Questions about finding a truck

[Dmax21]

I am currently looking for an 86 c10 that my father used to own and I checked the vin and actually talked to the person it is titled too but he said he traded it too a used car dealership several years ago, but as I said it still shows its registered too him and I'm at a hold up on my search because that dealer has since went out of buisness. Has anyone run into this or has any kind of explanation of why it's still titled to the previous owner? He said the truck was in good shape when he traded it so that's why it doesnt make any sense, any ideas or suggestions is greatly appreciated, this truck has alot of sentimental value and would really like to find it.

[mongocanfly]

sounds like whoever bought it never titled it...could be numerous reasons for that...if the tag office cant track it down by the vin,you may never find it

[franken]

If the DMV or whatever in your state doesn't know of the next owner, then it's scrapped or sitting in a field. It's pretty pointless to look for vehicles in the US after many years.

[Shugalou]

Damn sounds like you have a challenge on your hands. I was able to find my old mans truck after years through a DMV search.

I wish you luck in your quest brother

[Dead Parrot]

It could have been scrapped. It could be in someone's shop undergoing a complete frame up rebuild. It might be in another state or even country.

Fairly common for a buyer to not title/register a vehicle until they are ready to put it on the road to avoid years of registration/tag/insurance costs while the thing is in pieces. Or if they are going to use it for illegal activities.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

What about it being sold to a out of state buyer?

That way it may not show up in your state's dmv?

[Dmax21]

Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust

What about it being sold to a out of state buyer?

That way it may not show up in your state's dmv?

this is what I was really wondering, I'm going to call the previous owner again and see if we can come up with the car dealers name and try to get in touch with them, but other than that i'm at a stand still. I really want to exhaust all efforts on this one before I decide to purchase a different truck. one last question are there any states where you wouldn't have to register the title on vehicles a certain age?

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

A option I have heard that works if it registered. Is to find someone who can search national databases where they can sometimes find it.

A case I read about similar to yours. The guy who was now rich wanted his dads old car back. It mentioned he hired someone to track it down. Didn't give any details other that throw away line.

[Palf70Step]

More than likely it got sold thru auction by the dealer to an out of state buyer. I still have a few old vehicles that the state says is titled to me, but I know and have the receipts of them going to a dealer or out of state person. From what I heard, unless there is some sort of agreement between states it ends up that way, in limbo kinda forever.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Just know that in neighboring states GA and AL, you can register a vehicle without a title. Bill of sale only. GA only goes back a certain year like 1985 or so, Alabama could be even more lenient.

[Dmax21]

But would it still show something on a carfax? If not how would you go about tracking it?

[86454k30]

If it is currently registered in the US it will show on Carfax. It will tell you the city/state it is in. I'd run a Carfax.