Well, after owning my camaro for many years I decided to sale the ole girl.... Well, I started researching the cowl tag and VIN# information only to find out that my title does not match my VIN#... :( VIN# does match the number under the blower motor and under the cowl vent and the cowl tag does seem correct for the interior and original color of the car... Rearend is correct for the car also per codes....

Title# is 124378N368991
VIN# is 123378N481232

I called immediately to see if the car was ever reported stolen and it is not reported stolen... Car was last registered in 1995 according to DMV in my state... I bought the car in 2000.... I initially bought the car for drag racing so didn't check it out like many of my previous street car purchases.. Plus the fact that it has sat at friends houses over the years while I went through a divorce and junk like that.... My fault completely for not checking it out though.... Guy I bought the car from is long gone from the area so what are my options now... Research on this website shows that the DMV will not disclose who the title was last registered to, correct? And I can't go with a title company if the car still shows up as being registered back in 1995, correct? Is this car destined for being parted out and headed to the crusher? Funny thing is that the guy I bought the car from put new quarters, tail pan, floor pans, paint, and even included interior door panels and a complete suspension rebuild kit along with a complete brake kit for the car??????????? :confused:

Man, what do I do now with this mess? I need help bad...

Although your state will not give you the previous owners present location, a law enforcement agency can request and receive that ifo to assist you in obtaining the correct title for the car (If he still has it). If he had more than one 69 he may still have the title or he sold it with the wrong title too. I hate to say it but there are people out there who pass things like this on knowing that the two items don't match, they didn't have the right title in the first place and they are just trying to unload the car so they don't have to go through the hassle that you are about to go through. A title history can be obtained by law enforcement to trace the title back. It may give some clues as to where the car is that matches the title and where the title is that matches the car. In Missouri, a garage keeper can request a title for an abandoned car by sending an affidavit to the Motor Vehicle Bureau with the VIN. A search is done on the last known owner and a letter is sent to him/her to determine if they still have any financial interest in the car. If there is no response or there is no record of ownership, a title is issued to the garage keeper. Too bad you aren't a garagekeeper in Missouri.

Are you saying the VIN number on your title, matches the one on your dash, but your dash does not match the hidden VIN's on the cowl and firewall? Or that your title doesn't match any number on your car, and you have a title for a car you don't have in your possesion?

Do you still have the bill of sale, if so what does it say?

The title does not match the VIN# on the car..

Every number on the car matches from VIN#, undercowl#, under blowermotor#, rear axle#, cowl tag info....

I do not have a bill of sale... In SC, they passed a law where the title is enough and I had the car titled in my name after purchase..

Or I should say I had the title titled in my name after purchase since I have no car to match the title... :(

I have been researching this deal all day since I found out the deal with my car... I just talked to the Columbia DMV which is the main DMV office... She said I should receive enough information from the VIN search to be able to send a certified letter to the previous owner asking for a title... She said once I received the certified letter back that I should not open it and take it to the magistrate in my county and have them review the issue and see if I can get a magistrate title? :confused: Anybody got any experience with dealing with a similar situation... Am I about to lose my car and the money I paid for it????? I want to do the right thing but I don't want to be out my hard earned money I spent for this car.... Thanks for the help in advance fellas...

here is what I would do , I would put the title you have in a drawer and forget which one you put it in , it is if no use to you and never will be , call or go online to one of the title companies and have them send you a title package , they check to see if the car has been stolen which you already said it has not , so in a week to ten days you could have the title that match's your car perfectly leagle , broadway title company doe's this , and some others , I used a company called ( moto tech ) they are several of them , the way the do it is they buy your car from you for a dollar and register it in a state that don't use titles on old car's such as georgia new hampsher , then they sell it back to you with that states registration and you can go to your state with the registration and get your title in your name , new york dont use titles on car older than 73 , I have done this twice now it cost's about $150 buck's

I have used Broadway Title also. No problems at all.

In the back of rod and custom Magazine there is an add that says "Titles". About 10 years ago I purchased a 68 RS car that had a Virginia title and was sighned over to someone other than me on the back.The person it was sighned over to never titled it. He sold it and it went thru 3 different peoples hands before I got the car. The DMV here in Maryland said I was basically screwed. There was nothing they could do for me because the title was sighned to someone else. I still have that Va title. There was also one number on that title that was incorrect. There was an "s" that should have been a 3.. To make this short I Called that add. The guy was in New Hampshire. I told him over the phone the VIN on the car. All my info. Name, address, ect. Cost me $125.00. 2 weeks later I recieved a New Hampshire title with this guys name on the front of it. "SCARY" He owned the car. Hisname was on the front and his signature on the back in the seller box. I sighned my name went to the dmv and got tags and a title, transfer to my name as new ownership. Recieved new title from state of Md. in the mail about 3 weeks later. Correct vin my name on the front and I owned the car. So you could do this also if you want to correct the numbers problem.

