Wow! $895. They do have a $50 DIY option, but I bet that's a pain in the ***.
Getting a title in NC
- Thread starter BigblueC
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Wow! $895. They do have a $50 DIY option, but I bet that's a pain in the ***.
oliver
Senior Member
WOW it went up since I last looked. I was contemplating doing it once but ended up parting the car out. As someone suggested earlier, if you know someone who could put a mechanic's lien on it, that may be a very viable option. Broadway Title would be the last recourse
Ripinator
Old Man with a Hat
No. The conditions regarding the sale and title are no different today than they were forty-five years ago. You bought the car and were given an un-re-registered title. You are over-thinking this thing. Just go to the DMV and get it done.
patrick66
Old Man with a Hat
Broadway Title and other title-washing companies are not recognized in over 20 states as legitimate title sources. They'll tell you if their "services" are recognized in your state. These services are part of what got Boyd Coddington in so much **** back in 2007 with California DMV. He almost went to jail over that.
patrick66
Old Man with a Hat
Wrong. Dealers have to have signed and have notarized the title from the guy who traded in. Then they put the dealer info and the state tax stamp on the back before it goes to another dealer, wholesaler, or customer. Yes, it stays in that original title holders name, but it must be signed, notarized and stamped before going to the next person.
Ripinator
Old Man with a Hat
I'm sorry. . . I left out all the dealer administrivia. But, as you say, the result is the same: The most recent buyer has a title in the name of the previous owner.
Tell me about it... I once had an issue that got me to director of the Florida DMV... but I spent an entire week on hold to get that far.You guys won't guess what I found out today. Three calls to the local tag agency gets no answer, like they just don't pick up the phone.Guess I'll try again tomorrow.
DUI, I was in PA with a PA license... but was fighting losing it to FL where my troubles began(they took the FL license)... Sometimes you've got to do the long wait for a dumb answer and ask to get the next number in the food chain, repeatedly.
AdamH
Member
I have lived here all my life and have owned over 40 cars. My sister and her husband own a dealership. I have my license as well. I feel confident in what I can share on this matter assuming we are talking about a NC car.
Here’s the deal. The definition of an open title here in NC means the legal name on the NC title is also signed on the back without a notary present. That act technically by itself is illegal. The fines for carrying around an open title could top $10k.
Even if you find a notary willing to sign it a DMV agent is supposed to run a quick search on both the seller and buyer. In your case the seller will show as deceased proving fraud. That could equal jail time for you and notary. Agents don’t always do this step but is that something you want to gamble with?
The way I see it you have two options. The best way to handle this is in fact to go to the family / executor of the deceased estate and ask them to help. Based on your description above I doubt you are gong to try this. However, Maybe they wouldn’t care about it since it’s such a mess of a car and would be too expensive to restore not making it worth it to most (see what I am getting at with that statement??)
Second option would be to take the open title to the DMV and be openly honest of the situation. Share the story of the existing family AS WELL AS the current condition of the car. You’d be surprised how well honesty works with an agent
If this works out for you here in NC you will get a new title branded as Non-Operable. The car is legally yours and once it’s up and running you get it inspected for road worthiness and get issued a standard title.
Take this info and do what you want with it. I don’t personally know you but don’t want to see you get into unnecessary trouble.
Here’s the deal. The definition of an open title here in NC means the legal name on the NC title is also signed on the back without a notary present. That act technically by itself is illegal. The fines for carrying around an open title could top $10k.
Even if you find a notary willing to sign it a DMV agent is supposed to run a quick search on both the seller and buyer. In your case the seller will show as deceased proving fraud. That could equal jail time for you and notary. Agents don’t always do this step but is that something you want to gamble with?
The way I see it you have two options. The best way to handle this is in fact to go to the family / executor of the deceased estate and ask them to help. Based on your description above I doubt you are gong to try this. However, Maybe they wouldn’t care about it since it’s such a mess of a car and would be too expensive to restore not making it worth it to most (see what I am getting at with that statement??)
Second option would be to take the open title to the DMV and be openly honest of the situation. Share the story of the existing family AS WELL AS the current condition of the car. You’d be surprised how well honesty works with an agent
If this works out for you here in NC you will get a new title branded as Non-Operable. The car is legally yours and once it’s up and running you get it inspected for road worthiness and get issued a standard title.
Take this info and do what you want with it. I don’t personally know you but don’t want to see you get into unnecessary trouble.
Thanks for the info.
I dug out the current title yesterday and looked it over. The registered owner signed in the seller section with a notary. I had never noticed the notary stamp but it is there with a signature and all info filled out. So, is this an open title here in NC? Can it possibly be as simple as fill out the buyers section and transfer the title as others here have suggested?
