This is pretty cool...UPDATE

[monkeystash]

Being the paranoid person I am, I got to thinking.  My project '65 hasn't been titled or registered since 1984, and I bought it on a bill of sale.  What if I go to register it when I get done and it comes back stolen?  That would suck.  I called the title office and there was no issues with it, in fact they had no records since the last title was issued in 1984 (which I have.)  They couldn't determine if it was stolen, so they transferred me to the PD.  They couldn't help me either, said running VINs for citizens is against policy.

I have a stack of old registrations and the title from 1984, and this is where it gets cool.  I "Anywho" the guys name on the 1984 title which brings up an address and phone number.  I call and the guy picks up.  We talk for a while about the car, and he gives me some history.  He sold the car to the guy I bought it from.  So without involving the PD, I'm reassured the car is mine and the paper trail is legit.  I told him I'd send some pics of the car today (still deep in project status) and he appreciated that.    

[tarafied1]

that's a relief! and cool to talk to a former owner. The guy I got my 67 from bought it at an auction because it was his wife's college car. He intended to have it restored but it was a piece of junk and he didn't want to spend what it would have cost. Anyway, glad your car is your's!

[70_Fastback]

Cool.  Now quit being a tard and go get that titled in your name.

Insurance might not be a bad idea either...

[ZFORCE]

I consider myself cautious, but some would say 'm paranoid.  In AZ, you can transfer the title without registering the car.  That way, you do not need to have insurance or even a running car.  It's great for cars in your situation, and takes the mystery out of "ownership."  Kind of a big risk waiting till it's done.  What would happen if that PO you just talked to, called the MVD for a duplicate title, since he was the last owner?  Just some thoughts on the subject.

[daveSanborn]

Being the paranoid person I am, I got to thinking.

Less thinking and more "doing" should be your first order of business.


1.  Get the vehicle titled in your name.  Now.

2.  Get a comprehensive insurance policy to cover it while it's undergoing it's restoration.


I'm not a paranoid person, but I won't spend a dime on a project car until the paperwork is in my name.  It's the equivalant of renovating a house before the closing... who in their right mind would do that?  Once the title's in my name I call Hagerty and put a comp. policy on it.  Just before the first test drive, I'll snap a few pictures (to send to Hagerty) and upgrade to full coverage.

Without a comp. policy if your house burns to the ground your project car is not covered by your homeowners policy.

Lastly, state titling/registration laws are continuously changing... and by change I mean they're always getting more strict, not more relaxed.  North Carolina recently tightened up their titling/registration laws and some of the new procedures are a PITA.  We had to have a DMV Inspector (complete with sidearm) over to the property to eyeball Joe's '57 F100 last month before he could renew his registration.  A year ago this wasn't necessary.  "Older" cars are usually more problematic... such as your "VIN's not in our system".  While this isn't a problem today, it could be with a new regulation tomorrow.

Get it done Ryan.

[johnpro]

I'm not a paranoid person, but I won't spend a dime on a project car until the paperwork is in my name. 

+1.

[Fast68back]

I think if I was a PO I would be kind of excited to hear about my old car. I bet it made his day knowing the car was being fixed up and not in a scrap yard somewhere.

[monkeystash]

Less thinking and more "doing" should be your first order of business.


1.  Get the vehicle titled in your name.  Now.

2.  Get a comprehensive insurance policy to cover it while it's undergoing it's restoration.

Here's the problem guys:  Georgia doesn't require a title on cars over XX years old, so mine doesn't need one.  While I would love to have a title in my name, it's not really possible.  I have the title from the guy I spoke to on the phone, and he signed it on the back.  However, that was in 1986 in Oklahoma where it requires a notary.  It wasn't notarized.  He sold it to the guy I bought it from.  I bought it with a bill of sale only, but he included all the old paperwork including the title.  I've been to the title office here in GA, and they will register the car to me with a tag, but no title because it wasn't done properly in 1986.  So really, I don't have a problem.  I have a paper trail that shows I own the car, just no title.  No title old cars are pretty normal here in GA, but believe me that I'd love to have one in my name.     

[AzPete]

Here's the problem guys:    However, that was in 1986 in Oklahoma where it requires a notary.  It wasn't notarized.  He sold it to the guy I bought it from.  Ibut no title because it wasn't done properly in 1986.  So really, I don't have a problem.        

That could be a problem. No matter what any PO says......that owner could claim a nice, restored Mustang due to the fact that there was no notary stamp on the title........

I would not put a dime in it as Dave says. Find a way to clear the notary problem with some sort of legal finalization. MVD lies......especially about another state.

I bought a Jeep.....titled it and registered it in Az. It came from Idaho. Az, did a VIN check and all was well. Got a warning for speeding one week later. One week after that, the county sheriff came to my work claiming it was a stolen vehicle. I damn near went to jail for it but managed to talk my way thru it. Even ended up keeping the Jeep. It had been stolen out of Montana, transferred into Utah, then Idaho, and sold to a dealer in Az. I bought it and it had a fake title. Dealer didn't even know it. Was even on the hot list that MVD missed.

