How hard is it to get an abandoned title? Guy said he filed police reports, and certified letters, with no response. Would it matter that the guy getting rid of it, is the one that did it, and I'd be the one trying to get the title? PA
Posted by Chucheyface@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 50 comments
ApricotNervous5408@reddit
There are services that handle for that you for like $200-$250.
hedge-core@reddit
Personally, I just use saints title out of Tennessee, I've done about 8 cars & bikes in two states with no issues.
Jedi_Ewok@reddit
Crazy, I used to live like a block from them and had them do some work on my bike 10 or so years ago. Weird to see them pop up on Reddit.
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
How much does something like that cost?
hedge-core@reddit
https://www.saintsengine.com/services/title-service/
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
That doesn't seem bad at all! It's not free but all things considered.
pina_koala@reddit
"not free" what were you expecting ?
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
The car was free, I wasn't expecting saints to be free, it was just in reference to the car. "The car's free, but hey $750 doesn't make it not worth it". Like if it was $3000 for whatever reason, it'd be easier to just find another car.
TheCubanBaron@reddit
My grandfather always said "only the sunrise is free"
CapnJellyBones@reddit
Okay...that is awesome!
ThatRugReallyTiedIt@reddit
I’m in TN. THIS IS EPIC
Giff13@reddit
Buy a titled Vin tag and replace the Vin tag in the door frame.
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
This smells extremely illegal...
skylinesora@reddit
Illegal, but it's also a victimless crime.
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
I just wouldn't want to get caught. There's no moral implications.
LGCJairen@reddit
Ive done what previous poster stated a few times without issues. Wouldnt make a habit out of it, but in my case they arent exactly hardcore on keeping track of 500 dollar shitboxes
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
HEY!! This shitbox is free thank you very much
Giff13@reddit
If it ain’t stolen who cares? It’s that or the cars a loss. That’s why they sell titled Vins legally. Some of these old cars are tied up in legal BS or out of the system
But this is Reddit and everybody’s a white knight so don’t take my advice
ChrisTheMan72@reddit
Idk but I’m pretty sure I heard tampering a vehicles vin is a felony.
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
I didn't say there was anything wrong with it, I just don't want to be a felon. I'd get caught or something.
Leecatd8209@reddit
In Pennsylvania you could try using one of the third party “get a title” companies, but it is extremely hard to get a new title. I would only go through the hassle if it were an extremely rare and valuable car, because there’s a good chance it will never happen.
Anyone saying “just get a bonded title” or “just file for x” does not know PA vehicle title laws.
LGCJairen@reddit
Yep PA sucks nuts for no title. If you want it bad enough use a service to loophole it. Its worth not dealing with the assache yourself
No_Ant_3886@reddit
Bonded title process is 10 times easier. Took me maybe a month whereas I waited over a year for an abandoned title
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
We don't have them in pa.
SheepdogApproved@reddit
It’s called a bonded title. You basically have to go through a process trying to contact prior title owners, and then you’ll be issued a new title for the vehicle.
It is different state to state, so just google bonded title for your state. It’s not a trivial process but I did it for an old project once. It will take time and effort.
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
That would work perfect cause the previous owner has been contacted, and reports have been filed, but they do them in PA for some reason!
Nick3757@reddit
I'm in PA and dealt with this before. It used to be cheap and easy to register it through Vermont, but they closed the loophole for individuals for the most part.
PA doesn't do bonded titles. I haven't used one of the title service places like this: https://southjerseyautotags.com/vermont-auto-tag-and-title-registration/ but they will probably charge $300-$700 on top of the fees Vermont charges, and it will be very little work for you.
If you want to go the cheapest route, you want to go to your county courthouse and follow the procedure to file for a Transfer of Ownership by Court Order: https://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/dvspubsforms/BMV/BMV%20Fact%20Sheets/fs-intr.pdf
It will take a while and you'll probably pay $150-$250 in court fees, but if you follow the fact sheet and talk to the Prothonotary at the courthouse, you should be able to do it. The Prothonotary may be able to help you find the filing of a transfer that was approved and you can use that as a reference for completing your filing.
