Legal stuff

[1974Satellite]

Is there anything I can do to get a Tennessee title for my satellite. It has no title and no VIN plate. I do know the VIN because it still has the door sticker but, I’m not sure if that even matters. I bought the car for the engine that’s going in my dart. It’s a decent roller, so I would like to do something with it if possible. Thanks in advance.

 

[1STMP]

"In Tennessee, individuals without official vehicle ownership proof must file a surety bond for registration to obtain a bonded title"

Not as bad as it sounds, but
it will take some coin.
Contact your current car
insurance company for the
bond (avoid those on the net
that advertise bonds as they
may not be up to snuff on
your states' requirements).
In my case, I trailered my
truck to the local state
police for a level 3 vin
inspection. The main reason
here is to see if the vehicle
has ever been reported
stolen (nation wide search).
Research bonded title
requirements for Tennesee
as to where and what info is
required to get your title
(PS....You may have heard
about the Vermont
loophole). On a car that is
over 15 years old, they'll
no longer issue titles, but
only registrations. Some
states no longer accept
registrations as a means to
obtain a title.
Hope this is helpful as I just
went through all this BS.
But I guess it's better than
losing your pride and joy
due to it being involved in
nefarious practices from
the past.
Odds are in your favor that
the car is "clean".

 

[j-c-c-62]

How does one prove "official ownership", meaning is a paper title the only way?

Does a "bonded title" forever remain as a title qualifier, or does it self-remove after a certain time period?

 

[1STMP]

How does one prove "official ownership", meaning is a paper title the only way?

Does a "bonded title" forever remain as a title qualifier, or does it self-remove after a certain time period?

After 3 years the title
becomes clear if there are
no outside claims to
ownership. At least that's
the way it's here in NM.
I can't attest to how long
it takes in Tennessee.
As for me, with the time
and effort for the build,
it's worth the gamble.
Sucks....but due to thievery
and deception, means to
get a legit title are
constricted.
Yes, a bona-fide clear title
is the only way to prove
ownership.

 

[YY1]

Research your state's laws carefully.

1- most states have an official bill of sale, which must be used to prove transfer of ownership without a title.
Finding the previous owner months after the sale can be difficult if that paperwork was not filled out at the time of the sale.

2- some states, including Florida, where I live will only issue a bonded title if the previous registration was in Florida.
Knowing the previous state of registration IMO is nearly impossible without a copy or...a title.

3- some states require a NCIC database check. Finding a way to get that can prove difficult.

FL has also recently added requirements to the fairly new bonded title program due to what they have termed "abuse".
The applicant must now, in addition to the mandatory state bill of sale, fill out a form titled something like "no intent to defraud", which can ultimately be used against them in court if the vehicle is found to be other than as described by the applicant.

 

[Davefinan]

I always thought that having a bill of sale when trying to get the car titled was the biggest thing……who knows anymore though . AND…hi neighbor!

 

[1974Satellite]

Is there anything I can do to get a Tennessee title for my satellite. It has no title and no VIN plate. I do know the VIN because it still has the door sticker but, I’m not sure if that even matters. I bought the car for the engine that’s going in my dart. It’s a decent roller, so I would like to do something with it if possible. Thanks in advance.

View attachment 1608960

Is there anything I can do to get a Tennessee title for my satellite. It has no title and no VIN plate. I do know the VIN because it still has the door sticker but, I’m not sure if that even matters. I bought the car for the engine that’s going in my dart. It’s a decent roller, so I would like to do something with it if possible. Thanks in advance.

View attachment 1608960

I failed to mention when I bought the car in Kentucky, so I don’t know how much that can affect things.

 

[1STMP]

I failed to mention when I bought the car in Kentucky, so I don’t know how much that can affect things.

Vehicle Age

www.tn.gov

Out of state purchase
shouldn't affect the title
application process.
Especially if the car is more
than 30 years old. Without
regular registration, most
DMV's purge their info every
7 years, so the only info to
show up on a level 3 (NCIC)
vin inspection will be wether
or not the car was reported
stolen.
Your insurance company
will also run a vin check
to see if the car was ever
reported as a total loss
when applying for a bonded
title.
In which case, the car
becomes a salvage vehicle,
and once the bond clears,
the car will be titled as such.
It may also be helpful if you
can find an old registration
form for the car.
It took 18 months from the
time of the title bond
application to a title in my
hand, with 4 trips to DMV
for process and verification.
paperwork.
Once your bond is approved,
DMV will schedule your
appointment (usually with
the state police) for the
level 3 vin inspection.

 

[j-c-c-62]

Didn't some cars pre 60's just have an engine block number, ie no VIN?

 

[JackR]

I bought my roadrunner with no title. Had to get a bonded title…to do that the DMV used mid range book value on the carcass I had. $550.00 for the insurance to get the bonded title
The car got two inspections for VIN numbers. The Arizona Highway Patrol officer who did the first VIN inspection asked if I wanted to sell it. He was a mopar guy and knew what he was looking at.
Think the Az. Bonded title goes regular title after 1 year.

 

[1STMP]

Didn't some cars pre 60's just have an engine block number, ie no VIN?

Older vehicles (including
Mopars) typically had vin
numbers in 3 different
locations. Some of those
locations were "secret",
known only to state DMV's/
police/insurance
companies.
My 1940 Plymouth pickup
had matching serial
numbers on the cab, frame,
and engine. Which gets
interesting is when engines
we're being swapped for
whatever reason. Usually
you could tell if it was a
warranty engine as there
would be no serial number
stamped. If stamped by
the guy doing the swap,
now there's two engines
out there with the same
number. This got to be
such a nightmare that
manufacturers would
develop their own special
fonts and font sizes that
are/were proprietary, as well
as vin plate attaching
methods.

 

[YY1]

Also be aware, that pre-1969 Mopars DO NOT Have additional VIN locations.

FL requires a vehicle have TWO matching VIN locations, in order pass inspection for a bonded title or an out of state transfer.

Explaining that a pre-1969 Mopar has "SO numbers" instead of multiple matching VINs is not super easy, and that alone could get you denied if the random person assigned to your case is unwilling to listen or unable to comprehend.

 

[YY1]

OK, above does not apply to the OP since his car is a 74.

 

[1STMP]

Also be aware, that pre-1969 Mopars DO NOT Have additional VIN locations.

FL requires a vehicle have TWO matching VIN locations, in order pass inspection for a bonded title or an out of state transfer.

Explaining that a pre-1969 Mopar has "SO numbers" instead of multiple matching VINs is not super easy, and that alone could get you denied if the random person assigned to your case is unwilling to listen or unable to comprehend.

Know full well the point
you're trying to put across.
Got into a disagreement w/
a DMV employee that
thought they knew
everything there was to
know about old Mopars
and their serial number
locations. The sad part is
if you get one that refuses
your knowledge and honest
debate, they have the final
say in the matter. No point
in arguing, once their mind
is set, and it's best to let
the rules play out.
You'll be frustrated enough
just trying to get a long
forgotten work of art back
on the road, that contributes
to global warming.

 

[1967coronet]

I have been through this once in Iowa.
I started off with the Iowa department of motor vehicals.
I would contact your own state dept. of motor vehicles for the correct procedure and forms.
Yes we also had a bonded title, it was several years ago.
If i recall we had to put up 10% of the bond.
In the end we had a DOT inspection and a new state issued vin tag /number attached, along with a new title.
So in the end it was two inspections.
One for theft and title leins ect. Before bond.
The final was road ready type safety inspection.
The bond was returned after 1 year.