Never again.....

[monkeystash]

That could be a problem. No matter what any PO says......that owner could claim a nice, restored Mustang due to the fact that there was no notary stamp on the title........

I would not put a dime in it as Dave says. Find a way to clear the notary problem with some sort of legal finalization. MVD lies......especially about another state.

He couldn't claim anything Pete, especially due to his mistake 24 years ago.  This is the exact reason GA doesn't require a title on cars 1985 and older, because shart happens and paperwork gets screwed up over decades.  It wouldn't matter if I flew out to OK and took the PO to the notary, because he didn't sell me the car in 1986.  There was one other owner between us.  I could shred the title I have and nothing would change.  The fact is there is currently no good title on my car, and that's okay in the state I live in, because it's not required.  Now, am I going to keep looking for options to get a good title from OK, you bet your arse.  GA will not help do anything as again, they don't care about titles before 1985.  Am I going to stop my restoration or sell my car because of this, not a chance.  I will however go get a tag with my name on it to prove ownership in GA.  Project insurance also is a great idea, and I'll add it to my Hagerty policy ASAP.       

[Midlife]

Hey!  Isn't your plane over 25 years old?  Why not try and get a title for it in GA?  Hee Hee!

[monkeystash]

Hey!  Isn't your plane over 25 years old?  Why not try and get a title for it in GA?  Hee Hee!

I'd love to, can I borrow 25 mil?  And the oldest is only 15.  Smartarse.   :craz       

[ZFORCE]

Since you are on such good terms with the PO, why don't you just have him get a duplicate title since OK thinks he still owns it, and then have him sign it over to you and notarize it?  Then all is legal and done.

[monkeystash]

Insured, registered, and tagged.  The car is now legally mine, and of course not stolen.  The local Police did have to come out to the house and run the VIN before the tag office would issue me anything.  Anyway, glad this is out of the way, and back to work!

[AzPete]

Always nice to have ownership.......and you are right....get to work.  Congrats.

[lethal289]

Atta boy Ryan!

[AtlantaSteve]

Huh, the police came out?  Interesting.

My dad still "owns" my car.  I gotta get him to Bill of Sale that thing to me so I can register it.

[jpyoung]

Any idea what happens if you ever decide to sell the car to someone out of state?  I'm in the same boat, I had the title from Washington state and for whatever reason, Georgia would not title it.  (I can't remember why.)  I guess I should take the old title to the DMV and try to get it titled in the off chance I one day decide to sell (like that would happen!)

[tarafied1]

Any idea what happens if you ever decide to sell the car to someone out of state?  I'm in the same boat, I had the title from Washington state and for whatever reason, Georgia would not title it.  (I can't remember why.)  I guess I should take the old title to the DMV and try to get it titled in the off chance I one day decide to sell (like that would happen!)

yeah, that's some weird stuff not using the title... In Kentucky and Illinois you have to have the title to register the car. A bill of sale won't cut it.

[apollard]

In 1981, I lived in Chattanooga TN. AL, MI & GA at the time did not require a title to register a car. Chattanooga lies within 45 minutes drive to two of these states, and not that much farther to the 3rd. Guess which city had the highest per capita auto theft at the time?

I know first hand. My first car & first Mustang disappeared there.

[AzPete]

States recognize each others way of registering a vehicle. It is not like you would be the first to sell a classic car outside of a non-titling state. You would have more problems explaining to a buyer that does not understand no title........

[monkeystash]

Any idea what happens if you ever decide to sell the car to someone out of state?  I'm in the same boat, I had the title from Washington state and for whatever reason, Georgia would not title it.  (I can't remember why.)  I guess I should take the old title to the DMV and try to get it titled in the off chance I one day decide to sell (like that would happen!)

It totally depends on the state.  If your state requires a title, then they will issue one or send you to a title bondsman.
 

In 1981, I lived in Chattanooga TN. AL, MI & GA at the time did not require a title to register a car. Chattanooga lies within 45 minutes drive to two of these states, and not that much farther to the 3rd. Guess which city had the highest per capita auto theft at the time?

I know first hand. My first car & first Mustang disappeared there.

The VIN must be run though the NCIC (that's why the Police had to come to my house), so I'm not sure why a titled car would be less prone to be stolen. 

[apollard]

The VIN must be run though the NCIC (that's why the Police had to come to my house), so I'm not sure why a titled car would be less prone to be stolen. 

At the time, no check was required, so you could steal any car (titled or not), take it to say, AL, then register it as yours. Hence the high theft rate in a large city near these states. As you point out, I doubt it's an issue now due to databases.

[tarafied1]

... You would have more problems explaining to a buyer that does not understand no title........

that would be me! the title is your proof it's yours... anybody can write a bill of sale. I don't get it.

[AzPete]

I do wonder under a bill of sale only state, is there any check done if a seller has not registered the car for street use? In a state that titles, the state maintains a record, at least for several years.

If I lived in a non titling state and did a bill of sale type sale from me to Billy Bob, what is to say I owned the car...a hand written bill of sale wouldn't...NCIC won't prove it. Just trying to learn more......