TITLE MAYHEM IN INDIANA

[MATT47025]

So December 2014 we spotted a 50 dodge 1/2 ton setting in the weeds next to a barn. Dad and I wanted it but it had no title. 

Before we bought it I went to the local BMV and ask about obtaining a title for a vehicle. They walked me thru the process. 

It seemed doable so we bought it. Eight freakn months later we now have a title. 

 

So everything the local BMV told me was total BS. I did everything they told me and was rejected for a title. Then I called the state office in Indianapolis and they set me on the right path. What they recommended was taking them to court. Yes thats what I said lol. Well I know how the process works now but what a pain in the ass. 

[The Oil Soup]

Employees with little or no chance of being fired dont have to do a good job.

[NiftyFifty]

Ya, that's one thing much easier up here, just a quick search if it's reported stolen, if not..they hand you a new registration in your name...but we do have strict safety inspection laws before you can get insurance, and you cannot drive without that anywhere here

[RobertKB]

In Alberta if your vehicle does not have a title it is pretty straightforward. You have to show proof of puchase and if it is not in their data base you have to have an out of province inspection which means the vehicle has to be driveable. Then you can get insurance and then officially register the vehicle. The proof of purchase is the main before you get started. I went throught this process with my '38 Chrysler restoration and everything was just as I was told. I have never understood why some jurisdictions make it so hard to register a vehicle with no previous title.

[Don Coatney]

When I moved to Indiana I had to have a police officer come to my house and verify the numbers on my P-15 matched the numbers on the Tennessee title. If I recall the fee was ten or fifteen bucks. When I went to the Indiana DMV I carried all relevant paperwork including the officers statement and the year of manufacture tags I planned on using and I received a new Indiana drivers license, title, and registration in just a few minutes. 

 

[Don Coatney]

Fast forward to 2016. Bought a car in the State of Georgia where they do not issue titles for 1948 vehicles but rely on a bill of sale. With that bill of sale I had a policeman come to my house and verify the serial number on the car matched the numbers on the bill of sale. I then went to the State of Indiana BMV web page and printed off all relevant paperwork associated with registering the car. I filled out the paperwork and as a precaution called the BMV to insure I was on the right track prior to mailing everything to the headquarters in Indianapolis.

 

I was told that I need a court ordered title. The procedure for getting such a title is I must fill out another gob of paperwork. Then submit this gob of paperwork in person to the County Clerk office in downtown Fort Wayne along with $96. bucks in cash. Then I must go to the local newspaper office and have them publish my request for a court ordered title for no less than 3 weeks at a cost as of yet unknown to me. Once the 3 weeks has passed the clerk of courts will submit my request to a judge. Then when the judge feels the urge he will authorize the title. Once this is done I revert back to the original gob of paperwork and snail mail it to the BMV in Indianapolis who will issue a title as long as all the paperwork is correctly filled out and this is with another unknown fee to me.

 

Then after the BMV mails me back the title I can go to a local BMV branch and buy my tags only after paying all taxes due on the original purchase. The local BMV also collects a late fee if one does not register a vehicle within 31 days. So if in about 10 weeks you hear of someone going postal in a local BMV branch office send me a cake with a hacksaw blade at the local pokey.

[Merle Coggins]

Good think the government passed the Paper Reduction Act in 1980

 

44 USC §3501 et seq. (1980)

The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) was enacted to minimize the paperwork burden for individuals; small businesses; educational and nonprofit institutions; Federal contractors; State, local and tribal governments; and other persons resulting from the collection of information by or for the federal government.

[wayfarer]

"I'm from the government......I'm here to help"    

[Plymouthy Adams]

 Don, have Don to the DMV  to the Tradeport Counter...get the agent to print  out the history form for that car showing it was registered to the seller for XX years, the latest registration number, car ID number and the state control number.  As the other 49 states have signed reciprocity with Georgia they have to adhere to the registration laws of Ga.  This letter explains that reciprocity regarding out of state sales on vehicles without titles (1962 and older or cars 1986 and older with broken title chains).  You may call 855-406-5221 for further information if you must....just went through this with couple months back...same day title service with this documentation.  Technically all you are required to present is a tag receipt for the seller and a bill of sales.

