The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1953 3100 Help! Need a new title in Texas!

I bought a 1953 3100 that was sitting in a field in Texas. It hadn't run since 1985. It was basically given to some people by an old widow that sold the land the truck was sitting on. I bought the truck and have a bill of sale but it sounds like I'm gonna have to jump thru a bunch of hoops to get a title. I went to the DMV here in Texas and they said I need to have the previous owner do a title search, fill out some papers, send it back to me, blah, blah, blah. I'm not even sure the previous owner still lives in the same place. I've had the truck for about 6 months and now that I've got it running I'm ready to get it titled, inspected, etc. I took the VIN to the DMV and they apparently didn't come up with anything here in TX. The car was built in Kansas City, MO. Anybody got any ideas for a service that could help. I'm open to ideas.

Thanks

Did you use the # on the ID tag on the door frame, or the engine serial number? Most states used the engine number as the vin.

Call the Sheriff's office and talk to the local Anti-Auto Theft Task Force guy in your area, if you have one. I had to work with the guys from Waco. They should be able to help you out. The DMV does not know anything, I also found this out the hard way. The only thing DMV can give you is a form for getting a new title. Her is some of the info I followed to get my truck titled it may help you out.

The last option you have is if your vehicle has NO vin at all. This means no data plate, no frame number, or no original engine number. From what I have been told by the DPS up to 1954 all vehicles were registered with the motor number. GM vehicles did not have frame numbers until 1949, Ford had frames numbers from 1932. This also covers assembled vehicles using a manufactured prefabricated body. For vehicles with no vin number first go to your local DMV where you normally get your plates. Ask for a Form VTR-68-A Application for assigned or reassigned number. Ask them which law enforcement you need to call to have them come by and inspect the vehicle. The local Anti-Auto Theft Task Force is the normal ones that come out. They will inspect the vehicle and ask you a few simple questions, show them the bill of sale with the PO's name and address. Make sure they check the right boxes. The ones you want checked say, Vehicle assembled from parts for which no ID number was ever affixed to body. And the other says, Unable to determine the true manufacturers number. If they check the box that says, Number assigined by manufacturer for ID purposes has been removed, changed or obliterated, you will have to take a form letter to a judge and prove ownership of the vehicle. Now once you have that done take the paperwork and your vehicle to a regional DMV/DOT office. They may tell you that you don't have to take the vehicle but take it anyway, if there are any problems they can call and have another inspector come over and take care of them on the spot. Once there you'll have to fill out a Form VTR-61 Rebuilt Affidavit. On that you will explain all the modifacations done on the vehicle. Make sure you have the name and address of your suppliers, ie engine, body, frame, trans etc, with bills of sale. Then they will assigin a vin number to the vehicle. Cost $2.00. On your way home stop by a public scale and get a weight slip, you'll need it later. Now to get your title and plates take the Form VTR-61,a pencil tracing of the motor number, the Form VTR-68-N Notice of Assinged Number(from the regional office), copy of Form 68-A, photo of vehicle, Form VTR-470 green slip from safety inspection station, weight slip, original bill of sale and proof of insurance to your local DMV office and they will then issue you your title and plates after you pay the taxes and fees.

Now I copied that from another site I posted that info on.

Here is another way you can title it, A bonded title:
Texas Bonded Title Info I may miss a step or 2 but the process goes something like this if it hasn't been titled in the last 16 years,, which is how far back the state's records are kept.

You'll need a bill of sale and the following forms from the state. VTR-275 Request for Texas Motor Vehicle Information


You'll need a bill of sale, and will probably need the following forms: VTR-275 Request for Texas Motor Vehicle Information VTR-301 Request for Pencil Tracing of Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) VTR-34-F Certified Copy of Title Fact Sheet VTR-130-SOF Statement of Fact VTR-131 Request to Issue Negotiable Certificate of Title Without Registration (Title Only)

VTR-275, Fill this one out and mail it in with the fee of $2.30. This starts the title search with the state, if it hasn't been titled in the last 16 years you will receive a rejection letter.

In the meantime you have to take the vehicle to 2 auto dealers for a written appraisal of it's value. At this time you'll need to complete VTR-301 Be sure to have your bill of sale available. Call any dealership near your locale; the appraisal in most cases is a free service to the public.

Accompanying the rejection letter from the Texas Dept. of Transportation is an Insurance company list where you will go and purchase a surety bond. The fee is 1.5% of the value of the vehicle.

Fill out form 130, Statement of Fact, then along with all the other paperwork gathered from the above sequence, take it to your county tax office, and in turn they provide you with the bonded title. The bonded title is for 3 years; at the end of the 3rd year you can exchange the bonded title for a permanent one.

That has a bond fee with it so it may cost a little more.
But call the Sheriff's Office and talk with them, they will help you out.

I looked into a bonded title and the way I understand is you can get one, but if the last registered owner was to claim the vehicle within the 3 years the title is bonded he would have a claim to it. So I wouldn`t put too much money into it if there`s an off chance that the owner would try to claim it. A friend of mine went through a similar process, when he found a panel wagon in a field. I think he eventually got the title but it took a while.

I got a bonded title for my 52' in Mississippi. After tracking the title to the last dead son of the old owner I found the family just died out. I wouldn't worry to much in your case about the owner showing up. They probably couldn't pick it out of a line-up by now. The bond was $125 in MS. I spent weeks of wasted time bouncing back and forth with MDOT and then went with the bonded title. The trip to the insurance comepany and back to apply for the title at MDOT took about 2 hours total. It looks like TX may be a few more hoops than here but my advise is bond it and move on.

Check this link out. It covers all 50 states with tips on how to get that title.

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/How_to_title_a_hot_rod

Graydon-

What you are going through I just did a couple months ago. I know how the system works, and what it took to get the title. I'll send you a PM. Give me a call, I can step you through it and answer any questions you have (although I've summarized it here.) Check your private message, and call me if you like.

Also, there is good information presented previously, but not all of it "sticks." TxDOT will NOT provide a list of bonding companies because they would then be steering business to a private firm, which smacks of favoritism/corruption. It took me 80 miles to hear this directly from the TxDOT clerk's mouth. Secondly, a previous owner may make claim to your vehicle and can take ownership. However, your BOND is your insurance policy against this. If your county tax assessor is like mine, they will insist (not suggest, not recommend, etc.) that you have a bond or they will stop the paperwork before it even leaves your county. You can apply for a bond hearing to circumvent this, but my county stopped bond hearings once the assessor became a lame duck and forced me to have the bond. I doubt my experience is unique, and bet Brazos County will be similar. The truck I bought for $4000 had a value of $7900 placed on it by the state (no appraisal required in my circumstance, but yours probably will) and the bond was $120, expiring after 3 years.

Gig'em,
Bill

How much of a pain will it be getting a title if I do not have a bill of sale?

Do a search for Broadway Title. I think they can fix you up for about $150.00. I have used them a couple of times.