Henry, the Alabama law is no title PRE 1976. I've gotten
tag recipts for cars pre 76 with no problem, to be honest they don't even check
the bill of sale. Post 75 is much the same as other states with title
laws. Cross those Ts and dot those Is. $150 huh? I'm in the
wrong business. It takes all of 5 minutes once you stand the line (which
could take a while depending on the time of the month. Lines always long
at the end of the month).
Kerryp http://dte.net/57imperialKaP Imperial
Services - Patch Panels, Metalshaping, Restoration Manufacturer of high
quality Wheeling Machines
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 8:57
PM
Subject: Re: IML: title troubles? should
be relatively easy
I use Broadway Title Co., Inc. P. O. Box 130303,
Birmingham, AL 35213 They send me a form, I fill it out, have it
notarized, send it off, charge the approx. $150 to my credit card. I get
back about two weeks later, a Bill of Sale from Alabama which I then can use
to register and title the car in CA. I end up with a CA title.
It's legal because for old cars in AL, they never issued titles, just bills of
sale, so CA recognizes the bill of sale. I do this when I have no title
or for an out of state car with title problems. Works for me. For out of
state cars, have to take the car to DMV to have the car verified, that is,
check the VIN # to see if it matches the paperwork. Just was ready to go
and get a newly purchased out of state car verified and then
registered. Checked the title VIN # I had with the number on the car,
found they were different Big surprise to me. Didn't want to
face the hassle so sent off to AL the application with the VIN# on the
car.
I'm sure there are other less expensive ways, but
I have a real problem with getting on the wrong side of DMV clerks(read a few
BAD experiences), so I prefer to think way ahead to NOT have problems when I
get there. Once, they claimed the VIN tag on one car looked as if it had
been messed with and reattached. took three months with numerous trips
to the Highway Patrol. Even with color photos of other letter cars
showing the exact kind of VIN tag attachment, still they wouldn't accept it
without the three month process of hopping through their hoops.
Henry in Richmond, CA
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 5:16
PM
Subject: IML: title troubles? should be
relatively easy
Where there's a will, there's a way. This person probably isn't a
car person and would rather jettison the car and leave the trouble to
someone else. That's the good news, as their text will probably scare
away other non-car people. That car's gorgeous - go get it.
I don't know about other states, but there have been several threads in
the past here about getting a car titled. If they can title home-built
hot-rods and kit cars, they can title a used car with missing title.
In California, the records are kept for something like 3 years and then
tossed. If the VIN does not show on their records or those of other
states, the car "does not exist" on the books. It is then up to the
applicant to get a title. I think it is more convenient to posess a
car with no plates, either, so would not mention them unless "finding" them
made things easier.
The method that I like is that used by mechanics, tow companies,
and salvage yards (guess who you should be asking locally? what do
they do when a car is abandoned or storage or repair bills are
outstanding?).
California allows you to hold a lein sale if you post notice to allow a
property owner to collect back storage fees for an "abandoned" car.
The owner has first right of refusal to pay the fees. If they are
uninterested or can't be found, the car can then be put up for a public
auction. If nobody comes and makes a bid on the lein that you have
placed on the car for storage, you get to keep it, title it, and are then
empowered to resell it. That's how I got a basket case 70's motorcycle
registered when it had no plates and had been obviously dismantled into
little bits for at least 10 years in the basement of the rental property
that a buddy inhabited. The process was almost easier timewise than
some of the routine things they make you do, like the driver's eyeball test
and photo.
Kenyon
Wills
San Lorenzo/SF Bay Area
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