I usually don't get into these discussions but I have a question. Just because the car has never been "reported" stolen, does not mean that it was not. I know of two guys that own old Camaros and have not looked at them in 10 years or better. One guy has it stored in an old barn up north and just has never gotten around to or is interested right now in fixing up his car. He has said he will never sell it, but what happens if he goes up there and it is gone? Are you the one they come after because you replaced the title?
Scott

good point , you can do a vin check to see if a car is reported stolen , in the case we are talking about here this guy seem's to have owned this 68 for a few years , it look's like a car that was stolen would be reported right away , but a year from now if like you said it is reported stolen and you already got a title for is it your's or the guy that waited two year's to report it stolen ????????????? I don't know the answer to that but this particular case is like this ,,,, he already bought the car , he already said the guy he got it from is long gone , so he has nothing to loose , he can get a title and enjoy his car , or not get a title and let it sit ? I would say it will be safe and nothing will ever come of it , he will get the title and live happily ever after ,,,,,

Some good points...

Question though? If the car is showing last registered in 1995 will I have a problem since it is still on record in the old system (what the DMV lady told me) using one of these title companies?

I guess I'm worried about getting one of those titles from one ITS or Broadway and then going to the DMV and the car showing up in the system already... But wait, would it show up in the system sold if the guy had sold the car anyway? Only if he turned the tags in right?

Man, I'm pretty sure the car isn't stolen... I remember the car from back in the mid to late ninieties when someone else owned it... The car was white w/black stripes back then... I called and talked to a local racer who hung around with the guy I got the car from and he said he had not talked to him in a long time... I asked him about the car and whether he knew the last owner of the vehicle before the guy I bought it from and he could not remember either... Said he went and looked at the car when it was for sale but could not remember since the years have passed.... I asked if he knew the car didn't have a title and he thought it did have a title but that could be the junk title I have now...

So, know what I have told you guys then it is safe to assume that a title company could help me and get this mess straightened out? Man, I hope so because this is tearing my nerves up knowing that my car isn't legal right now...

Thanks for all the help guys and keep the info. coming...

Before I boughtmy car it '97, it had last been licensed in 83. The title had been signed over, but had never been re-registered, even though it had changed hands two more times. To say the least, I was very worried. However, I simply filled out an "affidavid of incorrectly signed title" and took it in person to the DMV. Paid my fees and sales tax, and got a new title in the mail in about 3 weeks. Huge sigh of relief!!!

Due to changes in title laws in the states listed below, Broadway Title in Alabama IS NOT AN OPTION. They cannot help you.

The states are:

Arkansas
Washington
Nebraska
Ohio
Alaska
Minnesota
Kentucky
Iowa
Kansas
Nevada
Delaware
Hawaii

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Mike

I'm in South Carolina so it doesn't have an effect on me...

I called Broadway title and said that since the car still shows the last titled registered owner that they could not help me in that state... Maybe I should move to Georgia which is 10 minutes up the road and not worry about a title anymore.... lol....

The dilemma continues I guess...

Anybody interested in a 1968 camaro in good shape but w/no title...

Moving to Georgia so you will not need a title is a BAD idea! You ultimately "may" have trouble selling your vehicle to an out of state buyer in the future with just a "license receipt" instead of a title. In Georgia, they will give you the "option" of no title for a vehicle older 1980? and older. Last time I checked it saved the person registering the car $5.00. Bad move to save $5.00!

This is exactly why the above listed states will no longer recognize the work of Broadway title. With Broadway title you DO NOT get an Alabama title, you get a "license receipt" on vehicles 1975 and older. Alabama only became a "title" state after 1975. Therefore any vehicle older than 1976 will get a license receipt still today! NO TITLE! A license receipt is a valid, legal, document in Alabama. Other states are now balking at accepting them for transfer in the absence of a title. Particularly from "known" title companies like Broadway title.

I live in Tennessee and you have additional requirements to register/title an Alabama car in Tennessee. I am not knocking Broadway title in any way. Their service is needed in our hobby. You asked for options, you should know all the information.