I dug out the current title yesterday and looked it over. The registered owner signed in the seller section with a notary. I had never noticed the notary stamp but it is there with a signature and all info filled out. So, is this an open title here in NC? Can it possibly be as simple as fill out the buyers section and transfer the title as others here have suggested?
72Fury
Senior Member
Yes! Go transfer it. Sign your section when you get there. You don't want to sign in the wrong place. It can make the title void.
AdamH
Member
Agreed with 72Fury. Only the seller has to be present for a notary so you are good. Complete the buyer's section correctly and you will be good to go.
Up to you whether or not you want to tell the DMV agent the current state of the car. Honestly they probably won't even ask. If you share with them that it's in pieces you will get the non-operable title and then have to have it inspected. If you tell them that you don't need a tag for it yet due to some maintenance needed you should get a standard title and no inspection needed down the road.
you have dodged a bullet my friend. thank your lucky stars it is notarized and dated before the PO passed.
Up to you whether or not you want to tell the DMV agent the current state of the car. Honestly they probably won't even ask. If you share with them that it's in pieces you will get the non-operable title and then have to have it inspected. If you tell them that you don't need a tag for it yet due to some maintenance needed you should get a standard title and no inspection needed down the road.
you have dodged a bullet my friend. thank your lucky stars it is notarized and dated before the PO passed.
Well, I tried to get this title taken care of today, but my current title is signed wrong or some ****. Told them the basic story that the seller is dead and that I've had the car for 15 years. The cars is out of the NC system, so they said that they would have to "purge it" (bring the car title back into their system which would take a while), and then I would have to go the bonded route, meaning that I would have to reassemble the car almost completely. 
Stopped by a friends house on the way back who buys and sell old vehicles often. He suggest that we/I file for a lost title. Claimed that he's done this many times and had the form there. I know it isn't exactly legal to do it this way, but I'm kind of cough between a rock and, well, the state. What's y'all's opinion of filing for lost title?
Stopped by a friends house on the way back who buys and sell old vehicles often. He suggest that we/I file for a lost title. Claimed that he's done this many times and had the form there. I know it isn't exactly legal to do it this way, but I'm kind of cough between a rock and, well, the state. What's y'all's opinion of filing for lost title?
I'm all for easy.
if they are currently putting the car in the system, then i would wait. otherwise the title should be easily "lost".
Well, I tried to get this title taken care of today, but my current title is signed wrong or some ****. Told them the basic story that the seller is dead and that I've had the car for 15 years. The cars is out of the NC system, so they said that they would have to "purge it" (bring the car title back into their system which would take a while), and then I would have to go the bonded route, meaning that I would have to reassemble the car almost completely.
Stopped by a friends house on the way back who buys and sell old vehicles often. He suggest that we/I file for a lost title. Claimed that he's done this many times and had the form there. I know it isn't exactly legal to do it this way, but I'm kind of cough between a rock and, well, the state. What's y'all's opinion of filing for lost title?
You need to follow advice from someone who really knows your state's practices for this. What I think I would do, is wait to see if the state does anything... If the state is playing nice with you, I think you might be better off. I would question if you could start a new problem by adding a lost title claim onto what you've already started.
NC already sounds so much better than FL... I need to move north into the south.
Just to clarify, putting the car back in the system apparently is just putting the VIN back in. I still have the title. No copies or any were made.
The ladies who helped me were really nice, but even they were not confident telling me to go the bonded route. They did give me the inspector's contact info and said that they would be able to answer questions.
patrick66
Old Man with a Hat
The definition of filing for a "lost title" is the same (I believe) in all title states - ONLY the current, registered, titled owner can file for a "lost title". In other words, it has to be in YOUR name already to do this! Think about it - you go to a car show and see a car you like. Hell, even a junk yard! You copy the VIN and send off paperwork claiming "lost title"...That doesn't exactly work, does it?
A "bonded title" is what you are going to end up getting, I'll bet money on it. This, after getting the car mostly assembled and presented for inspection by whomever in NC does this (State Patrol, Sheriff, local PD, magistrate, etc). You have the title from the PO, and I can understand 100% the reticence of the DMV to issue you a title with a signature and notary that is 45 years old. This is why you can't dick around when it comes to title transfer. If I was looking at a car like that to buy, I'd politely say "no thanks, not until you have the title paperwork 100% correct and current in your name!"
A "bonded title" is what you are going to end up getting, I'll bet money on it. This, after getting the car mostly assembled and presented for inspection by whomever in NC does this (State Patrol, Sheriff, local PD, magistrate, etc). You have the title from the PO, and I can understand 100% the reticence of the DMV to issue you a title with a signature and notary that is 45 years old. This is why you can't dick around when it comes to title transfer. If I was looking at a car like that to buy, I'd politely say "no thanks, not until you have the title paperwork 100% correct and current in your name!"
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