http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/4812480972.html

HE IS NOW DOWN TO 800.00

IF I HAD A LITTLE SPACE IT WOULD COME HOME WITH ME.

WENT LOOK AT IT 75,000ISH AUTO NOT MANUAL

CHECK IT OUT 817-757-8087 TOMMY

 

Someone needs to save that puppy - for $800

 

How difficult is it to deal with the lost title? I know I had some issues registering my car initially (Florida) with a title in the name of the owner before the owner before me....long story lol. I guess there must be a way for the current owner to get the title, but you'd think he'd just do that now.

 

No title could mean a lot of problems. Could be a stolen car. Could be a lein on it. Don't touch it without first checking out the vin with a state lein and title check to make sure he is the actual owner. Easy to check. He can also get a lost title replacement. If he refuses to walk away.

 

title may never have been in the current "owners" name if he never bothered to transfer and THEN lost it....Texas you can get a Bonded Title for a fee (couple hundred) and if no one claims the car in two years you can have a clear title.
Plus with no title it could be a rebuilt /salvage title which kills resale value for most. And the title may be being held by one of those lovely title loan shops where you borrow against your equity...and guess what that loan can become YOUR loan or they simply repo your new car...

 

I have personal knowledge of how easy it is for an owner to get a duplicate title in Texas. Basically just a signed request and a few $$, IIRC. I admit it's been 20 years, but I'm confident I remember it right.

A-ha! Google is my friend.
http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buyin...-of-your-title
Get a Copy of Your Vehicle Title

Compare that to James' caution, above.

 

There has to be a catch, right? I mean, if it really does run well, that's a crazy steal. Isn't it?? I have no room and I'm a long ways away, but damn. I'm guessing that missing title has an unpleasant story attached to it, similar to what is described above. But, you never know...

 

Already down to $800? Maybe the real owner is up for parole?

 

I would not touch it with the title issue.

 

In many states, all is needed for a car that old, is a Bill of Sale. Check YOUR DMV/BMV regs to see. Of course, a registration is also often needed to accompany the BOS.

I bought a car from Alabama which was sold on a BOS, and that, along with a registration from Alabama, I took that to my DMV and registered the car, no problem. Although I seemed to know more than the DMV clerk, which wasn't a surprise, either.

YRMV

 

If the car doesn't legally belong to the seller, you don't usually get to keep it.

What I wonder is "how" you lose the title, as in having NOTHING like an old registration etc. Much more likely title isn't lost, it never was acquired.

There was a guy here in SoCal trying to sell an S4 where the bank that held the title was gone and Calif DMV would not budge an inch without their release so he couldn't even register it.

 

Texas requires the seller to furnish a title when selling a used car, so I think it's technically illegal to sell a used car without a title. Jim's correct about the bonded title, but with the extra cost, wait time and hassle, it's probably not worth it.

 

This is true. For example, in New England, Rhode Island and New Hampshire don't require a title for cars over a certain age. I bought a car from NH with no title, and was able to easily obtain a MA title using a bill of sale and an expired registration in the sellers name. This may not be so easy in other states that require a title.

From RI DMV:
From NH DMV:
Maybe some states, such as TX, require a title in order to be sold? Dunno. But it seems to me that if a buyer from NH, RI, or any other state that doesn't title older cars, wanted to buy this car, they could do so, and legally register it, without a TX title. In any event, as said by others, verifying what your local DMV requires is required due diligence.

 

Bonded title is not that big of a deal in Texas, just a few extra dollars.

I am surprised that Doc isn't all over this.

 

We also don't know that the seller here can even provide an expired registration (I don't think).