TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:39 pm

I recently got a 1970 vw bug and im trying to get it in my name. But the person i got it from is not the registered owner of vehicle. there is a pending file for vin of vehicle, but the DMV will not give me any information to contact the person on account and the guy i got it from doesnt have any info.. What should i do or how do i go about this issue. DMV doesnt seem to want to help ( like usual). any suggestions would help. thanks.

Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:57 pm

Have you seen the title and whose name is on it? Was the title signed by the previous owner named on the title? Is the person you bought the car from either a licensed auto reseller or do they have a power of attorney from the previous owner to dispose of the car? In many states it is illegal to purchase a car and then resell it at some point later on without first getting the title transferred over into their name.

Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:02 pm

Yeah, so, what State are we talking about?

Unless this is some gem of a car, I'd be thinking it's getting too sketchy for my taste.

Then again you could:

- get some James Bond-ish homing device,
- hide it on the car,
- let the car look like it was stolen and abandoned,
- let the police collect it and return it to the real owner, while you follow it.

somehow, I think that would only work in a movie. :twisted:

Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:14 pm

Can your local police check out the vin # and perhaps give you some information on the registered owner?

Wed Feb 14, 2018 5:20 pm

i have found in california that it help a lot in these unusual cases to go up the chain of command. call the dmv headquarters in the Capitol, ask to speak to the Director of the DMVs office. That has worked clearing up many things for me.

No title, and no bill of sale from the owner may pose a problem, if it is still on the books, you need the owner to relinquish title to you. If off the books, then you may need obtain a missing title replacement. They may do a search of stolen car data before issuing you a missing title replacement. usually a bill of sale, or string of bill of sales from the last registered owner is required to issue a new title.

Anyway, call the head honcho at the dmv, you may need to mail them paperwork also, may take several,phone calls to get resolved. Usually the head office staff is very high caliber, and knows exactly what to do in unusual circumstances.

Good Luck, Bug On My Undocumented Bug Friend!

Wed Feb 14, 2018 6:02 pm

I hope you didn't fork over the $$$ yet. Whoever is selling the car is not the registered owner, and has no legal right to sell it. Run away if you can..

Wed Feb 14, 2018 6:14 pm

I feel for you guys, that have issues with your DMV. All we need is a bill of sale.
Fill out a form with the vin to check the vin and get your tag for the car. I imagine it would be a problem if it came back stolen, but these cars are at least 40 years old. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone having issues getting a tag.

Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:17 pm

You need to get the gawdam previous non-owner to cough up more information or apply for lost title him/herself. If he she is hesitant to do either you need to stand there and wait for your money to be handed back to you. If that doesn't happen, get ugly. Call the local non-emergency sheriff's line and ask if you can get a VIN inspection- with the car parked in front of the seller's driveway.

There are probably 850 '70 beetles for sale right now in the US. Unless you were born in this particular car- I'd look to a honest seller.

Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:25 pm

You need to go back to the dmv and tell them it was an abandoned vehicle. You found it in a field, and the owner of the field did not know who owned the car or have a title for it. He told you that it had been sitting there since he bought the property, 13 years ago. They will have you do a vin check. They will run that vin and let you know the status of the car, You will need to pay all of the back fees and title issues on the car. That can get expensive, unless you can have a piece of paper with an interested party of the car, stating that they gifted it to you. Then it is almost a free car. You will need to pay current registration fees and new plate fees. That's what I just had to do with my current Bug. Was out in the desert, Palm Springs, with no title. Just a VIN and a California license plate. Made me pay for new plates, (pissed me off cause I wanted to keep the blue and gold ones) and current registration, like 6 hours at DMV and $150.00, out the door.

Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:36 pm

jgriff90 wrote: I recently got a 1970 vw bug and im trying to get it in my name. But the person i got it from is not the registered owner of vehicle. there is a pending file for vin of vehicle, but the DMV will not give me any information to contact the person on account and the guy i got it from doesnt have any info.. What should i do or how do i go about this issue. DMV doesnt seem to want to help ( like usual). any suggestions would help. thanks.
As as friend I need to tell you that you are in possession of a stolen vehicle (as defined by the law)

If that guy you 'got' the car from didn't have the title in HIS name and signed it to you- you don't own that car.

If he doesn't have the title in his name- he doesn't own it either and has no legal rights to have it or sell it.

If that car is in your driveway, take it back to that guy's house.

I have actually witnessed people bait and switch people with this type of thing.