If you have a name and information for the last registered owner, pursue this as recommended by the magistrate.

I would not spend a dime on the car until "I" had a title in hand. If problems arise with the car and ownership, you can always strip the car of anything valuable (PARTS) and return the hull. It was a hull when you bought the car, wasn't it????

Thats a good point about buying another title to a car that may not have been reported stolen yet. In my case I was safe in knowing that the car wasnt. I actaualy spoke to the guys brother who was on the front of that Va. title. The guy who signed the back of it was a good friend from who I bought the car from. Plus the car was well known from other people.
68/69ss, You have 2 completely different vin#'s. They arent even close. 2 different cars there. If you strongly feel it isnt stolen, I wouldnt hesitate to call a title company and ask them about this. The Vin on your title is to another car aparently. The vin on your car isnt registered in your name, correct? I hope you get it worked out.

Legally who even owns the car? If you have possession but do not have title.

You got to find the bloke who sold you the car, thats your only hope. Maybe he has the correct title. Sue him

I know someone who was in a similar fix with a motorcycle many years back. Did not get resolved in their favor. When they found the legit title, found out a bank listed as the lien holder and the were owed money on it. I never did find out the whole story but I know they did not get the bike. Lost their money albeit a small amount by todays standards.

Can the DMV give you a name of regestered owner. If you are this lucky you could get in touch with them and ask them to request a duplicate title.

Why not just apply for a "lost title"? Throw that one in the garbage and get a new one.
Problem solved.

Don't throw the title in the trash, because you apparently own another Camaro that is out there somewhere.

How did this happen? Did the guy have two 68 Camaros and sign the wrong title when he sold it?

I have applied for the last registered owner's name and address and hope to have some luck with that route... Even applied for the VIN# history of the car....

I may even go the abandoned car route if I have no luck with the DMV on finding the last registered owner... You know what sucks, the lady was looking right at the last owner's name and address when I talked to her but she could not give it to me.... Would be nice to have a friend at the DMV right now....

I called Broadway and they said that since the vehicle was still showing registered in the system that they could not help me and that it was good that I checked before hand...

The car was a hull when I got it and if the last registered owner wants it back for some reason then I will have no choice but to give him a hull back....

I will keep working on the deal though...

Car was never reported stolen according to the DMV....

I don't recall the guy having another title for the car...

Only way I could apply for a lost title is if I was the last registered owner correct?

I mailed off the information Friday so who knows when I will hear back from the DMV... Hope to get this problem resolved and will keep you guys posted and keep the good information and advice coming....

Lost title you would have to be the owner but if you claim an abandoned vehicle, you do not.

You are between a rock and a hard place as I see it. If the previous owner were cheated out of the car or something shady took place then who know what can happen. I would be carefully about stripping the car of everything you put on it, if it ever ended up in court it may be hard for you to prove it was just a shell when you have it, unless you have good photo documentation.

Fact is, you have possession but you do not own the car. You might be able to place a lien on the car in case the owner decides to come back after it. The fact the seller gave you a different title tells me he did not have it either and was lucky to sell it to you with the problem.

Ask yourself, how would Judge Judy solve this?

Good luck!

I don't understand how it has an active registration unless somebody else has the body that matches your title and is using the title for your body without knowing it. I guess you could claim that guy has your car(the VIN on your title) and you want it back. Something is very wrong in this situation and you might still want to go and get the title you have transferred to your name so you'll have at least 1 car out of this mishap.

I don't think the registration is active, just still in the system.... Has not been purged yet.... I do have pictures from when I first purchased the car showing what shape it was in then... Nothing but a rolling chassis....

I would put a lien on the car if that situation arised....

I'm gonna do the search and hope for a name to come back to me... If I can't obtain who the last owner was then I don't know what I will do?

Why not call an Attorney and ask if they can help you. One may refer you to another that has experience is these types of matters but at least these guys know how to cut through the red tape. Plus many of them have contacts at the DMV. This sort of thing happens all the time, hence Broadway title. A friend of mine bought a Chevelle a few months ago and after he got it home he checked the title against the car only to find out the Vin wasn't even close. Luckily the seller took the car back then got the title corrected at the DMV (inside friend perhaps?) and resold it to my friend. Part of the point is the SC DMV can be flexible when they want to, of course everything has to be legit.

