The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Lost Title Issues

i have a 1965 Chevy C10 that i bought a little more then 2 years back its you common "grove" truck picked it up for $50 but i don't have a title for it no registration guy who actually owned it died like 5 years before i bought it from the guy whos grove it was sitting in and was wondering what some of you all have done to get around the missing title problemi would like to get a title for this truck along with otheres any ideas are appreciated i know a few but would like to find out other options if there is any
thanks
Nate

Is there any paperwork like an old registration for it that has all of the pertenant names and numbers on it? That's all I needed to get one on mine titled,
Scott

i got nothing what so ever just the truck and the tabs on the plays say 88 thats all i got and an owners manual to a 68 Chevy car was in the glove box otherwise don't have anything that would help with getting a title
Nate

I have been told that Minnesota is a difficult state deal with about lost titles. What do you mean tabs on plays? Do you mean the old license plates are still attached? That may be a big help. I would talk to the people at the DMV and ask them a lot of "what if questions", without telling them who you are. Sometimes you will get different answers from different clerks. You may find that you might get a favorable answer if you ask the right question or the right clerk. There may also be a way to get a duplicate title from a surviving spouse. Good luck, it shouldn't have to be this difficult.
I have said it before, but it is darn a shame that a lot of restoreable vehicles get chopped up for parts because of a lost title.

There are services that will give you a bill of sale to help that process, here in texas you have to get a bonded title. I have done it a few times. Bit of a pain in the butt, but it works. Check your state's web site.

I just went thrught the same thing here in California on a 67 c20. Similar situation as yours. It had been sitting for years and acquired with the property. I had to have a DMV investigator verify the VIN --basically all he did was look at it and sign a form stating that it looked authentic. They also required a letter from the person I bought it from stating that there were no liens on it and the circumstanses concerning the lost title--hand written. You didn't mention if you have a VIN. Total fee's were $80.00 for new title--transfer and current reg. Very easy ordeal, but I had a VIN. Hopefully MINN is that easy.

HR
61 C10----67 C20

I found this in about 5 seconds using Google to locate the Minnesota DMV:

Vehicles with No Proof of Ownership: When tangible proof of ownership cannot be established, and no record of the vehicle can be found on file in the central office, (vehicle records are maintained for a seven year period), the following items are required:

* A bill of sale signed by the seller. The bill of sale must provide a complete description of the vehicle (year, make, model, and vehicle identification number[VIN]), the name of the purchaser, and the date of sale. All owners must sign.
* Application to Title/Register a Motor Vehicle (PS2000) completed by the purchaser.
* A statement of facts, written and signed by the seller of the vehicle. This statement must give as much information as possible regarding the history of the vehicle and indicate why there is no documentary proof of ownership. It must also contain a complete vehicle description (year, make, model, and VIN).
* A signed statement from purchaser that s/he agrees to defend and protect the state of Minnesota against any and all future claims of ownership.
* Photographs showing all sides of the vehicle (photographs are not required on utility trailers with a gross weight of less than 6000 pounds).

Note: The Department may require that the purchaser obtain a surety bond to protect the State against any possible claims of ownership.

Nate,

There is an office in St. Paul that deals with this. I would suggest you get the new title before you do much work to the truck. The bond is related to the value of the truck. If you pulled it out of a pasture, I am guessing that the bond is lower than if you have a finished truck. The bond also probably goes off an average value of the truck.

As far as contacing DMV, I would E-mail Saint Paul long before I called there. They don't have the staff to handle all of the questions they get so you are on hold for a while.

While the process seems a little difficult, it can be done.

I know a car dealer friend that has dealt with it on an old vehicle. I will see what all is involved.

If you do stop by the local DMV office, remember that not too many people walk in to register an IRWIPI. Your local DMV station may have no idea how to do this as it is seldom done...be patient and ask a lot of questions.

J Lucas i messed on my typeing i ment tabs on plates

arnswine i have heard about the bet a bill of sale only i heard about that georgia does it

hogrocket i do have the vin number it is still attached in the driver door frame

GMCpanel thanks for looking that up sounds easy to do but alot of the stuff that your are stating sounds like a certain type of document not just something you write up on a piece of notebook paper

46 In Progress my ma called the court house over in gaylord a while back and whoever she talked to said that they don't deal with lost titles said you have to go through your bank and get it bonded

one thing i thought of was find another truck that has a title and vin plate but say in extremly bad shape and just switch the vin plates but don't think that'd be to easy to do all i want to really do is just take the body leave it the way it is and put it on a 4x4 frame, redo the wiring so everything works and drive it
Nate

Find somebody with a good title and VIN tag on a rusted out junk truck. Problem solved.

Or a daily driver that was recently totaled-hint hint-really its not legal but no one is gonna send you to the chair for 40 y/o junk truck VIN swapping. just don't tell, no one will ask. brian

In this state that is a felony.

Old Iron,

No shot at the folks in Gaylord...but go direct with St. Paul. This is one of those issues that can be solved with a little work.

Look up bolter Jake53. He is working or worked on this issue with an old truck that has been in his family for a long time. He will be able to provide you with some insight on what you need to do here in the great white north.

If all else fails, find a $200 truck and merge them into one. I think you were looking for a cab anyway? You might find a southern truck with a title. You could get a southern frame and cab and be 100 percent legal to boot.

Yeah if all else fails here is a 66 for $650 in the metro

I've got a 66 with a title. The body is junk and I'll have to go out and see if the VIN tag is still on the truck. I'll be parting it out later so it's no use to me. E-mail me if you are interested in this way out,
Scott

Obtaining another VIN plate and title, would only complicate things for you. I would have a certified vin verification done. This can be done by a law enforcement officer that is certified to do this. Your truck will have the vin stamped somewhere on the frame, and should have a vin plate on the cab. OR, you could obtain a bonded title for the vehicle. By having a vin inspection done, this will tell you if the vehicle had been reported stolen or not. Plus, the vin should list to the previous owner, and hopefully you could contact the previous owner and get the proper paperwork.

He said he knows the previous owner is dead, so unless he's got a strong back and a shovel handy, he's not getting in touch with the previous owner anytime soon.

So buy a junker truck and "swap the cabs".

hmmmmmm maybe i outta start a service...hehehe here its easy on any antique vehicle (35 yrs old). all you need is a bill of sale, and you can get a new title. dont even need an inspection...just year model and vin... and it only cost 40 buck the first year..and 17 bucks every year after as long as you keep the same tag... thats why im gettin a fleet...LOL....

Don't really matter what'd be stamped on the frame its going on 4wd frame that has a different body on it already (its a pieced together 78 suburban was told its 76 pickup frame) so ya besides i was told bout switchin VIN tags and what not with this just because of what it is its not like someone would really investigate it that bad really, its not like its a 67 corvette with the 435 hp 427cid its just your typical old farm truck that really ain't worth much to most people unlike us bolters
Nate