bonded title - bad title to vehicle (Buffalo: sales, how much)

[sunbelt]

I bought a '77 F-150 from an individual in Buffalo and procrastinated in getting the title transfered for 4 months. When I finally got around to it, I find that I should have gotten the title witnessed and notarized by a Notary Public. I went back to the guy and he had moved back to KY. The people at the County Clerk's office said the next step is to send a cert. mail/return receipt to the last know address with a request to get a notarized signature and if he doesn't respond then I have proof that I tried. Then I have to get a LEO to validate the VIN (make sure it is not stolen or forged) and then I have to get a dealer to make an estimate of its value. Then I have to get a bonded title. Does anyone know what that means exactly and how much its going to cost? I may decide to scrap the truck. It only cost me $700. I may either part it out or sell it to a salvage yard.

[sunsprit]

Bonded title is by application to your county motor vehicle title clerk. If they accept your application, then you publish for a month (4 times) your application in the local newspaper of record. Then there's a month waiting period from the last publication date to see if there's any response. If not, the clerk can issue you a bonded title to the vehicle. The application form and all the information you need to do this process is there at your county clerk's office ... they do this stuff all the time, it's no big deal on an older vehicle of lower valuation.

You'd spend the money for the VIN inspection anyway, and you can use a NADA or Kelly Bluebook wholesale valuation to establish the value of the vehicle on your application. If you've got a bill of sale, then that should also support your valuation. Pictures of the vehicle are a big help for your application. The most expensive part of getting a title now will be the publication notices in your newspaper, where they will give you a letter certifying that they've published the application in the legal notices for the required times.

If the vehicle has any value to you ... and $700 sounds like it might have ... then getting the title at this point isn't such a daunting thing to do.

[Poletop]

I heard once that it was possible to contact the County Sheriffs office and request an abandoned vehicle title. I dont know if this is possible, maybe someone else has heard of this?

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by Poletop

I heard once that it was possible to contact the County Sheriffs office and request an abandoned vehicle title. I dont know if this is possible, maybe someone else has heard of this?

Never heard of this in Wyoming. Motor vehicle titles aren't issued by the Sheriff. You've got to prove to the Clerk that the vehicle was abandoned ... most typically, these situations arise in situations involving repair shops (with vehicle repair charges or storage charges in excess of the value of a vehicle) or with people who have left the state and a vehicle left behind on somebody else's property (which can be a difficult task to prove that the vehicle is actually abandoned) ... these are generally established with a mechanic's lien, or the Clerk may ask that the title be proved up by publication.

[debjar]

fellow bought car from me gave him hand written receipt for money and unsigned title he drove the car home and contacted me several hours later telling me car is not working corectly i told him he bought car as is the car worked fine before he took it he wants his money back or for me to make repairs he said i did not sign title so i am responsable for car i live in north carolina please let me know what is the way to sovle this problem thanks

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by debjar

fellow bought car from me gave him hand written receipt for money and unsigned title he drove the car home and contacted me several hours later telling me car is not working corectly i told him he bought car as is the car worked fine before he took it he wants his money back or for me to make repairs he said i did not sign title so i am responsable for car i live in north carolina please let me know what is the way to sovle this problem thanks

Best to ask this in the NC forum where they'll have different laws regarding vehicle sales than Wyoming ....

[Rescue3]

As a general rule of law, if you didn't sign away the car on the title, you still technically own it.

That you have a hand written receipt [bill of sale] just confuses things.

I agree with Sunsprit - Best to check on the N Carolina boards - maybe there's an attorney who knows NC law who can pipe up.

[Redraven]

Originally Posted by debjar

fellow bought car from me gave him hand written receipt for money and unsigned title he drove the car home and contacted me several hours later telling me car is not working corectly i told him he bought car as is the car worked fine before he took it he wants his money back or for me to make repairs he said i did not sign title so i am responsable for car i live in north carolina please let me know what is the way to sovle this problem thanks

Yep, the title isn't transferred, so you still own it.
Tell the guy he has one day to bring it back, in operational condition, before you report it as stolen.

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by Redraven

Yep, the title isn't transferred, so you still own it.
Tell the guy he has one day to bring it back, in operational condition, before you report it as stolen.

NOOOOOO....

He bought it WHERE IS, AS IS.....the vehicle is HIS the money is yours....tell him to watch Judge Judy or one of the others......

[sunbelt]

This thread is still active? I've already parted the vehicle out. When I finish selling the parts I plan on 2x'ing my investment. Or I'll save the parts for my next project. Thread closed.