I've been trying to get some help through the police department but so far all I've gotten is a run around with a bunch of different offices to call but no help yet... I will call an attorney and see what they can do for me but I wonder how hard it will be to get ahold of an attorney to ask him these questions I have....

There has to be something that can be done I know... I just have to figure it out....

Thanks guys for all the help and keep the situations and advice coming... I need all the help I can get...

I would simply call one and say "I have a problem with the title on a car I have owned for many years. Can you help me or refer me to someone that can?". If they can help they may ask you to come in and bring your information; of course at that point the meter will most likely start running. A lot of this type of work is done by ParaLegals anyway, so it's not like you'd be paying thousands of dollars for criminal defense.

Good luck.

I ran into a situation a few years ago when I title a 69 Z28 here in NJ. I handed in the paperwork and waited 30 minutes and paid the fees and walked out. I didn't look closely at the paperwork. I got the title in the mail about 4 weeks later and I glanced at it and noticed it was not for a Camaro. I looked closely at the VIN and it was for a newer minivan. Somehow DMV got papers mixed up and I suddenly had the title to somenbody's minivan and none for my 69 Z28. I went back down it DMV with a tracing of the VIN tag from the dash and they reissued the title to me correctly. So DMV can correct problems like this, just don't go getting angry and making them mad or they can make it real difficult.

Hey rojo,

I see you are in Simpsonville SC....

I'm down here below Clemson University in Westminster, SC....

Didn't realize you were so close to home...

Thanks for the advice...

You don't know of anyone in the area with a decent 69 driver for sale or just a 69 camaro for sale?

Affordable '69s are pretty scarce around here, as you know. The IWANNA and the Greenville News are good sources but if you spot one you've got to move fast. If you get a chance to get to some of the Cruise ins around Greenville send me an email and we'll meet up.

Hey Roger,

Yeah, there are a couple in the IWANNA right now but the cars are out of my price range... Not hardly any left for the grabbing around these parts.... Those that have them will not let go... Believe me, I have tried buying them...

We mainly go to the cruise ins over at the old style McDonald's on Hwy 81 right at Hwy85 and the BBQ place right down the road... And some in Anderson also.... Don't make it up to the Greenville cruise ins that much except for the one that is over in Easily or Six Mile at the Duke Power place...

May not have a car to take to any this year the way things are looking.... :(

Good to know somebody closer to home...

IN CONNECTICUT YOU DONT EVEN NEED A TITLE FOR ANY CAR 1970 OR EARLIER. JUST A BILL OF SALE.
ALSO, IN CONN. ANY GARAGE CAN FILE FOR ABANDONDED VEHICLE PAPERS "ABA PAPERS" THEY CAN TAKE YOUR VIN # FILE IT WITH CONN. DMV AND THEY WOULD RECEIVE TITLE FOR YOUR CAR. THEN "SELL"
YOU THE CAR WITH CONN. TITLE. SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT AGREE WITH THIS BUT THIS IS MY OPINION
AND YOU BOUGHT THE CAR AND YOU DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO REGISTER IT! IF YOU NEED MY HELP
CALL ME AT WORK 203 334 6323 AND I WILL GIVE YOU A GARAGE IN TOWN THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU

IDEA #2 YOU CAN CONTACT THE MAINE MOTOR TRANSPORT ASSOC. IN AGUSTA MAINE AND REGISTER THE CAR IN MAINE ! WE USED TO DO THIS WITH OUR STREET RACE CARS SO WE DIDNT HAVE TO GO THRU MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION (WAS MANDITORY IN CONN.)

I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS
YOU DID NOT STEEL THE CAR ,THE CORRECT PAPERWORK IS MISPLACED SOMEWHERE.

GOOD LUCK, ALAN

Hello
Would this work for me?? I live in south Arkansas, about 13 mi. from the Louisiana line.If I were to buy a car with no title and the car was clean,could I sell it to a friend in Louisiana and have him get a title from a title company?? Then sell it back to me? No money would change hands,it would all be paperwork.
Thanks,David

Thanks for the response...

Good words of advice and I investigated what I could do with going the abandoned vehicle route...

I have filed for abandoned vehicle in my state and if it doesn't work then I will contact you for help... I asessed 7200 bucks in storage fees... Doesn't feel right but exploring all my opportunities to get a title...

I also got a cop who is a friend to run the VIN through their system to see if he could get me a name and address for the car... Haven't heard back from him yet though...

But really thanks for the help and if this doesn't work I will give you a call...