Some guy"sells" you the car, you give up the money, they don't sign it over with a title, he reports it stolen and the car goes back to him, he keeps the money, you go to jail.

Cars are titled personal property. If you don't have the title in your name- that is not your car.

Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:02 pm

If cash hasn’t changed hands dump that shit off on a country road and find another one.

Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:25 pm

Man, I wish mine had been out of the system here in CA. My back fees were almost $700. But it has been worth it.
Kevin

Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:55 pm

This guy jgriff better get back on here- we don't if he's from Lakewood:
Colorado
Washington
NJ
NY
California
Ohio
or Florida

I want to know because I adjust my advice for people from stoned states.

Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:19 pm

He may be imprisoned for stealing a car ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Thu Feb 15, 2018 12:32 am

Why would you buy a car that had no pink slip, signed over to you?

This makes no sense, especially since you bought the car from someone other than the owner.

Tim

Thu Feb 15, 2018 4:58 am

hitest wrote: This guy jgriff better get back on here- we don't if he's from Lakewood:
Colorado
Washington
NJ
NY
California
Ohio
or Florida

I want to know because I adjust my advice for people from stoned states.

I would think California, since his other two posts are promoting an event in Long Beach, California.

Thu Feb 15, 2018 5:40 am

Every State has their own way of dealing with this, but I echo other posters, as written, you do not have legal possession of that car to be able to get it into your name. But, if the person you "got" it from has the title with a signed release from the registered owner, and that person didn't counter sign for receipt of the title in order to transfer it, then you can still use that title. Some States would make that person get their own title before they sell it, usually depends on how many days they "own" it, here in Maine, it's 30 days, but I've been in other states where it was 90. So that would also be contingent on whether or not the original title holder dated their signature. Lots of "ifs" here without more information. Another "but" - or rather "maybe", depending on your State's laws - have proof of legal purchase of the vehicle and a clean VIN check, and just apply for a new title/registration. Usually, a law enforcement officer has to do the VIN check, (once again, depending on the State your in), you'd have to find out how from your local constabulary, a simple phone call should do it. That check should also reveal the last registered owner depending on when it was last registered. If it hasn't actually been registered for a while, it may come back with "no record", which isn't a problem, the reason for the VIN check for DMV purposes is to ensure it isn't stolen. So. Easiest cure is to have the title (although some States won't issue a title for cars over a certain age, just the last registration slip). Second easiest is to have legal proof of purchase and clean VIN check. And last, but very important, how good/bad a day the DMV clerk is having. Just about every State's DMV also has a very informative website that explains their requirements. How you meet those requirements tends to be what is at issue.

Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:23 am

I live in KY.
KY does not except bill of sales, only properly filled out titles and a couple of state forms that have to be notarized to buy “ANY” car from out of state.
That said

Story #1= I bought a running VW from a guy in Illinois, Luckily he had a friend in the DMV and got me a Title in his name and had it xfered to me I also brought the State forms and she was a notary, so that was done also.
Still took 2 more trips and a fax from her to my DMV to put car in my name.

Story #2= 3 months later I bought a non-running VW from a guy in TN. Who had bought from another but did not have the title changed to his name. (TN does not require Titles for cars past a certain year.) I finally talked him and his DMV to put a title in his name so that I could have it xfered to me. Also had DMV fill out and notarize KY state forms.

Went to KY DMV to have title put in my name (Not looking to license to drive, just put title in my name so I could put money in my car) When it came time for DMV to look at my vin. # she saw that car was not running (had on trailer) that’s when I found out that KY will not transfer title for a “NON-ROAD WORTHY” car. But I could put in for a “Salvage Title” after I bring in all the receipts to make car road worthy (and pay all the taxes) This on a car that is not even legally mine. (By the way she stamped VOID on all my Notarized paperwork. Then called the cops when I got upset.
Cop was understanding and just let me go home.

And I thought California was communist.
Anybody want to buy a 1971 Super Vert with a solid pan and body. Has to be some one that wants to go through “Salvage” title.

Thu Feb 15, 2018 8:10 pm

I see at least two obvious errors in the above post but people would jump on me for pointing them out. :roll:

Thu Feb 15, 2018 8:45 pm

Hey JGriff

If you are in Lakewood Ohio, I can give you the run down. PM me or I'll check back at some point to see if you post again.

And a picture of the car would help. Lol just kidding, but a little bug porn never hurts.

Good luck!