Can't Find My '47 Frazer Title

[SamNicolosi]

I am looking for suggestions. I am about to sell my '47 Frazer to an interested buyer, and have just discovered that the title cannot be found.
To make matters worse, I bought this vehicle (ten years ago) from an out-of-state dealer that had never registered the title in its own name.
They just forwarded to me the "signed title" that had been delivered to them. I didn't deal directly with the "last registered owner", and I never registered in my own name.
I can't think of anything to do. Places like Broadway Title want way-too-much to provide a title for a vehicle that is only worth $1500 to $2000.
Any suggestions ??

[Roadmaster49]

Sam
You would probably need to sell the car without a title.  If the interested buyer is only paying $1500 to $2000 then I would see if the car can be sold without a title, with a good bill of sale.  With the title flawed like you describe, the way to go is a bonded title.

Every state has a bonded title process.  I am currently getting a bonded title for my 1992 Mercedes.  Like you, I bought from a dealer in Indiana that "promised" a mechanics lien title. I am trusting so I bought the car, had my transporter bring it to me here in Iowa and waited. And waited.  I won't bore you with the details but I then accessed the Bonded Title application on line, printed, completed, and took 4 photos of my car including VIN, then sent it into the address provided.

The State DOT (DMV in some states, other names) sent me an email with the Bond.  A Bonded title is a title backed by a Surety Bond. The Surety Bond just guarantees that in the event that a 3rd party comes forward and claims title to your car, and the state agrees (very unlikely and usually because the car was stolen and the 3rd party can provide proof) - then the Bond indemnifies the 3rd party according to a pre determined value. 

So, step 2, I took the Bond and cover letter to my Personal Lines Insurance Agent and they processed it. The charge was $135.00 in my case.  My Mercedes was valued for bond purposes at $9000.  There might be a minimum for you, not sure.

The insurance company sends the completed, signed and notarized bond and Power of Attorney if applicable to YOU.  YOU then send that into the state (again DMV / DOT) at a provided address. 

In Iowa, a state trooper (state police) comes and inspects the vehicle. They are looking for signs of VIN tampering or safety issues. In your case, it won't take long.  then they give you a form showing approval, and you take that to the drivers office for a title and plates.

So far, I have about 8 weeks invested in the process. I am waiting on the state police to come look at my car, provide the approval form, then I go get my title.  Total maybe 9 weeks.

This might seem like a long time, but it is just my personal experience as I am in the middle of it.  Also, it might seem like a long time but in due respect, this should have been handled in the past 10 years and was not. 

So - sell as Bill of Sale only, get a Bonded Title, or go with one of the expensive kinda' shady title services.

Consider this, even if you find the title, if it is dated, it could get real uncomfortable at the DMV office.  they might want yearly registration fees for all those years, depending on the state. 

If you knew the previous owner, which you don't, they could get a duplicate title in their state and then provide you that duplicate title, signed and you could hand that to the new owner since it never went into your name.  It's a straight transfer. 

[darrin145]

In New York (the land of taxes and various other bs) you can take a pencil tracing of the VIN along with a valid insurance card to the DMV, register the vehicle and receive a non-transferable registration. After a week or so, if the vehicle is not stolen or..., you receive a transferable registration in the mail and do what you want with the vehicle. Gary.

[joefrazer]

In Ohio, obtaining a title takes a judge's decree and there's no guarantee. I know two guys who gave up and finally sold their cars to out of state buyers where titles are not required. So if you're in Ohio, best of luck...

[JoeKeys2010]

Georgia and Alabama do not title car over 25 years old.  If you must absoutely have a titleI could help you out.  I could register the car with a vin number and bill of sales in Georgia and get a valid tag.  I would send you the registration and a bill of sales that you could take to the DMV in the state you live in and if they title cars that old they will cut you a title.  Takes some time and probably costs $100 but you woudl have a title free and clear.  Did that with my 1964 Ford.  Bought the car in Alabama, no title, took it to Florida with a bill of sales and a tag reciept, Florida issued a title and the car now has a title in my name.

Let me know if I can help.

[Roadmaster49]

Georgia and Alabama do not title car over 25 years old.  If you must absoutely have a titleI could help you out.  I could register the car with a vin number and bill of sales in Georgia and get a valid tag.  I would send you the registration and a bill of sales that you could take to the DMV in the state you live in and if they title cars that old they will cut you a title.  Takes some time and probably costs $100 but you woudl have a title free and clear.  Did that with my 1964 Ford.  Bought the car in Alabama, no title, took it to Florida with a bill of sales and a tag reciept, Florida issued a title and the car now has a title in my name.

Let me know if I can help.

This is pretty much what the on-line title companies do.  Shenanigans between states with different rules.  I think you are in liinois if I am not mistaken, maybe I am - but states usually "honor" other states rules.  You can look ignorant and say this is what you have had, might have to fib and say you haven't owned it long. 

[joefrazer]

The state of Ohio has stopped accepting registrations only from other states, except for New York, and then only in certain situations. This has made it almost impossible to use registrations from states like Alabama. They cite fraud associated with a rash of stolen collector cars. For years, something as simple as a signature on a scrap of paper was acceptable as a bill of sale.

And, of course, I live in Ohio...

[JoeKeys2010]

Wonder what they do if you come from a state where titles are not issued like Alabama and Georgia. The previous owner had a GA title on my 1949 Kaiser and signed the back of it.  GA refused to title the car saying they do not title cars over 25 years old.  So if I took the car to Ohio and lived there wonder how I would get a tag.

One thing I did not think about is insurance.  GA requires insurance in order to get a tag.  I wonder if you can register the car without insurnace?  Any way if it helps I am willing to do it for a club member free of charge.  They would only have to pay any actual charges.

[Roadmaster49]

I used to be in legal for Wells Fargo Auto (Bank) and did all the title work, all the bonded title work and attorneys.  The ease or difficulty of getting a title is based on so many variables. Getting a practical small volume county office is important. 

The bottom line is that every state has a process to title a car with a lost title.  That includes Ohio if all you have is a registration. Basically, a paper trail would prove ownershiip, as the old saying goes possession is 9/10th's. etc etc. 

So for a car from a registration only state, 1st thing is print their statute from their website, even cite the actual law, next bring in a stack of regisrations, receipts for payments of annual fees, complete the state's bonded title application and proceed. 

[JoeKeys2010]

Documentation is always important.  When I registered my Ford in Florida they had a book that told what states' titling rules were.  A helpful clerk is always a plus.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Sorry if I missed it earlier in all this...what does YOUR state say about applying for a replacement title?  You did not indicate where you are.  Having lived in Ohio for a few years I know how hard it is to get a recent model year car licensed and titled from out of state.  The office Barbara and I went to in the Cleveland area kept asking me why I bought a car from out of state.  They could not understand the idea of people moving to their great state from other parts of the country.  It took more than a year to get a title for our pick-up when we moved to New York state in 2012.  If finally got to the point where someone at NYDMV looked at the situation and said that the whole delay thing was a mess & should never have happened.