Questions About A Title

What state are you in??

Go to the DMV, explain what happend and they will re-issue you a new title.

In most cases, a car that is 7 years or older can get replacment titles with very little grief from the local Secretary of States office.

I don't think so. As long as you tell them that the title he signed off on was washed with your wallet, they shouldn't give you any grief.

You can also look it up on the website for Tennessee DMV.

Just for info... In Maryland an "abandoned" vehicle (the only way you'd ever get a title in Maryland) is classified as a salvage vehicle and is titled as such. Be prepared because they will put you through the hoops to title it.

I just went through this in Virginia

I bought a 66 Mustang that had changed hands 4 times and never retitled. I had to go to the DMV and file for an abonded vehicle title. They gave me the name and address of the last know owner on file. I had to send a certified letter to that address and wait 30 days (for the guy to either reclaim the car, or if they moved; I had to bring the unopened letter with RETURN TO SENDER stamped on it back to DMV). After that, I went in with all my paperwork and got a title in my name. You may not have to file for an abonded title since you have a bill of sale, but you will probbaly will have to go through some process of notifiying the last registered owner to prove to the DMV that he/she sold the car and it isn't stolen. ALSO, some people may not be eager to help out as they might owe taxes on a vehicle they bought or sold and "jumped" the title to another person. I also spoke with my lawyer, and if I was not able to get a title, I had a pretty good chance in court of getting my money back since they were not the "legal" owner of the car in the first place. Anyway, be honest at the DMV, and best of luck!

I don't know, but I think you are going to have a problem here. It depends on where you live though. I just don't see how you can walk into the DMV and say that you destroyed the title of a car and expect them to just rubber stamp it. If your cousin never registered the car then I don't think the fact his name is not on the title is an issue. I bought two cars from two different people that had dealer plates and never transferred titles to their names. If he did register the car then I would think that is DMV's fault because they should have issued him a title. Do you still have the title? How bad a shape is it in? Maybe if you go there with the damaged title they will let you register and title the car without incident. Either way, you will be able to get the title, but may have to jump through hoops to get it. They will probably have to at least run a check on the car to make sure nobody is looking for it.

I feel bad for you. I know how much of a hassle it can be to get a car registered. My dad gave one of my friend's his beater truck this year but lost the title. My friend had to get my dad to sign some DMV papers and make a copy of his license.

My suggestion is to first do your research before going to DMV. Find out what you need to do before going there and actually start pursuing this. See what happens to pursue a lost title. I would try to avoid the salvage title unless you got a good deal on the car or don't plan on selling it.

Good luck and let us know what happens

srothfuss said:

I don't think so. As long as you tell them that the title he signed off on was washed with your wallet, they shouldn't give you any grief.

You can also look it up on the website for Tennessee DMV.

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His cousin never had the title transferred into his own name from the "guy". According to the state, the "guy" still owns the car. Be prepared to get by the DMV. Sorry man ...... just be prepared.

NICE!