[wallytoo]

not sure i understand the point of the above post.

are you claiming that another state must allow someone to register a vehicle that was registered in georgia in the new state? if that is what you mean, it isn't correct. the new state would honor that registration only if the vehicle were to remain registered as a georgia vehicle. that georgia registration plays no role in registering it in a new state. because i don't know all 49 other state reqirements, i won't say that none would allow it, however, none of the new england states would allow it. what is reqired is a proper bill of sale, spelled out in the particular state's laws, and submission of a vin verification form signed by an authorized agent. the geogia registration wouldn't be used at all to register it here in nh.

Edited June 13, 2016 by wallytoo

[Plymouthy Adams]

read this again, I will try to explain, look for the highlighted area...while they play no role in your state's procedure except to say the other states know Georgia laws and have signed reciprocity to that effect that the requirements set forth in the state of Georgia will extend to owners registering that car in the other state.  Georgia is not a title state for vehicles 1987 and older except by owner's choice and 1962 and older vehicles WILL NEVER get a Georgia title even if you moved here to register your car and brought your title with you...if you turn it in at time of registration...you will not even get your original title returned, if title is bill of sale they copy that and return your original.  I told my friend this and he did not believe me and the man lost his original title from the other state, GA did not return the document no matter how much he tried..  The very law if you care to check it out on Ga DMV site will clearly support what I have stated that bill of sale and registration (proof of ownership in GA) are the required documents.  I have dealt with 3 cars going to Indiana from here and Indiana fought titles issues every time.  With that letter from GA reminding them of their reciprocity agreement, your problems are greatly dimished.  Yes you most likely will have to have a document in your state by a officer attesting the number on the body matches the registration/bill of sale, bounced against the national hot sheet for stolen vehicles and he signs the form stating such was checked.  But there will be no other documentation from Ga.  Is it a pain in the butt, you can rest assured it can be.

 

I have not touched upon broken chain titles where if original owner sold a pre 87 with title and the new owner did not put the title in his name but registered the car only by purchase of tag...then that title is now broken.  Now that man can sell you that vehicle and give you a bill of sale, copy of his current registration card and even the original title he got...guess what...the title is useless and you will NEVER get the title issued in the state of Georgia again.  HOWEVER, out of state buyer can get a title issued by their state by bill of sale and copy of current registration card. 

 

Been here 22 years and it can be a pain in the butt....I have plenty of cars here that were titled when I got here but are not titled today thanks to Ga law...am I happy, no...however...the reciprocity states that when I sell the vehicle the new owner is protected and assured title issue.

[wallytoo]

don't need a title, nor can you get one, for vehicles older than 10 years in nh (except commercial).  so, that doesn't apply.

 

nor does nh require a georgia registration for a title-exempt vehicle purchased from georgia.  only a proper bill of sale and a signed vin verification form.  that's it.

[Plymouthy Adams]

thanks wally for NH requirements, but we dealing with Indiana here...some states are a bit more progressive than others...I still believe Pa is one of the hardest states to deal with...yes the bill of sale is all that you need technically..but with the current copy of registration it is proof the seller was the state's certified owner on transfer...making it a basic slam dunk if you will...

[wallytoo]

 The very law if you care to check it out on Ga DMV site will clearly support what I have stated that bill of sale and registration (proof of ownership in GA) are the required documents.

 

i'd like to be able to read that. but, in searching the ga dmv site, i cannot find any statement about registration of a vehicle sold to an out-of-state buyer in that buyer's state, using the georgia registration.  only information relative to a georgia resident buying an out of state vehicle or a new georgia resident registration of a vehicle from another state.  nh's dmv site, however, provides specifics to in-state, out-of-state, title-required, and title-exempt sales of vehicles.  nothing in there about honoring a georgia registration as a means to registering it in nh (or maine, vt, mass, etc).

