BUYING A CLASSIC CAR WITHOUT A TITLE

The seller has an old car or truck without a title. Is it abandoned? From an estate? A flip? What is a bonded title? Is a bill of sale good enough? Know what to do and how to do it before you do it and avoid a costly mistake and spend money on a vintage car that you can't put on the road.

[@stevemason6850]

Good information. If your state has private vehicle title companies they will be a lot easier to deal with than a state DMV. We do here in Calif, and it makes getting a old car on the road a lot easier.

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

Absolutely, and thanks for tuning in.

[@warrenlun2903]

I'm in Michigan. I have bought fire apparatus without titles, not that I planned on it. Got the run around after I purchased. FD did not have a title, as most were never titled. It is a an expensive and time consuming experience. Don't buy unless you know what you are going to be up against. In Michigan you need to post a surety bond, for twice the purchase value and a VIN inspection by a law enforcement officer before the Secretary of State will issue a title. It is a Pain in the A$$, and will cost you $$$..

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

Thanks for posting your experience and for tuning in.

[@lrlforfun]

As a used car dealer for 30 years and car collector my suggestion is that UNLESS your health, happiness and overall well being is on the line if you don't own that car you're looking at......PASS if there's not a hard title. Now IFFFFFFFF........those categories are not a problem, dig deep for patience because once you get the vin# you can then start doing your homework and find out the protocol of each state. I use a private DMV registration service which is terrific. No matter, if it's a cheap parts car or an expensive unit having the correct paperwork adds tremendous value. A parts car with no paperwork? Ya might have to cut it up rather than haul it to the steel mill. An example of a lot of unnecessary work because of bad or no paperwork.

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

I was 22 years old with a yard full of GM cars and trucks. A buddy stopped by one afternoon and looked at the mess and said "Man, you can't own every single old Chevy there is." I looked at him and replied "Yes I can."

[@davidschnase4027]

Having a vehicle and not having a title in your name is called jumping title which is against the law in most states because you must pay sales tax and be legally listed as an owner preventing a crime being committed with said vehicle all youneed is bonded title in most states which is not expensive but takes a while for all the paperwork if you know everything is legit with the car that is the key. A lot of mid information here as I live I. One of the most restrictive states regards g titles and title fraud

[@roberthirshfield3571]

Yes I did a title bond no problem at all little paper work 1 or 2 months had title