70 Duster missing title

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VonCramp

VonCramp

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A friend of mine has a 1970 Duster that he recently picked up from a guy who was going to turn it into a race car. It has no title. He did some investigating and the car was written off as totaled by the insurance company. Supposedly they won't release the title because of the salvage lien or something. Is there anything he can do? He wants to save the car because the body is really clean on it. Any advice may just save another classic Mopar from the scrapper. Thanks!
 
Depends on your state Laws. Here in Oregon you can get a "Branded" Reconstructed Title. I've had two Mustangs with them. They were considered totaled by the INS company, bought at auction, rebuilt and sold.
 
He needs to contact his state DMV and get accurate information on how to proceed. Laws vary state to state.




Here we have a "Junk" title that can never be brought back to a street legal car. Take it out of the state is our only option but then it still can't be brought back here and titled.
 
Here in Georgia we don't title old cars. You register the vehicle and get a tag based on a bill of sale. It can even be handwritten. They supposedly do a quick VIN check to see if it's stolen (knock on wood, I've never had one come back that way) and then you show proof of insurance and you are on your way! Many states treat old cars this way. I could be driving your friend's Duster tomorrow.

The problem for states that DO require titles is what to do when somebody buys an old car from a state like Georgia. They have to have SOME process in place to give you a title if you buy a car from me. Some states ask for a copy of the registration and a notarized bill of sale. Some have other documentation requirements. But MOST have something you can do in that case because it happens a lot.

What you do (and it's how many of the "title services" work) is find a friend in Georgia, Alabama, Maine, or one of the other non title states to register your car in their name in that state and then SELL it back to you. It's a simple process that works.

You take the paperwork back to your motor vehicle dept and say "I bought this car from a guy in Georgia and they don't have titles..what do I need to give you to get a title here?"
Then you provide whatever they want and you have a title in your state.
 
gregpurcell said:
Here in Georgia we don't title old cars. You register the vehicle and get a tag based on a bill of sale. It can even be handwritten. They supposedly do a quick VIN check to see if it's stolen (knock on wood, I've never had one come back that way) and then you show proof of insurance and you are on your way! Many states treat old cars this way. I could be driving your friend's Duster tomorrow.

The problem for states that DO require titles is what to do when somebody buys an old car from a state like Georgia. They have to have SOME process in place to give you a title if you buy a car from me. Some states ask for a copy of the registration and a notarized bill of sale. Some have other documentation requirements. But MOST have something you can do in that case because it happens a lot.

What you do (and it's how many of the "title services" work) is find a friend in Georgia, Alabama, Maine, or one of the other non title states to register your car in their name in that state and then SELL it back to you. It's a simple process that works.

You take the paperwork back to your motor vehicle dept and say "I bought this car from a guy in Georgia and they don't have titles..what do I need to give you to get a title here?"
Then you provide whatever they want and you have a title in your state.
Click to expand...

Thanks
 
If that still has a lien attached in your state computers it won't matter if you bought it out of state whether honest or nefarious. They won't likely issue a new title with any known outstanding lien holders. If you do get a title and the insurance company comes after it... bye bye car or you're paying the outstanding balance.

Roll the bones and take your chances. A lien sale gets any interested parties notified and if they don't come get it, paying off the lien sale balance, then it's free and clear. Only thing that sucks about lien sale (depending on state) is that you will likely pay use tax on sale amount, which if done right, doesn't put any of your purchase money at risk.
 
If that still has a lien attached in your state computers it won't matter if you bought it out of state whether honest or nefarious. They won't likely issue a new title with any known outstanding lien holders. If you do get a title and the insurance company comes after it... bye bye car or you're paying the outstanding balance.

Technically the same caveat would apply to YOUR solution: a lien sale would expose you to previous lienholders who would get first crack at the car. In fact to have a lien sale you would be legally REQUIRED to notify them and to run ads in the papers, so a lien sale is more likely to fail. Fortunately most salvage liens are removed after a few years, so he still has a fair shot.
 
gregpurcell said:
If that still has a lien attached in your state computers it won't matter if you bought it out of state whether honest or nefarious. They won't likely issue a new title with any known outstanding lien holders. If you do get a title and the insurance company comes after it... bye bye car or you're paying the outstanding balance.

Technically the same caveat would apply to YOUR solution: a lien sale would expose you to previous lienholders who would get first crack at the car. In fact to have a lien sale you would be legally REQUIRED to notify them and to run ads in the papers, so a lien sale is more likely to fail. Fortunately most salvage liens are removed after a few years, so he still has a fair shot.
Click to expand...

Well, gee............if a car actually BELONGS to someone else, how is "exposing yourself" (you make it sound) is unfair to you?

That in essence is exactly why we HAVE titles---to protect those who actually OWN the thing legally from being ripped off by someone else.

But the thing is, and different states are "different states," I'm sure a HULK can be configured by a smart lien seller to come up with various storage and towing fees so that they might actually owe the new owner to get it back!!!!
 

Maine does "rebuilt" titles. Sell it to me, ill get a title and then sell it back. Haha!
 
67Dart273 said:
Well, gee............if a car actually BELONGS to someone else, how is "exposing yourself" (you make it sound) is unfair to you?

That in essence is exactly why we HAVE titles---to protect those who actually OWN the thing legally from being ripped off by someone else.

But the thing is, and different states are "different states," I'm sure a HULK can be configured by a smart lien seller to come up with various storage and towing fees so that they might actually owe the new owner to get it back!!!!
Click to expand...

Shhhh, don't make any sense that might make the ones that think they are smarter than everyone else feel badly.
 
well this stuff happens all the time, if the car hasn't been reported stolen then its not stolen....and the last owner of the car truck boat thing object is now in the hands of someone that wants it....right when you get done making it wantable some asshat that gave up on it "claims" it..... now your screwed out of your money and your efforts....find a legal way to get proper title or paperwork before you begin otherwise its a parts car truck boat thing object or....still a racecar :) see the light at the end of the tunnel????
 
In Missouri, and likely most other states, a "Junk" title and a "salvage" title are two WAY different things.

Once given a junking certificate, the car can ONLY be sold to/between junk yards, and can NEVER be made road-legal again.

"Salvage" titles mean that it can be rebuilt (usually with some sort of safety inspection) and driven/sold/wrecked again.

Find out which it is, IF it applies at all.
 
I could tell you what I would do but others would go anal. They are cheap for a /6 cars. Wouldn't ever be trying to make something of more value and you'll get to build it instead of tossing it.

But my best legal advise would be to sell it to me cheap.
 
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