to do the lien process for you. Otherwise your state DMV may have a bond process to get a title. There's also title companies. I've heard mixed results with these.

GA has bonded titles. Not sure about WA

But, there's an easier way. If it's been abandoned for 20+ years, I'm assuming it is older than a 1986 model. GA doesn't offer titles for pre '86 models. Because of this, a GA registration and bill of sale is honored in most states as the equivalent of a title.

Sell it to someone in GA. After they have registered it, buy it back. Present the bill of sale to the DMV for a title.

Get in touch with Andy Reid, the Auctions Editor at the sister publications, Classis Motorsports. Follow the links to the discussion section, then staff, and leave him a message.

I'm sure he's dealt with this situation before, or really knows who to talk to to get the correct instructions advice.

all the title companies do is register it in a state that honors a bill of sale, then transfers the new title to you.

Datsun1500 wrote: I tried the Georgia thing before, How is the guy in Georgia going to get it registered without a title or previous registration? I used a title company, $150 and 3 weeks later, I had one.

Doesn't need a title or previous registration in GA. Just a bill of sale.

But you are right, the title company thing is a much better idea.

In reply to triumph5:

That's a great idea, thanks!

novaderrik wrote: all the title companies do is register it in a state that honors a bill of sale, then transfers the new title to you.

Pretty much the same thing I suggested, right?

Well what is it?

Not telling till it's delivered into my grubby little fingers!!!

Do some checking before going with one of those title companies - some states take a real dim view of new titles coming in from the states where they are located, since they can also be used to launder the title on stolen cars. I'd look into getting a bonded title if your state allows them; call the DMV and see what they have to say.

SVreX wrote: GA has bonded titles. Not sure about WA But, there's an easier way. If it's been abandoned for 20+ years, I'm assuming it is older than a 1986 model. GA doesn't offer titles for pre '86 models. Because of this, a GA registration and bill of sale is honored in most states as the equivalent of a title. Sell it to someone in GA. After they have registered it, buy it back. Present the bill of sale to the DMV for a title.

I just bought a 1975 motorcycle with a GA title. The guy I got it from had the title put into his name less than two years ago.

I did the title service thing on a old car I bought when Broadway Title was operating out of GA. You basically sold them the car, they registered it in GA, and then sold it back to you. The thing that may cause you trouble is that one of the steps involved me having a deputy come to my house and run the VIN in FL to make sure no previous title or theft history came up in the state. If that car has a title history in your state the title company method may not work.

stuart in mn wrote: Do some checking before going with one of those title companies - some states take a real dim view of new titles coming in from the states where they are located, since they can also be used to launder the title on stolen cars. I'd look into getting a bonded title if your state allows them; call the DMV and see what they have to say.

^This More and more it's getting harder to get over with this one. Many of these companies wont even do a title for a NJ resident now due to this. The ones that will charge more and the process is not as simple as they'd like you to belive.

Check the process for getting a title in your state, after going round and round with these companies I actually found out it was cheaper and less hassle to go through the proper state channels to get a title issued.

You have 2 very simple options it appears. Option 1 is a bonded title, vehicle is inspected to ensure its not stolen, a value determined and you must take out a bond for 1.5 times the value of the car for 3 years.

Option 2 is a 3 year registration without title. The car is registered to you and if after 3 years noone has tried to claim it as their own a title is issued.

Go get it, thank me later :)

http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420008.pdf

http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420054.pdf

international title service in vegas , the get you an alabama title with your name on it

JThw8 wrote: You have 2 very simple options it appears. Option 1 is a bonded title, vehicle is inspected to ensure its not stolen, a value determined and you must take out a bond for 1.5 times the value of the car for 3 years. Option 2 is a 3 year registration without title. The car is registered to you and if after 3 years noone has tried to claim it as their own a title is issued. Go get it, thank me later :) http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420008.pdf http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420054.pdf

You are THE MAN!!!!

I've used its-titles.com a few times with no problems at all.

P71 wrote:

JThw8 wrote: You have 2 very simple options it appears. Option 1 is a bonded title, vehicle is inspected to ensure its not stolen, a value determined and you must take out a bond for 1.5 times the value of the car for 3 years. Option 2 is a 3 year registration without title. The car is registered to you and if after 3 years noone has tried to claim it as their own a title is issued. Go get it, thank me later :) http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420008.pdf http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420054.pdf

You are THE MAN!!!!

my google-fu is strong ;) cant wait to see what youve found

I would absolutely, iron clad, 100% go with the way the state of Washington suggests.

I would also very, very strongly caution you about using a title company or having a friend register it in a different state just so you can in turn register it in Washington. That's title washing, and can lead to results you don't want anything to do with. I've been in the auto insurance claims business a long time, and spent several of those years as a fraud investigator. I've seen several "title companies", mostly based in southern states, go down for fraud...and their customers get caught up in the web. Many people get lucky and get away with it, but you're rolling the dice for sure. And when there isn't a title company involved, and it's just two people washing a title, it can be worse.

Klayfish wrote: I would absolutely, iron clad, 100% go with the way the state of Washington suggests. I would also very, very strongly caution you about using a title company or having a friend register it in a different state just so you can in turn register it in Washington. That's title washing, and can lead to results you don't want anything to do with. I've been in the auto insurance claims business a long time, and spent several of those years as a fraud investigator. I've seen several "title companies", mostly based in southern states, go down for fraud...and their customers get caught up in the web. Many people get lucky and get away with it, but you're rolling the dice for sure. And when there isn't a title company involved, and it's just two people washing a title, it can be worse.

I lack the experience you have in the field but I agree 100%

Every time Ive looked at using a "title service" I've just felt I was finding a way to break the law and it left me feeling a bit sketchy about the whole process. And as I said before when I finally took the time to look at the proper process for my state it was less money and less work than the title service to do it the right way. And NJ is considered a real PITA when it comes to this. We dont have a bonded title process. From what I was able to find of the Washington State process it looks downright simple

Klayfish wrote: I would absolutely, iron clad, 100% go with the way the state of Washington suggests. I would also very, very strongly caution you about using a title company or having a friend register it in a different state just so you can in turn register it in Washington. That's title washing, and can lead to results you don't want anything to do with. I've been in the auto insurance claims business a long time, and spent several of those years as a fraud investigator. I've seen several "title companies", mostly based in southern states, go down for fraud...and their customers get caught up in the web. Many people get lucky and get away with it, but you're rolling the dice for sure. And when there isn't a title company involved, and it's just two people washing a title, it can be worse.

Good points.

As a resident of GA, I have come to view things differently, perhaps a bit slanted. And, of course, there are things that ARE legal for me that might not be for other people.

You sir, however, are correct.

i'd buy a junker with good title and do something to make that title appear on the car i wanted before i would ever consider going through one of the title laundering services. i think one of them got caught up in the whole boyd coddington thing where they were washing titles and applying them to new car builds.

some states are more friendly to lost or missing titles on old stuff than others. ohio doesnt seem too friendly.