In Washington, unless you are the owner that lost the title, it is a bit more
unsettling. The State will issue you a temporary title that lasts for three
years. During that time, your car is in a sort of "limbo". That means that if
no one decides to make a claim, you get to apply for a real title and keep it,
but only after three years. If you are lucky and know who the last titled owner
was, then you can obtain documents that they can fill out that releases past
interests in the car. If they decide not to cooperate, then you are back to
square one, the temporary title. Been there done that...
At least that is the legal way to do it. I am sure that there are other ways,
but I don't know what they would be.
Paul
In a message dated 2/10/2004 8:16:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,
imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx writes:
> 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
>
> 1960 Chrysler Imperial -->http://imperialclub.com/Yr/1960/Kenyon/Page01.htm
>
> 1973 Chrysler Imperial --
> >http://imperialclub.com/Yr/1973/Wills/index.htm
>
>
>
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online
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