Title Woe’s

[solidaxle]

Originally Posted by Alan O'Connell

I feel your pain. I've had difficulties with the DMV in Massachusetts both with my 1935 and 1936. I bought my 35 in 1997 and didn't know that I was supposed to pay the sales tax within 20 business days of buying the car. So when I went to the registry in 2011 all I had was a bill of sale and the paperwork from my insurance agent. I had to pay the sales tax as well as a penalty for not getting there within 20 business days. they charge a sales tax on the book value, not what you paid for the car. Luckily they couldn't find the book value so they let me pay the sales tax on what I paid for the car. Then the DMV agent handed me a paper and told me to get a police officer to verify the vin and sign the paper. I did that and went back to the registry. You never get the same person twice so I saw a new guy this time. He wanted to know why I bought the car in 1997 and had it for 14 years before registering it. I explained that it took me that long to restore it. He was skeptical. He told me to get a bond just in case I'm at a car show and somebody comes up to me and tells me that my car is actually his and it was stolen years ago. I went to my insurance agent and got a bond. The bond cost me $400. I went back to the registry a fourth time. Once again I got a different person. I handed her all my paper work. As she's going though everything she holds up the bond and says, "What's this for?" I explained why I got the bond. She said, "You don't need a bond!" and puts my paper work through.

What happened to the guy claiming the car was his and was stolen 14 years ago? It must have been B.S. on his part.

[Carl]

... what happens a lot is a person buys a frame and the seller keeps the title with numbers that match the frame. It could be an original Ford frame or one that has assigned numbers on it. The seller wants the title to use on another car. The person who buys the frame may or may not use and try to register it right away in his name. Then when you get to DMV, they tell you your title is already registered to somebody else.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by Carl

... what happens a lot is a person buys a frame and the seller keeps the title with numbers that match the frame. It could be an original Ford frame or one that has assigned numbers on it. The seller wants the title to use on another car. The person who buys the frame may or may not use and try to register it right away in his name. Then when you get to DMV, they tell you your title is already registered to somebody else.

You think that happens a lot? Or is that a theory. Guess it could happen. But not likely.

[Carl]

I believe it does happen a lot. I just bought a 32 rolling chassis that had the VIN # ground off near the firewall. The other 2 VIN #s were still on the frame. I checked the #s at DOT office and the #s had already been applied to another car. However, I knew the previous owner wanted to keep the title and that was part of the deal.

[Alan O'Connell]

Originally Posted by solidaxle

What happened to the guy claiming the car was his and was stolen 14 years ago? It must have been B.S. on his part.

The DMV is B.S.

[tubman]

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Originally Posted by Alan O'Connell

The DMV is B.S.

That attitude will get you a long way if you have registration problems.

You really can't fight City Hall on stuff like this. You'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar.