johndaniel.b.coffin Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 I have a slight problem. My wife bought me a project 280z for my birthday this last june. The problem is that all I got with it was a bill of sale. I called the DMV about getting it legal. They told me that I cant get it legal because I dont have a title. I cant get ahold of the guy she bought it from, (he moved and doesent have the same number) So what can I do. I now have a car I cant really work on or do anything with. So, should I start from scratch and figure out a way to get rid of this, or do I find a way to get this one legal? I do believe that that I would have to find a way to get a lein title (or something along those lines) and then pay the back taxes for the last ten years. Any toughts or words of wisdom? All help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COZY Z COLE Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Short answer... Go to your local DMV with your bill of sale and Lic plate number / vin number. Tell your story and they will tell you what to do . They deal with this type problem all the time... LARRY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigenOut-S30 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 I believe you will have to apply for a lost title and that should take around a month or so. but yes the DMV should instruct you exactly what to do.. Good luck with it man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators RTz Posted December 15, 2007 Administrators Share Posted December 15, 2007 Yup... file for lost title. The DMV will send notification to the owner on file and, if he doesn't contest, you'll be set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 There are such things as "title bonds" too. Look into that as well. It might be a little more expensive (usually around $160), but it basically assures the DMV that the car is not stolen and if it does turn up stolen, or another claim to it's title is applied for, it covers your butt. The DMV will usually issue a title without a problem if you've attained a title bond. Here is a link to a company in Sacramento that can help you. (note, I have no affiliation with them whatsoever, just did an internet search on Vehicle Title Bonds and they turned up.) Click Here This is NOT legal advice, and I am certainly NOT an attorney, just a suggestion of an avenue that you might investigate. Hope it helps. Warren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravRMK Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 I had to apply for a lost title on a motorcycle once. They will send a police officer to check the vin numbers to make sure it isn't stolen. Not too bad of a deal. took a little over a month to get the title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COZY Z COLE Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 I do believe that that I would have to find a way to get a lein title (or something along those lines) and then pay the back taxes for the last ten years.. Here's my experience on that in CA. A few years ago I had to do the same thing you are doing. The DMV records only went back five years on Registration so if the car was last registered over five years ago there would be no record on file and you would only pay for the current year. If it was registered within the five year span you would need to pay the back years and current year fees. Also you would be getting a Dup. title not a lien title. LARRY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth-Z Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 To save some hassles, verify the VIN stamped on the firewall next to the brake booster matches the one on the dash and the one on the drivers side door plate. Take the VIN number to DMV, they can check if it is in the system. If it is not in the system, the pocess gets a little easier. DMV will want to see the car for VIN verification. I am out the door right now. Send me a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndaniel.b.coffin Posted December 16, 2007 Author Share Posted December 16, 2007 I have verified that all the vin numbers are matching. When I talked to the DMV, they did claim that the plate matched the car, it just hasen't been in there system since 1996. Well that doesent seem as bad as I thought it was going to be. Thanks to all for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgmzone Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I have verified that all the vin numbers are matching. When I talked to the DMV, they did claim that the plate matched the car, it just hasen't been in there system since 1996. Well that doesent seem as bad as I thought it was going to be. Thanks to all for the info. So, how did this work out? I just picked up my Z from the shop two days ago. It was last registered in 1994. I went to the DMV yesterday to register it, but they were paving the parking lot, so they were closed. Nice. On the way home, you guessed it, I got pulled over. The helpful officer told me that the car had, in fact, not been registered since 1994, and had never been non-op'ed, so I will have to pay 14 years in back registration fees. That doesn't sound good. He also told me that if he hadn't believed my story he would have impounded the car on the spot. I have heard the 5-year thing from someone else as well. Has anyone ever actually been through that with the California DMV? Thanks in advance for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COZY Z COLE Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I have heard the 5-year thing from someone else as well. Has anyone ever actually been through that with the California DMV? Thanks in advance for any advice. Did you read my post in this thread????? LARRY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgmzone Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Did you read my post in this thread????? LARRY I did. Unfortunately that is not how it worked out for me. My car, which hadn't been registered for 14 years, had never been non-oped, so they charged me $383 in back registration fees to register it. I asked them about the five year deal, and the clerk said she had no idea what I was talking about. Oh well. The Z is on the road. I suppose it could have been worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatMan Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 How can two members, BOTH with 2 posts in THIS thread alone, both have only ONE post count???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Non-tech posts don't add to your post count. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtmny1999 Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 How can two members, BOTH with 2 posts in THIS thread alone, both have only ONE post count???? This section doesnt add posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatMan Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Oh yes, silly me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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