[wallytoo]

thanks wally for NH requirements, but we dealing with Indiana here...some states are a bit more progressive than others...I still believe Pa is one of the hardest states to deal with...yes the bill of sale is all that you need technically..but with the current copy of registration it is proof the seller was the state's certified owner on transfer...making it a basic slam dunk if you will...

and you state in that first post "all 49 other states honor georgia's" etc, etc.  that's why it's relevant.

[Plymouthy Adams]

not as means to register it..it is the means for that state to quickly verify the seller was the owner on record in the state of GA...

[Plymouthy Adams]

because not all state employees are up to 'speak' if you can help Don in a more direct manner I am sure he would be pleased..I have assisted 3 new owners with Ga non titled cars...always successful..I suggest in the absence of your finding anything online to call the number I listed in my first post...

[wallytoo]

it isn't don's thread.  maybe he could start another if he requires help?

 

PM a link with the GA DMV information specific to your statement.  i searched the GA DMV, but could not find it.  you claim it is clearly there.  take the opportunity to prove it.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I posted the phone number, please make the call...if you cannot in any manner help Don even if this off topic found its way here I have nothing further to add...sounds like you could well qualify as a DMV clerk in Indiana...you have the help line number and refuse to seek out that help...anything further to define this to you is pointless, please have a good day and thank your lucky stars you live in state the does not complicate things on title transfers.   It can be a pain for sure...been dealing with this for 22 years..cannot even register a old car in your name till you are ready to put it on the road...so technically you are in the wind till that day..no one like stuff like this but we learn to live with it.....

 

yes another INdiana guy started the thread, Don is in Indiana and currently trying to register a car from Ga...this cannot be any more relevant

Edited June 13, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[Don Coatney]

it isn't don's thread.  maybe he could start another if he requires help?

 

PM a link with the GA DMV information specific to your statement.  i searched the GA DMV, but could not find it.  you claim it is clearly there.  take the opportunity to prove it.

The title of this thread is "-title-mayhem-in-indiana". I did not know that I must start a new thread with the same topic when this one is already in place and has a lot of on topic information. I found this thread using the forum search function. I wish more folks would use the forum search function before starting new threads on issues already being discussed. Better to keep all the eggs in one basket.

 

Thanks to all who have replied to this topic. I will report my final results when I have a title in my hands.

[wallytoo]

typical from you (see the pertronix thread from years ago, whereby you claimed the link you provided was direct from the pertronix manufacturer).  you make a factually incorrect statement (some information may be correct, but there is nonetheless incorrect information proferred).  when asked to clarify, you offer statements purporting to substantiate your claim.  yet, when challenged to provide this "clear and obvious" information from the source you reference (in this case, the GA DMV website) you refuse, and instead throw back another "offer", in this case, a phone number.

 

i guess you win.  you know more about everything than anyone else.  (note to GTK/GGDAD:  this is my last post in this particular thread, except to offer an apology to mr adams if he provides the information that he claims is there).

[Plymouthy Adams]

there is no winner here...the losers are the poor guys dealing with the Indiana DMV....and if I have ever posted information that was incorrect and it was pointed out I have always made my apologies openly to the forum and thanked the guy for clearing up any confusion I may have caused....if after all these years and all my entries you can quote but a pertronix thread with what you view as an error..I say I have been successful in helping folks here.  To say the least, I have been trying to help here and have personal experience with Indiana and Ga transfers both coming from In. without a title and going to In. from GA without a title...there is no argument here except that you refuse to call the number..it was listed on the letter supplied by the Ga DMV in the package following the car to the other state as a help to anyone needing it from the Ga DMV, they are the end all to the question 'what' but you refuse to enlighten yourself.  This phone number is directly off the last letterhead sent with documentation out of state and was most helpful in securing the title same day as a walk in process in the other state. 

Edited July 12, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[ggdad1951]

everyone behave here!  I mean EVERYONE!

[Todd B]

Come on Mark, let them go.  I still have popcorn left in my bowl.  

 

Plus it sure makes me proud to live in WI

[cavisco1]

Come on Mark, let them go.  I still have popcorn left in my bowl.  

 

Plus it sure makes me proud to live in WI

Anybody want to talk about oil?I