Your vehicle's title

Titling is way different in each state. There are "strong titling" and "weak titling" states. For example, here in Pa., getting a title for a car that doesn't have one can be near impossible, extremely difficult at the very least. Places like Florida, not so much. Some do not require titling for certain vehicles that are driven on public roads like mopeds, etc. Just like a few states do not require plates for things like trailers but don't take one into a state that does require plates or you will find yourself the proud owner of a citation. In South Dakota, you can get real plates for an ATV and operate it on the street. Here, if you try, it will likely get you a ride in the back of a trooper's car and your ATV impounded. Guys out here in the sticks do it but at their own peril. Imported vehicles like scooters come with a certificate of origin which can be switched to a title after bought. Some states don't regulate these. Here, you cannot get a title if you don't have one regardless of whether or not you have a legitimate bill of sale.

Also, remember that once you cross state lines, you are at the mercy of that state's vehicle laws, not your's.

For reasons other than what was stated, it's always a very good idea to get a title transferred into your name if you own the vehicle especially once you start driving it on public roads. While we all hope that nothing ever goes sideways when we are on the road especially with our classics we have sweated blood and money into, you can't trust the other driver or never know when a deer or something will decide to ruin your day. You could have legal and/or insurance problems if something happens and your registration is not perfect because you never transferred the title to you or someone in your household if you're on your parent's insurance. Once the law is at whatever happened, you will be at the mercy of the state's vehicle code and ignorance of the law or friendship is not an excuse to the sheriff, trooper or highway patrolman asking you for your vehicle papers. If there was property damage or injury to others, you may find yourself in a position that could bankrupt you and subject yourself to criminal penalties potentially. I'd hate to see any of that happen to any of you. Aside from the legal issues, remember something that was hammered into my brain during all my training. Anyone can be sued for anything, anytime. Don't give anyone an excuse to take everything from you just because you thought you could put off taking care of titling or registration. Never say never my friends about anything. If I ever learned anything from all of my years as a paramedic and now a LEO, that's it.

 

Very well stated. One of the things most people never thing of, if your car is stolen and the thief kills someone with it, the TITLED owner is now on the hook. As you said about suing, anytime, to anyone.

 

Titling and plating is two different things

 

Very true. To get a title, in most cases, only requires that you prove you are now the legal owner, and the titled owner has now relinquished any claim to it, and it meets the state that you are titling it in, requirements.
To license it, depending on the state, requires proof of insurance, most do now, maybe a smog (Clark, Washoe counties), safety, etc, etc, etc. inspections. I titled and licensed my 68 Cougar when I brought it to Nevada. Here require a vehicle VIN inspection for an out of state vehicle brought into Nevada, even if you bought it today. Part of the inspection is, it has to have an engine and trans in it. They don't have to work, but they have to be there. Then I insured it and got "Classic Car" plates for it. After a few years, I dropped the insurance and the state told me to just keep the plates or they could reissue them, and don't drive it on the street. Then when I get ready to re-license it, just re-insure it and bring the plates in.
But why would you want to put a bunch of time, money and effort into something you don't even own, and on a whim and wish, the titled owner can take it away from you, or end up in a court battle? If it's in Mom and Dad's name because you're 17 living at home, that's one thing. But 40 and in mom and dad's name?

 

Ricky, it is unlikely that if your car is stolen that you could be held responsible if the thief hurts or kills someone. The vehicle is out of your control and is being used without permission. The law takes that significantly into consideration. Now this also takes into consideration that it is reported to the authorities as soon as it's found missing. Now, if you left the keys in it in a very public place and it got taken, you could be potentially civil sued as you contributed to the ease of theft. Remember what I said about being sued about anything, anytime. There are laws in some states about leaving keys in cars I believe. There could be potentially penalties by law in that place.

