title

[jackson]

found a sweet truck for sale. owner has atitle signed by previous owner but no signed title app. he has tried to contact him but no dice. what to do? i really want this truck but im nervous about problems

[OLDIRON69]

If it is a sweet deal buy it and get a title thru one of the title companies. There are a ton online.

[masshole]

has anyone ever used one of these title companies,curious to how it works...thanks Greg

[Maximus]

is the title dated? if its not, you can date it current and maybe pass it in
In California, all you need is the title to transfer if all the paperwork is current...
but I would be careful with the title issue. do ALL of your homework before buying...

[mr48chev]

I don't think you have to waste your money on a title company but you may have to jump through a couple of flaming hoops.

Texas is one of those states that wants the application for title signed by the seller which is a royal pain in the butt for both parties but it doesn't look like both parties have to have the paper notarized like we did in the 70's when I lived there.
http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/...le%2520App.pdf

Here I would walk in to the local license office, lay the title on the counter and as long as the seller had signed it, it was dated and I had signed it I could transfer the title for the cost of the transfer, registration, Tax on the sale price and other fees.
First I would contact a state dmv office. You may have to go to Houston for that if there isn't one closer to El Compo.

Tell them you have a vehicle with a clear title but no signed application for title.

What they might tell you is that you have to send a registered letter with the application in it to the person who's name was last on the title. Then if the letter came back as non deliverable you take that to the dmv and go from there.

If you have a buddy or relative with a used car lot you might check with them as they might be able to run it through the car lot with just the title. Again I don't know if that will fly.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

What they might tell you is that you have to send a registered letter with the application in it to the person who's name was last on the title. Then if the letter came back as non deliverable you take that to the dmv and go from there.

I did this exact thing in California to register a boat trailer, the boat owner never regged the trailer... some people I'll tell ya... but it worked fine for the trailer...

[oldcouple]

In Oregon the DMV lady said they do not verify the signature, only that the title is clear and does not have a lean or reported stolen, the date thing can be a problem but a bill of sale with a new date can take care of that. As many cars as there are in Texas it seems they would have the same policy as to signatures, just too many to dig out and check.

[youngrodder]

It sounds like it really variers depending on the state. I would suggest going into a Sec of State in your area and ask the questions. Like others have said it is better to do you homework up front. This also might be why the truck has not sold yet especially if it is a sweet deal.

Good luck
Marc

[masshole]

just left my local DMV.....$644.07 LESS than when I walked in! That was just to get a new title in my name and the sales tax( plus a $350 penalty for not paying sales tax within 20 days after purchase of truck) no wonder I'm a MASSHOLE!!!! OHH WELL..atleast I now have a fresh title....

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by masshole

just left my local DMV.....$644.07 LESS than when I walked in! That was just to get a new title in my name and the sales tax( plus a $350 penalty for not paying sales tax within 20 days after purchase of truck) no wonder I'm a MASSHOLE!!!! OHH WELL..atleast I now have a fresh title....

A 350 penalty is probably less than the "title" companies that some of these guys are so quick to suggest any time someone has a title issue.

I've got an OT car that I'll have to pay a 100.00 penalty on if I ever change the title. It was already way beyond t he 15 day limit for getting it changed when I bought the thing on Ebay 8 years ago. If I had it running it would pay me back that 100 in two weeks on the difference in gas from my 71 going to work and back.

[drivea55]

Originally Posted by masshole

just left my local DMV.....$644.07 LESS than when I walked in! That was just to get a new title in my name and the sales tax( plus a $350 penalty for not paying sales tax within 20 days after purchase of truck) no wonder I'm a MASSHOLE!!!! OHH WELL..atleast I now have a fresh title....

Well at least I know what to look forward to...

I have a signed title (not dated) from the guy who sold it to the guy I bought it from.

I am planning on heading into the rmv with a dumb ass look with it dated 2 days ago and say nothing... (*seeing what happens next = priceless*)

Brian

[jackson]

well, i bailed on the truck .looked at the vin tag. it was homemade out of stainless with two screws in it with some numbers stamped in it that didnt match the title . i was so bummed, but i was out of there

[Caddieup]

I just got finished getting a '54 titled here in Dallas. I bought the truck and I only had the bill of sale (which I stated was bought for $500).

