---- Jack Lewis <william.lewis6@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> ...I see
> title services advertised in Old Cars weekly, Hemmings, and even a listing
every
> day in local Salt Lake
> newspaper. Anyone have any experience with these services. How "legal" are
> they? If they are good bets,
> what do they require from new owner? i.e., bill of sale? must be notarized?
VIN
> plate info? Cost?
The only title services I'm familiar with are those based in Alabama, where they
will issue a title for any pre-'81 car (may now include newer years as well)
based on a bill of sale and the car's not appearing on the FBI's list of stolen
iron. These seem to cost from $175 to $300 depending on the vehicle and the
individual title service. If anyone on this list lives in Alabama, I imagine
they could do it for less than the services charge.
There was an article on this in one of the national publications (I believe Cars
& Parts) a few years back, but don't know where my copy is if it still exists.
There may be other options available to you. In California, you can do a lien
sale to yourself by sending the last registered owner a bill for storage in
certified letter form. After a number of days with no response, you may
register the vehicle to yourself. I did this last year with a '69 Olds,
formerly from Nevada. It's not without complications, but if you don't let
yourself become intimidated it's not rocket science either.
> Utah complicates process for its own titles as they issue a title only to a
car
> that passes inspection and is
> currently registered. Like, my Fury under resto (and not running) since I
> purchased, so I have to wait until its
> done to even get title transferred from previous owner to my name!! Does this
> approach complicate my above question?
In California it might, since our DMV loves to charge late fees for such things;
OTOH California doesn't require the inspection process either (no smog tests
pre-'74). Don't know what the process is in the land of my long-distant
brethren. I do know this'd be a problem with an out-of-state car, and might be
one for a California car which had not been registered for five years (the
point where it drops off the computer; all late penalties are forgiven but you
have to buy brand new plates).
Hope this helps.
Mike Sealey
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