I know it can be expensive to title. Some states are way worse than others. Places like Cali require you to pay for ALL the back registrations to retitle if a car hasn't been paid up on plates for a while and that can cost way too much. I know a guy back when I had my other Mavs that bought a Mav through an estate and ended up parting it out because it was off the road for years (10) and cost much, much more than the car was worth to retitle it which he had no clue about when he bought it. I was happy to get the parts I needed but felt terrible for the guy as he was going to restore it and drive it. Here, it costs on average in the $200 range to retitle a car to a new owner. You also have to pay sales tax at that time which is just the county rate which averages between 6 or 7% unless you buy at a dealer where you pay at time of sale unless you're taking it to another state to live permanently. Titling antique adds just under a hundred to the cost but the advantages are never having to pay yearly tags and no inspections yearly. They have restrictions on using the car like for a daily driver but I never heard of those being enforced. You also can resurrect a plate issued the year of your car if it was made before 1977. It costs an additional $81. That's what I did. Found one in perfect shape at an antique store for just $8. Adds to the cool factor. Otherwise, you have to wait to drive the car as the antique plate is issued by mail which can take weeks so you have to pay an additional $36 for a regular plate to use in the meantime. If the car has been off the road for a long time like mine was, you are not responsible for back registrations as the plate dies once it expires. Plates here belong to the owner unlike places like Cali where the plate belongs to the car. Out of state titles can be easily switched to Pa. during exchange and no searches are done. They are taken as valid on inspection by the notary so long as they have been signed over correctly with a notarized signature or the selling owner is present. Some states do not require the seller's signature to be notarized like Ohio but we do.

Bottom line is that not retitling the car to you is never smart. I know it can cost in a few places way more than the car may be worth and often, more than you paid for it, but even though a lot of people skate through without anything bad happening, do you really want to take the risk?

 

That's the point of re-titling. My wife, from Mercer, Pa. was T-Boned by a guy ( age 17) in his jeep there in Grove City. Only thing this kid had that was up to date was his DL. Ohio plates, Ohio title, no insurance, bought it 2 months earlier and driving it around. When her insurance company was done, they almost owned his parents house and the seller's in Ohio.
Problem being, with some judges and lawyers, you never know what their decision could be, never mind what the law says. They look for who has any money and who can pay the bills.

 

I thought this thread was about “your vehicle’s title”?
Seems to have strayed off topic.......

Apparently I live in “the Wild West” of vehicle titles, I could tell you stories that would make your hair stand on end.

 

It is, that and the good and bad of not titling or the horror stories of what you went thru to title a vehicle. For some, this is their first experience and maybe we can help others to avoid the "fun" we've had in the past.

 

It's hardly off topic if anyone can be helped stay out of trouble like Ricky said.

 

And I used to work in Mercer County for a long while. Lots of cars there from Ohio on any given day and how "legal" any of them are can be questionable at any given time.

 

Y’all a bunch of old ladies and worry to much about details.
No title just means less $$ payed for vehicle.

 

Did you really just say that?

 

Well I'd rather be an "old lady" then get a FBI # for GTA and crossing state lines with it. If you are arrested or even charged and found innocent of it, you will get an FBI # for life. This will effect job chances and security clearances. Is that worth it, along with the money for a lawyer? Usually thousands just for the lawyer.
This is the issue I'm having with 2 cars right now, 71 Comet GT and 69 1/2 Mav that he wants to give to me, just to get rid of it. Both across state lines and both with the titles lost and owners dead.

 

For a parts car I've never worried about a title.

Last one was a '87 T-Bird. I had no doubt it belonged to seller & did give me a bill of sale. She & neighbor both signed it. Got what I wanted and sent it to crusher.

The seller of my Comet went through Hell getting a title. He had owned it for a couple years but never titled it.

Bought on ebay, from a Alabama dealer as not needing a title. Problem was, it was last regestered in MS and they do issue titles. VA said no tickie, no laundry. He hired a title service to get it straightened out.

 

I’ve never purchased a “out of state vehicle”.