titling options in Missouri

[austinsailor]

I posted this on the HAMB today. It may be of interest to others in Missouri, so I'll repeat it here. I was researching ways to title old vehicles and found a bonded title process in the statutes and went to Jeff City today to the main DOR office to ask questions. It is real, and might be of benefit to someone else. In the past, I'd hauled 2 trucks to Texas and got bonded titles there, not knowing, as most do not, that it is also an option here.

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Ok, I've been to the DOR. Bonded titles are real, they do a few. Not many. Since almost nobody knows they exist, that is understandable.

I'll put a writeup on my website sometime soon, along with scans of their internal instructions they copied for me. But for now, I'll list some things to help you figure it out. But, before you set out to do it, I'd recommend doing some asking yourself and make sure you don't waste a lot of effort doing things in the wrong order or extra things. And, I can tell you that just because you have their word in writing, it might be different the next time you talk to someone. But knowing it exists is the big step, from there on out it is just filling in the right blanks.

Here is the statute:

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C300-399/3010000192.HTM

The vehicle must be at least 7 years old. It must be worth $3000 or less.

Here are the steps they said have to be done:

-Buy a form 551 from the license office, cost $27.50

-Take the vehicle and form to the Highway Patrol, who will verify the serial number and make sure it is not stolen. (There may be the possibility that they will come to you, you'd have to check. I've had them come to me for other things, not sure about this.)

-Take the form to the License office, along with

1. a bill of sale (no need for notary, and surely someone can "sell" it to you),

2. a notarized statement of facts, a paper you write to explain how you came into possession of the vehicle and why you have no title.

3. 2 estimates of value from licensed car dealers (or go by the average bluebook value, and I can assure you you'd be better off using dealer's appriasals)

4. A surety bond in the amount of 2 times the value of the vehicle. This is a minimum cost of $100, will not be over about $150.

5. Title application.

I would recommend that you take everything to the license office and ask if you've got it right before buying the bond.

I didn't ask today, but the other type bonded title can only be done at the headquarters in Jeff City, I assume this is the case here. You might be able to work through the local office to get questions taken care of, but like antique tags, I'm sure it's going to be handled in Jeff.

For what it's worth, there is also a statute allowing for bonded titles of vehicles over 25 years old, but you get a salvage title. This leaves you another whole can of worms to deal with. The above method gets a real title.

There is also a provision for a title for an abandoned vehicle, one left on your property. This might be of use to some. Say, if you have a car that for some reason is sitting on your property and the owner doesn't claim it. My imagination says this would be the case when you buy a car and get no title. It's on your property and nobody claims it. You get the idea. This is covered at:

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C300-399/3010000193.HTM

An advantage of this is there is no bond involved.

(cost savings)

It would involve the 551 inspection, sending certified a letter to the last registered owner (if one is in the records) or siging a statement that you have used all reasonable efforts to find them.i

In the end you would receive either a salvage title or real title, depending on the condition of the vehicle.

Then there are Street rod, and custom vehicle titles discribed here:

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C300-399/3010000132.HTM

If this doesn't give you enough to think about, spend some time reading the entire set of statutes on titling and registration at:

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c301.htm

[lugnut123]

I have been doing the same thing in New Mexico.

!. you have to send a form to Santa Fe and they check and see if it is on record somewhere.

2.you run it threw NCIC with the seriff to see that it ain't stolen

3. You send a registered letter to the last owners address with return recipt requested. (Send it to a friend and tell them to not sign for it) then you use the reciept to prove you tryed.

4. I take the truck to the DMV for a vin inspection. They have to check the vin numbers and make sure it is ok.

5. get a sureity bond usually costs me about 50$. Call the guy you have your car insurance with and ask. Different places charge different so.

Take it to the DMV and if they're in the right mood you get a title.

Do it all in state or they will make you get a title in that other state.

I hope this mite help someone. In NM you can go online and print out the forms you need. If you run into a minor snag sometimes I'll run over the hill to the next towns DMV and they will have a whole different look on the same thing. good luck