Need advice on getting a new title and VIN for my car

[quick35th]

Guys I need either some advice or given some direction with my current issue. I need to know how people that build kit cars (like the Shelby cobras or customs in general) get an official VIN and title for them so that they can be registered for use on public roads. Unfortunately (not naming any names but he knows who he is :rolleyes: :mad: ) the guy I bought my road racer SC from last spring, off of here, has fallen off the face of the planet which leaves me without a title for my car. He wont answer his home or cell phone or any of the billions of emails I have sent him. Granted I wont be using the car for street use so a title really doesn't matter, but I want to protect myself incase he ever decides that he wants "his" car back sometime after I get it running or him try to attempt to repo it. I figured I will need to de-vin it of all its current VIN numbers and then ditch all the Thunderbird emblems and Ford emblem off the car. I think I could get my SC to pass as maybe a tube chassis car or grassroots NASCAR in its current state. What do you guys think I should do or can do?

Shane

[doug93sc]

Did you get a bill of sale that has the VIN from the car on it? If you have that you may be able to apply for a "lost title", I did this when I lived down south but I don't know how Ohio does it.

[quick35th]

Did you get a bill of sale that has the VIN from the car on it? If you have that you may be able to apply for a "lost title", I did this when I lived down south but I don't know how Ohio does it.

Nope, no bill of sale was give. Got the car loaded up and off he went. He was in a hurry to get to somewhere alright.

I do though have the money wire transfer slip and all his banking info along with home address as proof of sale but I am sure thats not enough to get anything done.

BTW, this weekend is the NASA national championships and I am pretty sure he'll be there. I plan to attend the event as well and I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for him in the pits area. Maybe a little face to face talk will be what it takes for me to get my title.

Shane

[Kurt K]

I wouldn't de-VIN anything until you look into and apply for a lost title, period. At least figure out what is required to file for a lost title.

[quick35th]

Kurt that makes sence and all but how am I going to get a title for a car thats technically not mine in the eyes of the title bureau?

Shane

[19TbirdSC91]

shane, i actually just remembered something, my mom lost the title to that stratus i had, and my UNCLE went and got "power of attorney" somehow, and got a new title, the only thing is that she was actually contactable, but i will ask her when she gets home from work about it and let you know.

[quick35th]

shane, i actually just remembered something, my mom lost the title to that stratus i had, and my UNCLE went and got "power of attorney" somehow, and got a new title, the only thing is that she was actually contactable, but i will ask her when she gets home from work about it and let you know.

Thanks Sean.

Shane

[7birdslater]

With a valid address, just send a bill to it via certified mail with charges for storage fee's for something like 60 bucks per day. Send three of those with certified delivery confirmation reciepts, run an add in the paper requesting the rightfull owner pay fee's and reclaim the car, and after all that you can apply for an abandoned vehicle title. At least thats how it works in Arkansas. :)

[VicRattlehead]

call your dmv

[T-bird Tim]

Even easier would be to buy a crashed one at a salvage yard, as a "parts car". Buy the complete car so they give you the title. Get it home switch all the vin plates to your drivable car. Now that you are holding a title go register it.

[lowflying90]

buy a car for a few hundred dollars from the classifieds that needs alot of work. make sure it has a clean title, dash, and engine bay vin plate, and be sure to transfer it.........use your imagination on how to use these parts to your advantage.

[Tim Groth]

I know in Virginia all that is required is to go to the DMV with the VIN number. They will in turn give you the owners mailing information and a document to send them informing them of "abandoned property"...stating on the lines of you have X days to remove or forfeit the title to such property or the car becomes the ownership of whomever filled the greivence...since its on your property.

Every state is different...however go to the DMV they will take care of you.

-Tim

[quick35th]

I know in Virginia all that is required is to go to the DMV with the VIN number. They will in turn give you the owners mailing information and a document to send them informing them of "abandoned property"...stating on the lines of you have X days to remove or forfeit the title to such property or the car becomes the ownership of whomever filled the greivence...since its on your property.

Every state is different...however go to the DMV they will take care of you.

-Tim

I like this idea. I'll have to see if the DMV is open saturday morning so I can stop by there on my way to Mid-Ohio.

Shane

[shotbirdsc]

With a valid address, just send a bill to it via certified mail with charges for storage fee's for something like 60 bucks per day. Send three of those with certified delivery confirmation reciepts, run an add in the paper requesting the rightfull owner pay fee's and reclaim the car, and after all that you can apply for an abandoned vehicle title. At least thats how it works in Arkansas. :)

That's how it works up here in Ontario Canada also, there is a form with all the procedures on it from the MTO (ministry of Transport) or for you guys (DMV). You gotta think that this happens a lot with abandoned cars, nowadays you need a title just to bring a car to the scrap yard. I wouldn't mess around with taking off any vin plates etc, if you ever got caught, that fraud charge would stick with you forever.

[tbird88]

Not to beat a dead horse but don't you dare go messin' with VIN numbers. Use that as a golden rule and never ever even let it enter your mind. People are weird and will start trouble just for sport and someone, maybe even the dude you bought it from might get the itch to report you, especially since you've mentioned it on the web.

By the way, around here we go down to the county courthouse to the license plate window and ask for the paperwork, they're a lot more personal and like to help, the state dmv only knows how to goof things up in a royal way.

good luck,

'bird

[XR7inWI]

Not to beat a dead horse but don't you dare go messin' with VIN numbers. Use that as a golden rule and never ever even let it enter your mind. People are weird and will start trouble just for sport and someone, maybe even the dude you bought it from might get the itch to report you, especially since you've mentioned it on the web.

By the way, around here we go down to the county courthouse to the license plate window and ask for the paperwork, they're a lot more personal and like to help, the state dmv only knows how to goof things up in a royal way.

good luck,

'bird

I agree with EVERYTHING Wynn just said. DON'T swap VIN #'s.... you are just lookin for trouble and he is right about going to the county courthouse. Usually it is the County Clerk that will help you out. If not the County Clerk, then he/she will direct you to the right person. Try calling first and see what they say.

[quick35th]

Thanks guys for all the advice. I'll just have to get down to the DMV whenever I get the chance and see what they say.

So you guys are saying I should declare the car as being abandoned when I go down to the DMV?

Shane

[David Neibert]

Thanks guys for all the advice. I'll just have to get down to the DMV whenever I get the chance and see what they say.

So you guys are saying I should declare the car as being abandoned when I go down to the DMV?

Shane

Shane,

Here is a link that might help answer some of your questions.

http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/vehicle_registration/mv_registration.htm#first

David

[quick35th]

Thanks David!

Shane