California How do I get my Bank off the Title or get rid of my car?
Posted by twothumber@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 33 comments
This is specific to California.
I have a car that's very old. It failed smog and not worth it for a catalytic converter.
I just want to junk the car. Problem is that Bank Of America is still on the title.
I went to Bank of America in December it's March now. and sent them the title showing that there name on it. Tney acknowledged receipt of the request and title but after the initial email from them no action.
I'm nearing the 1 year point at which my car can be cited or towed.
How can I get the Bank to release title. Or how can I get rid of the car without being able to transfer title.?
zylpher@reddit
Pay the loan. Get the release letter. Go to DMV. Show them the letter. Get new title printed. Maybe $30 and a few hours of your time.
twothumber@reddit (OP)
Not so easy this is 20 years ago.
zylpher@reddit
Call the bank you had the loan with. Ask them to send you a release letter. Have you tried that?
twothumber@reddit (OP)
Yes because it's so long ago it went to a separate department to look it up.
Never mailed me anything or got back to me.
zylpher@reddit
Bro, it sounds like you did the bare minimum or work, gave up. And are now crying about it. Because you lost the letter they sent, it's gonna take more than the minimum effort to fix.
Call the damn 800 number. Because I bet you haven't bothered to do that. Your local branch probably can't do shit because of the age.
zylpher@reddit
Did you call them? They will have a history of your loan. They can see if it's paid off. And then they will send you a letter.
Going into a branch is probably not gonna work. Emailing them won't work, as you found out. Pick up the phone and call.
adjusterjackc@reddit
You're supposed to get the lien release when you pay off the car. Duh.
Call up. Or will you wait another 20 years?
Call around to junk yards until you find one that doesn't care about titles. Or advertise it free for parts no title. People buy cars that way all the time.
InfluenceEfficient77@reddit
You could probably do it with a bill of sale. If the car is never going to be driven and parted out some junker 4 cash places will.take.it with a bill of sale if you ask ahead of time
stomper4x4@reddit
Not with a lien holder in it they can't.
twothumber@reddit (OP)
Tried a junker place and they said the Lien holder needed to be off the title.
Chair_luger@reddit
Just to check it sounds BOA is on the paper title which you have. Have you checked with DMV to see if they are still on the title in their computer system?
decadentmom@reddit
Typically, the bank signs off directly on the bottom right of the title. They don't mail you the title until the vehicle is paid off and therefore signed on the bottom. If, somehow, there is no signature on the bottom, then you need to get a notarized lien release from Bank of America.
MarcusAurelius0@reddit
You just need a lien release letter.
Icy_Communication173@reddit
This the way. The DMV will not accept a fax, has to be original notarized release. It takes a couple weeks, get a case number and keep calling.
SomeAdhesiveness7025@reddit
just keep bugging them bro or go to another branch
Putrid-Function5666@reddit
If you are just going to junk the car, just do it. BofA isn't going to chase anyone down for any money. If not, you need a Lien release from BofA
twothumber@reddit (OP)
Tried a junker place and they said the Lien holder needed to be off the title
LowEmergencyCaptain@reddit
Pay them off.
twothumber@reddit (OP)
Paid them off 20 years ago
LowEmergencyCaptain@reddit
Whenever I pay mine off the bank has always sent me a title with just my name on it.
Rlchv70@reddit
Is the lienholder section signed? If so, then you don’t need anything else.
shittyhawaiitips@reddit
they already send you a pif / lien release and you threw it away
twothumber@reddit (OP)
It's 20 years ago, I don't remember.
DrakeSavory@reddit
Not necessarily. It is BofA.
Parking_Abalone_1232@reddit
You can also do a PNA registration. That keeps the car from being cited or towed - just don't drive it.
Thereelgerg@reddit
Do you still owe anything on the car?
twothumber@reddit (OP)
Completely paid off the car 20 years ago
gmehodler42069741LFG@reddit
Just show up and make them print it off.
More_Pineapple3585@reddit
BofA is hands down the most incompetent bank I have ever dealt with. I had a small matter that needed to be resolved that took me months of battling with them to settle. They kept blaming other people and units within the company and contradicting each other, including a branch manager and supervisors of specialized units. I wish you the best of luck, but fear the worst.
tnsipla@reddit
This is true
I’ve been trying to get them to give me control over my late father’s account, so they asked me to fax the court letters affirming that I am the admin for the estate, only to reject it because there’s no embossed seal (on a fax), and every time I get into contact with someone at BofA it’s a different requirement that wasn’t mentioned the previous time
NotYourNativeDaddy@reddit
Contact motor vehicle department and tell them the story. Happened to me here in Arizona and they helped me get free and clear title.
EarthOk2418@reddit
If you find yourself really close to that one year cut off you can always put your car on non-op status with the state.
Majestic_Two_3985@reddit
Escalate up the ladder to corporate