No Title, No Problem

Do you have a dream car? For years, I have dreamed of owning an antique Volkswagen Beetle. They are timeless, brilliantly beautiful, and a reminder of simpler times. Have you ever seen one on the road? I’ve done a little research regarding the cost based on condition. Even the Beetles that aren’t running properly can be worth up to $5,000.

Every once in a while I search the Internet to see what’s currently on the market. Recently, I found a Beetle available for $1,600. My jaw instantly dropped, and my heart raced. This can’t be true! Why would someone sell such a classic for so little money? Upon further research, I got my answer. The truth is: the Beetle doesn’t have a title. Whoever sold the car to its current owner didn’t have the title either.

So what can be done about this? There has to be a solution. I started doing my research. If you ever come across this issue, don’t give up hope, there could be a way to get the title.

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind about purchasing a car without a title is this: There is always the possibility that the car was stolen. The less serious explanation is that the title was lost/stolen, or damaged. The title states the legal owner of the vehicle and is necessary when buying or selling a car. So, as you can imagine, the buying process gets difficult without one.

There are multiple methods to retrieve a title. I will discuss a few from autoblog.com.

A crucial step in purchasing a car without a title is getting a bill of sale. When writing out a bill of sale, include all important information regarding the sale. Include: both the buyer and the seller’s names and addresses, VIN number, date the sale took place, a complete vehicle description, the amount paid, the method of payment, and any further agreements and special terms to the sale. You can also find a bill of sale form at your local department of motor vehicles.

You can also develop further knowledge of the car by doing a vehicle history report search by a reputable website. The report will list things like the previous owners and any insurance claims or accidents. The National Insurance Crime Bureau allows you to run the vehicle’s VIN number to see if the car has been stolen.

Finally, you can ask the seller of the vehicle to fill out a Duplicate Title Request form. This form can be found at the DMV. You will also need to contact your independent agent to get the certificate of title bond. They will need to do a VIN verification. The process can become lengthy.

A quick Internet search will give you a few additional methods to purchasing a car without a title. Do everything you can to get your hands on a title for the vehicle during the purchase. If you cannot retrieve a title, you may not want to purchase the vehicle to avoid any issues in the future. It may be worth the process of getting a Duplicate Title if the car is a great price.