1st: I went to the county tag office, where I was told to go to the dmv to get a REJECTION LETTER. = $ FREE.

2nd: Went to the DMV and got the Rejection Letter for FREE, I showed them the Bill of Sale. Had to fill out a couple of papers but basically all I needed to know was the VIN #.

3rd: I had to get a SURETY Bond. = $125.00

4th: Back to the county tag office with my Surety Bond. 1 hour 30 mins later and $280 out of pocket I will now have a clean title in 2-3 weeks!!!!! Here in
Texas, if a vehicle is older than 25 years old, the taxable amount is $4000.00.

I was pretty nervous about buying a truck without a title. But really if you have the VIN # it's no big deal. So if you find a truck to buy with no title just get a Bill of Sale between you and the seller and make sure the truck has a VIN number.
And make sure you have $400

Hope this helps.

[Maximus]

sometimes its easier to just smile and accept it. There is really not a price you can put on having a title for your truck! hah.

sorry it cost you so much, but congrats on getting the paperwork squared away!

[masshole]

i was a little suprised at the penalty,but at the end of the day Maximus said it best...."accept it and smile" title in my name now complete, now I can focus on trying to finish this project in time for a summer cruz!

[lpguy]

Look into bonded title, i recently did this for a jeep cherokee i bought to use at deer lease. Got a hell of a deal because of it...

[tttuba]

I deal with titling issues every day at work. I handle total losses. It is amazing how many people don't transfer a title when they buy a car then they have to settle their total loss. I strongly suggest ANYONE buying a car with title issues contact local dmv and find out what they need to do to get clear title and transfer that title when they purchase that vehicle.
I was very concerned buying a car in Georgia once when the owner said if the car is old enough it doesn't require a title. The state I lived in, Tennessee, required one. A simple call to dmv eased my fears. They had no problem with the no title issue and told me what to get from the owner when I transferred ownership. Call the DMV

[mr48chev]

This should be the page that shows where your DMV regional service center is. http://www.txdmv.gov/wheretogo/regional_offices.htm
Contact the one closest to you and they should be able to tell you right off what you need to do.
Knowing before hand if there might be extra costs gives you the chance to get the seller to deduct those costs from the selling price. my guess is that the guy who is trying to sell the car never attempted to contact the guy who's name is on the title.

It seems like it would be wise for anyone in Texas contemplating buying a vehicle from an individual to have blank copies of the title transfer paper with him when he goes to do the deal.

It might seem odd to some but because we have a large number of migrant farm workers here locally just about every time I go in to get tabs for one of the vehicles there is someone there doing the transaction on a car sale and making sure that the buyer transfers the title then and there. Too many guys around here have been burned by buyers who didn't transfer the title, didn't insure the car and then had a wreck with it.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

This should be the page that shows where your DMV regional service center is. http://www.txdmv.gov/wheretogo/regional_offices.htm
Contact the one closest to you and they should be able to tell you right off what you need to do.
Knowing before hand if there might be extra costs gives you the chance to get the seller to deduct those costs from the selling price. my guess is that the guy who is trying to sell the car never attempted to contact the guy who's name is on the title.

It seems like it would be wise for anyone in Texas contemplating buying a vehicle from an individual to have blank copies of the title transfer paper with him when he goes to do the deal.

It might seem odd to some but because we have a large number of migrant farm workers here locally just about every time I go in to get tabs for one of the vehicles there is someone there doing the transaction on a car sale and making sure that the buyer transfers the title then and there. Too many guys around here have been burned by buyers who didn't transfer the title, didn't insure the car and then had a wreck with it.

Bringing blank paper work with you is a very good idea here and if you sell a car take the plates off. They no longer go with the vehicle. On top of the title there is a ticket you can fill out and send into the DMV stating you sold the truck and to whom and when. Better is going to the clerks office and transferring it there with the buyer. You can have temps printed off the dmv website for them to drive it away.