Whats a Title?

[Andydodge]

O/k, let me explain, in Australia, a new car is bought on the lot, its checked for roadworthy by a Govt certified mechanic, we get a piece of paper to take to the Transport dept and after payment we get a Registration certificate piece of paper saying we are the official owner, also get a transfer with basic details to put on the front or side window and a registration, rego or number plate to go on the front & back bumpers...........now when the car is sold new owner gets the copy of rego papers from old owner, fills in new owner bit and pays transfer costs etc to Transport Dept and gets new papers with him as the owner on them, rego sticker stays on window till 12mth anniverary of rego date when each owner has to get safety check done by mechanic then take certification paper and money to get new sticker........number plate is handed back to Transport dept if rego is not renewed each year or car ends up in wrecking yard, to re rego it is rechecked by mechanic, given o/k certificate and you rock up to Transport Dept and pay etc again..........what I would like to know is what is the US "Title" system......I have seen and heard of "Titles" being for sale...........how does the system work, in general.....thanks, andyd

[Guest rockabillybassman]

Yeah Andy, in NZ we have a similar system to you. This whole titles issue, and how they can be sold, confuses the hell outa me. Glad you asked.

[Young Ed]

Basically the title is the same as your paperwork. Its the legal deed to the car and usually has some sort of part to fill out if you sell the car.

[Plymouthy Adams]

In the US a car is given an offical title from the state in which the car is sold..each state can vary a bit but basically the title is reassignable to a new owner by filling in the proper information and signing the title over...combo title and bill of sale these days..most state are this way or soon will be I'm sure. The sticky part is states that will allow registration without title..Georgia, the state I reside has this..you can get the car 1984 and older on bill of sale and no title will ever be issed by the state...EVER...only when the car is sold out of state to a title issusing state..will it get new paper work..even if you get the title on a car 84 and older you cannot get the title transferred to your name..and if you were the second owner and title given to you, the state says chain is broken and they be the ones who broke the chain..makes no sense..

In SC where I used to live..you can get a title on all vehicles..you must get a title should I say..states that do not issue titles will behonored by bill of sale and what works best is to have a copy of the registration in the name of the seller you bought it from. Also I can apply in SC for title only..this is for in-op cars that will be going repair. Avoids all penalities for failure to register at time of purchase.

[oldmopar]

A Title is a way that states take a simple thing like selling a car from one person to another and make a complicated mess of the process so they can make money and give everyone a headache

Ed

[mackster]

In the US a car is given an offical title from the state in which the car is sold..each state can vary a bit but basically the title is reassignable to a new owner by filling in the proper information and signing the title over...combo title and bill of sale these days..most state are this way or soon will be I'm sure. The sticky part is states that will allow registration without title..Georgia, the state I reside has this..you can get the car 1984 and older on bill of sale and no title will ever be issed by the state...EVER...only when the car is sold out of state to a title issusing state..will it get new paper work..even if you get the title on a car 84 and older you cannot get the title transferred to your name..and if you were the second owner and title given to you, the state says chain is broken and they be the ones who broke the chain..makes no sense..

In SC where I used to live..you can get a title on all vehicles..you must get a title should I say..states that do not issue titles will behonored by bill of sale and what works best is to have a copy of the registration in the name of the seller you bought it from. Also I can apply in SC for title only..this is for in-op cars that will be going repair. Avoids all penalities for failure to register at time of purchase.

Tim, this is really confusing even for me that I live here, but you are right. Hopefully their understanding level is better than mine! , I do know, that if you have a car with no title in california, and you want the GOV help via DMV, you might as well shoot yourself! it ain't gonna happen! unless you buy another title from a car that has been crushed.....

[Plymouthy Adams]

Georgia law as written has to be accepted in all sother states..Iknow they can give you the run around but you will get a title froma billof sale Georgia car in your state..Indiana is just as bad and they honor it..sometimes you have to explain it to the MDV clerk-o-person. Hardest state Ihave ever dealt with was Pennsyvania..actually I did not deal with PA but my bud did, gave up..sold me the car..I had title in my hand in 15 minutes my state...all I needed was the bill of sale from him and the only other documentaion I had was an old insurance receipt for the car in his name. He lost the documentation for this car in moving around military..

government red tape varies from state to state and ALL can be a headache one time or another...

[Guest rockabillybassman]

And yet I see titles advertised for sale all the time, in particular, old ones.

[oldmopar]

If you have a truck without a title in many states it is hard to get the state to issue a new title without a old one so you buy one of the same model and year and use that. It does not match the serial id plate but you can purchase a blank or have one created or just remove the serial # plate. While it is not legal it does work at least in some states.

Ed

[Plymouthy Adams]

the titles you see for sale are listed as "historical documets"..this is the out for the seller for the intended illegal use of taking the title to wash to a vehicle without a title..the selling of the paper technically is legal to a clooector..(ahem)...the end use is the item in question.

