The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Moving to a title state from a non title state, need guidance

I have a couple old Chevy trucks that I bought here in New England with just bills of sale. Most New England states will not issue a title for any vehicle over 20 years old. Only a registration cert. is issued.

I have one truck registered this way the other I have not registered because my state, Connecticut, assumes you have it ready for the road and makes you pay for it as such. They will do not have any official document saying that "yes, you own it free and clear". Just that registration.

Now I'm moving to Michigan and fear the headache that will be trying to procure a title even though my state says I'm golden. Those who have been through this, what should I expect? All I see is getting a surety bond. I feel I've been wronged by the New England DMV's.

Can you register them in Connecticut right before you move?

If that doesn't work, call Michigan and ask what the procedure is...

Mike B

Mike, one is registered. The other is not. I thought about it but it is not ready for the street yet. I would have to insure it, vin check it, and incur about $300 in fees to get the registration which is no guarantee Michigan will honor it and issue me a title. I have notified Michigan DMV and will see if I can get a straight answer.

Spending $300 now may be a bargin after you talk to Michagan and they tell you what all of their fee's and bonds cost.

Time to make some phone calls so you get the correct info, all we can do is guess.

Mike B

We get similar questions all the time and the answer is always the same. Contact the state licensing authority that you'll be dealing with to find out their process. All states have a process for resolving just that issue and while they MAY be similar they all have their idiosyncrasies and it's always best to get that info directly from the people you'll be dealing with. Sometimes a local tag office will know but I always recommend calling the state office because often the local office is staffed with young folks who have never dealt with the issue before and won't know. Good luck with it.

I did it in Illinois......they accepted the bill of sale and gave me an Illniois title.

They had a big book.......they looked up the state rules of the old state and said OK they do not have titles for older vehicles. Show proof of ownership like bill of sale, prior registration etc and we had no problem.

This happens more often with ( newer) trailers as the title and licensing vary widely.

Like I always say boys, as tempting as it is sometimes, don't by a vehicle without a title. Whatever "good deal" you get will evaporate into getting a title. Don't buy a non titled vehicle unless for parts or to drive on a farm!!!!!! The process now is all pain and money, but it can be done. If you find a state that just looks at a bill of sale regarding an old truck and "bam" gives you a real title, let me know. I won't believe it anyway.

Bart.......many states do NOT issue titles for older vehicles like the OP state.

Yes buying a vehicle in your home state ( if your state is a title state state) with no title can be a huge hassle.
Buying an old vehicle from a State like Georgia is not a problem if the paper work is done correctly.

You don't have to worry about any state "issuing" a title if you have one to transfer. All states will transfer a title no matter how old the truck is. That's my point. What does "a title state" mean? Are you saying Georgia gives you a real title with just a bill of sale? No bond, no waiting three years, no nothing?

bartamos,

Some states issue a title document and a yearly/bi-yearly registration card/sticker/both. Some states do not issue a title document.

In NY, when you register a vehicle and you have a title document from another state, you have to "surrender" the title document to NY (this is sad, because some of the old titles look nice). NY then gives you a registration sticker and a registration card and plates (if you are not going to use "historic" year-of-manufacture plate/plates). You get no title document in NY.

When you then take a NY titled/registered truck to another state (as I will be doing in NC), NC accepts the NY vehicle registration (which has to be "surrendered" to NC). NC then gives you two plates and a registration document/tag (I assume) - you can use one or two historic plates, but you must keep the modern NC plates in your truck at all times.

NY has complex steps/options if all you have is a bill of sale (which must contain an VID/VSN/VIN, depending on the state/year) The bill of sale be dated, signed, and notarized. If you have no title and "proper" bill of sale", one option in NY is 3-year bonded title (with you obtaining private title insurance).

Oh yes, in NY, you also have to pay a sales tax - based on the bill-of-sale, or based on present-day market value, depending on what is on your bill of sale).

Also To add what Tim is saying,
N.Y. DID NOT become a Title State until the 1973 model year.
ANYTHING from 1972 and older all You needed was a signed registration document with a bill of sale!
That included boats,motor homes,trailers,motorcycles etc,etc.
It,s still that way to this day.
regards,
steve sr.

OK, understood. Out here in the west where I buy cars and trucks, we have titles for ownership and registration for license/fees. All the old trucks I have purchased have Titles/Pink slip,daddy.

Maybe the NY title is the registration certificate I get, when I get new registration stickers.

I recently registered my 1955 GMC COE in NY. It was bought from a person in Washington state. I received no NY title - I received 2 license plates, a sticker for the windshield, and small registration card (which must stay in the vehicle).

Tim, are you moving to NC?

Tim, You should have the same for the subn.
A registration card with the windshield sticker attached to it at a perforation.
Sticker goes on lower left corner of the left shield and the card goes in the glovebox,registration holder on the column,sun visor etc.
steve sr.

steve sr,

I have a NY registration sticker and a NY registration card for all three of my antique trucks. The Suburban is the only one that is "roadworthy".

I already have one 1954 NC truck plate for my 54 Suburban (only one plate in 1954 in NC), and I have one 1955 NC truck plate (two plates in NC in 1955, but I hope they do not remember). I'll get another 1954 NC truck plate for the 54 3104 Hydra-Matic pickup we are restoring.

bartamos,

Yep, moving to Jarvisburg, NC

We think our NY house is sold. We should moving at the end of May or early June. We are are "visiting" our NC house this week - then, back to NY.

All three of my antique trucks are in their garage bays in NC. I'll post a better photo tomorrow.

Very nice and spacious. Looks like a nice place. 3 truck garage? I can only dream of that. Lucky man.

I buy a lot of old cars and trucks of the 30's, 40's, and 50's and unlike bartamos a title is of minor importance. As long as Oklahoma has the Title 42 law, and I live just 30 miles from the border, $160 gets a good as gold genuine Oklahoma title which can be transferred anywhere. There are some that will do the work for $85 but my gal has come through for me time and again so what's $75 more on a 20k to 50k final product. Before everyone rushes off to get one you MUST have an Oklahoma mailing address which I have at my cabin in the Kiomichi Wilderness. If you have a friend that will receive and forward the paper work for you from their Oklahoma address then it's the most hassle free way of dealing with title woes.