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12-05-2019, 04:25 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL
Posts: 1,106
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Model A Registration Woes
Today I went to look at a 1931 Model A that is for sale. I liked it, it is a good ten footer in very good running condition. The price was negotiated and I am happy with it. This is the situation:
1. The owner has passed away and his wife is selling the car. 2. The car has an out of state plate and registration and a title. It seems that the owner felt it was more convenient to keep the old paper work then to re-register the car in his new home state. 3. I have a copy of the title and death certificate and plan to go to the DMV for advice before I seal the deal with payment. 4. After I got back home, I find that the VIN # on the title does not match the number on the engine. The engine must have been changed when it was rebuilt. I suppose the VIN # on the frame may match the title but who wants to go through all the work of removing the front fender? I want the car but I'm afraid I will be laughed out of the DMV trying to register a car with a different ID number. Has anyone run across a situation like this? Any suggestions? Thank you, Ed |
12-05-2019, 04:29 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,353
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Fair warning here, most advice will be state-specific.
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12-05-2019, 05:17 PM | #3 |
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
We had the same thing happen. They had to deal with the state where the title was.
On the number, the state probably assigned a vin number and that is the one to use. It has nothing to do with the engine number. Both of my A’s have state assigned numbers with a small plate on the fire wall. I think your plan is good. Just go in and lay it all out. You will be ok. |
12-05-2019, 05:38 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Erie Pa
Posts: 689
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Hello,Pennsylvania will issue a state VIN number to be attached to the car usually on the firewall if the original can’t be found or missing or doesn’t match title. Seems rare to find a Model A still having the original engine.A friend of mine bought a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr from New York and had to go that process.He didn’t know it was on bell housing.
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12-05-2019, 05:50 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Walla Walla, WA
Posts: 1,045
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
The state that it is currently registered in may have put a registration plate on the firewall or the inside door jamb. If that state issued a state assigned number you may be home free.
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12-05-2019, 05:55 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Middletown, NY
Posts: 165
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
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Please let everyone know how you made out. Gary |
12-05-2019, 09:13 PM | #7 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 7,031
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Quote:
Charlie Stephens |
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12-05-2019, 06:04 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Takoma Park, MD
Posts: 2,817
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Is the current title in his name? That should be okay if it does. You will probably need something to verify that his wife is the executor, unless her name is on the title, which I suspect it is not, plus the death certificate.
As for the VIN/serial number, you have two routes to go. One is to not worry about it and register it in your name. You will not the the only person who has a car where the engine number does not match the title. Without taking the body off, you won't be able to confirm the SN on the title is the same as the frame number. And what if it is not? The other thing you can do is to see about getting it titled in Vermont initially with the engine number you have. You will need to have a police officer check the SN, run an NCIC check to see if it is stolen and have that same agency give you a letter per the Vermont DMV requirements and then register it in that state and then either run Vermont tags or transfer it to Maine. New England is a bit different from most states, i.e. what I just told you about Vermont. New Hampshire has a similar process and I wouldn't be surprised if Maine doesn't either. Everyone in the country runs Maine licenses on their trailers so they don't have to pay excise tax on the purchase, so maybe getting a title there for a car like yours isn't very difficult? I would take all this into account when coming up with a price to pay for the car, because of the title/SN situation. Giving more information to DMV than you need to is not always the best approach. I will PM you my phone number and you can call me if you want to discuss. Someone in Maine or in your local Model A club has probably dealt with a situation similar to this.
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12-05-2019, 06:32 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Danville, CA
Posts: 1,554
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Take the paperwork to AAA if you are a member. That will probably be the easiest, nest would be go to your own DMV and present the papers. Get the widow to write out a bill of sale which she signs for her late husband. I would not disclose the difference in numbers.
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12-05-2019, 06:42 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 1,908
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Go to the DMV and be straight up about what is going on. If it can be worked out you will have a car you like and will have no worries going forward.
If it turns out you will need to jump through a bunch of hoops to make it work then you will need to decide if that is worth it for the price you negotiated. If not you can negotiate a lower price and go for it or walk away. There are lots of A's out there.
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12-05-2019, 07:25 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 585
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Your situation can easily become "title hell". If DMV makes it complicated be prepared to pass on the deal and find a ride with a clear in-state title. Making the deal contingent on getting a clear title was a smart move. Good Luck.
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12-05-2019, 09:25 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: N. GA
Posts: 531
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Move to Georgia, get a bill pf sale and you are home free
TerryO |
12-05-2019, 09:32 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Southwestern Connecticut
Posts: 931
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Yes, the rules are very state specific. Find out exactly what you need in the state of Maine (or the state you are registering in). I think that they are pretty easy.
I had a similar problem and anticipated big problems. However, here in Connecticut for a car that old they were satisfied with just a Bill of Sale. Best of luck. Keep us posted. Ken
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12-05-2019, 10:02 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
If it were me I would put it on the wife to get the title in her name. Then buy it from her. There is no proof that the husband has ever had title and as such it will most likely need a judge to solve the issue legally.
While absolutely not legal, but I have met people that have just signed the name of the person on the title and re-stamped the engine. Again illegal.
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12-06-2019, 08:17 AM | #15 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: North Eastern MD
Posts: 486
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Quote:
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12-06-2019, 08:32 AM | #16 |
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Bay City Michigan
Posts: 1,050
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
deaths. have the wife title to her name. bingo bongo fresho titlo. the dead are not authorized to sell in US markets.
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12-06-2019, 08:47 AM | #17 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Maine is a very easy state to title in. no need to get your liver in a quiver!
who cares if the engine matches up? half of them or more dont. |
12-06-2019, 08:52 AM | #18 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Epping N.H.
Posts: 2,987
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
I don't think any of what you are reading applies to you.You are in Maine.Just like N.H.you can scribble a bill of sale on the back of an envelope,get a verification of VIN,and go register.I think you are going to complicate things by showing up with old titles from deceased people in other states.If you start volunteering information and asking questions they are going to have to answer questions they don't really have answers for.There are no titles on old cars in Maine.Go talk to old car people around you,they can tell you just what to do,it is a nothing process.The guys I deal with in Maine say they all use just the engine number,if you try to explain the non-matching thing you will start a very confusing situation.
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12-06-2019, 03:59 PM | #19 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,390
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
Do what Keith says, using the existing engine numbar. DO NOT open a "can of worms".
Good Luck, let us know how you make out. Paul in CT "Back in the day" I bought and sold dozens of cars here in CT never validating a S/N or VIN #, just copied from the previous pa-work. |
12-06-2019, 05:45 PM | #20 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fountain Valley, Calif.
Posts: 937
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Re: Model A Registration Woes
I also recommend talking to your local AAA office first. They process titles and registration and often have someone who specializes in older cars. I did that here in California, with a Model A I purchased from someone in New York. They were great to work with and very efficient.
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