[Guest rockabillybassman]

Thanks for that, I get the picture.

[mackster]

Thanks for that, I get the picture.

Just means to an end...

[BobT-47P15]

There are companies out there who will, for a fee of maybe $150 to $250,

get you a title to your car. You have to sell the car to that company (on

paper), they go do the license department paperwork, then I think you

end up with a legal document from the state where they are. Then you go

to your state and transfer it to the thing you need there. Something like that I think.

Usually the titles being sold on ebay or other places have come from old

cars crushed by a salvage yard.

I presume all the old Chrysler products of the 40s and 50s used the engine

number on the title. But many engines have been replaced now, so that

number does not match. If you buy an old title, you might simply make

a new metal strip to go on your doorpost by stamping in numbers on the

title. I doubt if most states know which number you are using anyway.

Or, if you go thru one of the title--getting outfits, just give them the

numbers from the doorpost instead of engine number. Maybe not

totally above board, but should work. No one is trying to pull anything

underhanded, just trying to be able to use and license our cars.

[Young Ed]

Hardest state Ihave ever dealt with was Pennsyvania..actually I did not deal with PA but my bud did, gave up..sold me the car..I had title in my hand in 15 minutes my state...all I needed was the bill of sale from him and the only other documentaion I had was an old insurance receipt for the car in his name.

So Tim want to sell me a 40 plymouth pickup

[greg g]

Or if you ressurect a derilict vehicle that doesn't have a trail of ownership certification (title) and you seek to register it as a vintage vehicle rather than a rebuilt, home built, or special built vehicle. Basically to avoid all the crap that that entails, especially smog laws. So if you find a 27 cowl sticking out of a crushed building drag it home, put it on a home made frame or a 35 frame you sourced somewhere else. Now some states say a car built in 2008 out of resurected parts must be registered as a 08 and is subject to the safety rules and emmission rules applicable to an 08 car. If you can buy a 27 title and apply the vehicle number to the vehicle you just made then the 27 regulations apply.

so people have been scouring scrap yards for the ownership paperwork that has been squirreled away for years. The trade in historical documents is techically illegal, but there seems to be a healty market in these documents but I have never seen them displayed anywhere. It is also a federal offense to be in possesion of vin tags and serial number tags which have been removed from crushed or otherwise destroyed vehicles.

[Andydodge]

Trust me to open my big mouth..........lol...............errr, thanks I think......lol........andyd

[John Burke]

Here in Nebraska, a number of car clubs have individuals qualified to pass judgment on your old car. You buy an old car without a title, take to one of these aforementioned individuals, they look it over a declare that yes it is a 1946 Brummley Whizzer or what ever, and give you a form you can take to your local DMV and get a title. You have to do this BEFORE any customizing or engine swaps. Once you get your title you can do whatever you want with it......John Burke

[Norm's Coupe]

In Wisconsin you need a title. You can register a car without the old title and have them make up a new one. However, with all the red tape involved I don't even go to look or call someone that says they don't have a title to the car. For me "No Title, you keep the car, I don't even want to discuss buying that car."

[greg g]

Hey John you guys still have Government for the People and by the people?????Whatta concept!!!!!!

[62rebelP23]

as much of a PITA as titles can be, they're still lifesavers in case of any question arising as to who owns your car. here in SC holding an "open" title can cost you 10grand in fines per document! yet i'll still risk it in case the opportunity to "resurrect" a couple of "lost" cars ever arises.

even if i scrap a hulk i save the title and tag. you never can tell what might pop up!

[Plymouthy Adams]

so the Title Nazis are in SC...I would think that holding an unasigned title and driving the car in the grace period provided to do the paper work would the the "fine per document" (BEAR IN MIND THAT SC COLLECT SALES TAX PER TRANSFER AT 7% not to exceed 300.00) keeping paperwork on a trashed car is not anyones business...and in cases where the insurance companies bought the car in a settled loss do you have to surrender the title..wrecking yards are supposed to obtain title prior to disposal..but seeing them turn down cas for crushable steel over paper..hardly think so..it is so easy to get a title in SC for a non op car..form 400 Ithink it is, state un-op restoration/major repairs necessary and wham bang..you got a title I still hold a few SC title for cars registered in Georgia due to the 1984 and older NEVER gets a title in Georgia..makes me wonder how much trouble I am in by abiding by one law verse another..

[james curl]

Here in Texas you must have a title for any car that you take to the crusher. They then must surrender the title to VTR, (a state department). If you do not have a title you must disassemble the car into pieces and take them to metal salvage yards in several loads. Body must be quartered or in more pieces before they will accept it. They have people who will obtain a title for you in your name for about $300.00 total with plates and everything else that is required.