Buying a mopar with no paperwork

[MoparBill]

I am looking at a '68 Satellite, 318 column shift automatic with a/c. It has never been registered in my state, and was last registered in '95. It has changed hands numerous times in the last 15 years, but not registered. The paperwork has been lost along the way, is this a deal breaker? I don't have the info for the last titled owner. Any suggestions?

 

[74sundance]

I'm sure it's different in the U.S.A but here in Canada if you have a bud thats a cop get him to run the vin# and bang"o" you have the previous owners info..Then get a form and file for loss of ownership then have the previous owner put his sig on it and it's all yours.....Worked for my 1st 1974 Plymouth Satellite ;) All you have to worry about is the previous owner deciding he wants the car back lol..Send me the vin and I'll see if my bud can do a U.S.A. look up.

 

[CtownChris]

"Changed hands numerous times in the last 15 years, but not registered" Paperwork lost along the way is another way of saying "Stolen"

BE VERY CAREFUL.

You could try and register is and end up given it back to a previous owner.

 

[thebankerstoy]

Car used as a drag car only? MAYBE
Car used on the street and has to be registered? PASS

The above is based on where I live, so it might be different depending on where you live. I've HEARD, but don't know for sure, that in some states, if a vehicle goes for a certain length of time without being registered and licensed, it drops out of their MVD system, so you can re-title it as an abandoned vehicle, but until you knew that for sure where you live, I wouldn't take a chance. As mentioned above, you have a VERY good chance of losing your money and having to give the vehicle back to the last registered owner. Not worth the risk to me with all of the scams that are going on out there these days. :no:

Richard

 

[Propwash]

Car used as a drag car only? MAYBE
Car used on the street and has to be registered? PASS

The above is based on where I live, so it might be different depending on where you live. I've HEARD, but don't know for sure, that in some states, if a vehicle goes for a certain length of time without being registered and licensed, it drops out of their MVD system, so you can re-title it as an abandoned vehicle, but until you knew that for sure where you live, I wouldn't take a chance. As mentioned above, you have a VERY good chance of losing your money and having to give the vehicle back to the last registered owner. Not worth the risk to me with all of the scams that are going on out there these days. :no:

Richard

Very good advice!

 

[joesnow]

How cheap is it. Don't answere. Is the risk and hassel really worth it. Parts? then junk the rest with someone that will crush it right away. If it isn't stolen you can apply for an abandon title in pa then wait 1 year I believe. Some states don't have titles. Register in out of state in one of those then register in in yours as an out of state car. figure spending $400-$600 Is the car really worth it?

 

[MoparBill]

Thanks for the advice guys, maybe I'll let this one pass. I'd hate to get burned. I'll try to lowball it and maybe pick it up as a parts car.

 

[696pack]

Tell the seller to get a title for it.

 

[morbidgoat]

go to your local dmv and see what they say then you'll at least know how your state handles these

 

[RGAZ]

Tell the seller to get a title for it.

I second this. Have the current "owner" (I use that word loosely) request a duplicate title from the state he "thinks" its from or his local state. At the very least, he'll get feedback on the owner and may have to get a salvage title after all that time.

Anyway you cut it, attempt to check the legitimacy of ownership before spending any cash.

Randy

 

[jburt]

call your local police department.they gotta have a guy that works auto theft. let him verify the vin. and he can call the national insurance crime board and they can verify if it was ever stolen. it could have been stolen along time ago and purged from the computer system. n.i.c.b. can tell. then make sure your state will allow you to get a title for a car on just a bill of sale. if you can get a title and it wasnt stolen maybe you can get the price down a bit for all the leg work you had to do. good luck.

 

[dbowperson]

Owner's responsibility to get the title squared away. He's going to have to do it no matter what if he wants to sell it legally so the buyer can register it. Until then, stay away from it. If it seems like he's willing to work on it, maybe give him a couple hundred to hold the car until the title is done, but be sure to get a receipt.

 

[plowman]

run Forest run

 

[MoparBill]

Thanks a bunch for the advice, gonna pass on this one.

 

[c3ntral_scrutiniz3r]

I bought my 70 road runner with lost title in Maryland last year (lived in VA at the time) thinking title would be easy to obtain. It was a major hassle, which took several months time. Apparently, the previous owner moved around a lot and the car came from the midwest - and was never titled or registered in his name. I contacted the police departments/hwy patrol in each of the several midwestern states that the owner claimed to have lived in while owning the car, and found record of registration in Ohio, but was more than 10 years back. Ohio advised me they would only provide details to the owner they had on record. My home state (WA) said they could provide a title, after VA police inspection of the vehicle, extra paperwork, and a 3 year wait to ensure no claims (stolen property). Resolution finally came when I approached the seller and advised him that selling a vehicle in the state of MD without title is illegal (neither of us knew this at the time) and he either had to produce title, or take the car back w/ refund, or Id persue the matter in court. I told him I'd split costs of obtaining title, to try and motivate him (id already been investing in upgrades to the car) and didnt want to return it. Magically, he found the paperwork, applied for and got clear MD title, and signed it over to me. The whole process lasted 5 months, and I realize that I got lucky and will not ever buy a car without clear title again.
Do a favor and pass. If you really need that car, offer assistance with obtaining title. But do not buy without.
Jon
70 road runner
69 coronet RT
67 barracuda formula s 383
69 barracuda
73 barracuda

 

[63RedFury]

I have bought a few cars without titles.Titles were lost over the years and Illinois only keeps records for 10 years.Talk to your local DMV.Here you have to bond it and send photos of the car to the state.It cost me $200.00 last time and was not much trouble at all.Also have the seller write you a bill of sale with the date,vin numbers,and both of you sign it.
Jim