Tioga County also has a more detailed guide here: https://www.tiogacountypa.us/getmedia/7572dfaf-8659-4250-a934-59ee30efd416/How-to-file-an-involuntary-transfer-of-a-vehicle-title.pdf
Ok_Nose7141@reddit
This is the answer for PA.
Puppythapup@reddit
If you’re trying to rescue it, coat that bitch in lanolin
juwyro@reddit
Does PA even title old cars?
sth5591@reddit
PA titles fucking everything. Surprised you don't need a notary transfer for each tire here.
rudbri93@reddit
call your local tag place and ask, but im pretty sure you can apply for a title for an abandoned vehicle.
Chucheyface@reddit (OP)
Cause I always hear that "no title, dude you'd have better luck doing x" but this car is free!
Joiner2008@reddit
It's very state dependent. My state, the PO has to get the title. Bill of sale doesn't matter here, only PO can apply for lost title
Thommyknocker@reddit
No title in this condition equals slightly better than scrap value and I haul it off for you. If it's free do it.
Go get a bonded title but they can take 3-5 years to process in my experience. Have them appraise the thing at 2x scrap value they really don't care for cars in this condition. The bond is just to cover your ass in case it comes back as stolen at some point. And they are cheap as hell.
rudbri93@reddit
Well its at the very least worth findjng out
Such_Ad_677@reddit
If you don't figure something out I need a bunch of trim off that thing for my Pontiac project
ShaggysGTI@reddit
Just did this in Virginia on a Jeep TJ. We have the Abandoned Vehicle Process. Every state is different so check with your DMV. Neighbor bought a Jeep from Nebraska and the owner signed in the wrong spot. Va won’t fuck around, said you need to get the original owner to replace the title, so he just never registered it and drove on invalid plates for 6 years. Brake line busted and he stopped driving it. New orders came up and shipped off to Arizona. I was going to offer some cash but he said I was doing him a favor by taking it. Pushed it into my yard and went to work. With the AVP, you tell the DMV hey this VIN is on my property, and they try to contact the last registered persons. After waiting for so long without being contacted, you register the VIN for sale on the DMV website, this says hey this VIN is coming up for auction, if you’re the owner you need to hurry. After that waiting period, you can go and get your title from the DMV. Took like 2-3 months and less than $100.
P0SSPWRD@reddit
Go to the DMV in your state and ask them. I fought for a while with Maryland DMV over titling a 59 Rambler we pulled from the woods.
Petitioned the court to retitle the car, and through that we found the last owner (died in the 90s). Car was trapped in limbo because the owner died and the estate was closed, so the car (for the purposes of the state) was basically trapped being owned by a dead man with no heirs.
Ended up having a used car company in TN do the background check and retitle the car (TN is a bit friendlier with old cars). They were called Saints Motor. Not cheap, No idea if they’re still around.
P0SSPWRD@reddit
Look around the car for any info that tells when you when it was last registered. Inspection, oil change stickers, etc. If it looks like its been registered after 1995, I wouldn’t mess with it.
Vfrnut@reddit
Why after 95 ? That’s 30 years ago
desertrat84@reddit
What’s special about 1995?
AcanthocephalaNo7788@reddit
Lien sale
General-Corner9163@reddit
Register it in vermont, then after a year take that registration in for a title
ChopperTodd@reddit
I got 1946 PA plates for my 1946 Ford. So definitely check with the PA title places. The one by me are usually nice and knowledgeable about what can be done. Good luck. Cool find.
Insufficient_Speed@reddit
In Minnesota it was easy for me. I brought a title application form to the seller, we filled it out, brought pictures of the car and vin to the DMV, then 3 weeks later I had my title. Granted this was just before 2020, so things might have changed now
fiddlythingsATX@reddit
Depends on your state. In TX you put down a bond for the book value of the car and have a bonded title for 3 years. After 3 years if nobody has claimed the car, you get your money back and a proper title.
heavy_dude_heavy@reddit
check with a tow company, they do this all the time.
EC_CO@reddit
Check your state DMV for the process to obtain a title to an abandoned vehicle, each state is different. In my state I had to get a certified VIN inspection (a car dealer in my state can do it and sign a form), have a State Patrol inspection, get a $15000 title bond (cost me like $200).
Steve1101@reddit
see if you can apply for a bonded title