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Date:         Mon, 8 Apr 2002 23:54:54 -0500
Reply-To:     Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: HELP!!  What is the State of my Title?
Comments: To: bpremack@MN.RR.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Different States Have a variety of laws and I'm sure that you've explored most of your options in your state. I've found that if I just go to a used car dealer they can walk you through the active program. Used car dealer can get just about anything past their regular cashier at the licensing bureau. Comes down to "Who do you know" in many cases.

Stan Wilder

On Mon, 8 Apr 2002 23:34:43 -0500 Budd Premack <bpremack@MN.RR.COM> writes: > Can anyone direct me to a source to title an 85 Westy, which has > SERIOUS > title problems? > > The Background.... > > Last year I obtained an eBay van from a CA dealer. The body was > fine, but > it had severe engine problems, so it was towed to MN by my trusty 86 > Syncro. > (Slow and steady wins the race.) Sometime (a long time) later it > ran fine > after engine surgery. > > The CA dealer directed me to apply for a MN title once the van was > operational in MN. Because a non-functioning vehicle cannot pass > the smog > test, a CA dealer cannot sell it to an individual. I arranged for > a > transfer via Bill of Sale from the CA dealer to a MN dealer who is a > friend. > The plan was for the MN dealer to get a MN title and then transfer > it to me. > > The Problem.... > > The van had been junked in CA, resulting in the CA DMV canceling its > title. > The CA DMV wrote me a letter indicating this title status. (Want to > guess > how easy that was to procure?) Last summer (with the CA DMV letter > and > Bills of Sale in hand) my friendly MN dealer was able to obtain MN > RV plates > (which expired 2-28- 02) while submitting a request for a MN title. > However, after a wait of several months, MN would not issue a new MN > title > as there was obviously still a record of the CA title. (After a > canceled > title has been stale for at least 3 years, MN will waive this > requirement, > but who wants to wait!) MN indicated that I needed to get the > title > reissued by CA, as MN wouldn't issue a title for a vehicle that had > (that is > the operative word) a title in any other state.. > > In order to obtain a reissued title, CA stated I needed a CA Junk > Receipt > and Bills of Sale from all interested parties in the chain of title. > I > already had all the requisite Bills of Sale. (Hey, do you think I > am a > complete dummy for buying a van without a title? All who answered > "yes" can > commence laughing promptly.) After numerous unsuccessful attempts > at > securing the Junk Receipt from the CA dealer, I was able to locate > the prior > dealer, who had officially junked the van and then sold it to my > dealer. > The "junk" dealer was extremely cooperative and provided me with a > copy of > the elusive Junk Receipt. > > Further communication with the Special Field Office of the CA DMV > resulted > in their following cooperation in my efforts to revive the CA > title: > > 1. Permission was granted to avoid the smog test (as the van was to > be only > titled, but not registered, in CA, as the intention was to register > it in > MN, which has no smog test). > > 2. Permission was granted to have the brake and light inspection > done by an > official state inspection outside of CA. (Naturally, MN has no > vehicle > inspection of any sort, so I guess I could go to IA to find an > official > state inspector.) > > 3. However (We all knew there was going to be a however, didn't > we?), the > regular vehicle inspection could only be done by a CA DMV official > or by a > member of the CA Highway Patrol (CHIPS). Unfortunately, they don't > make > house calls. (Apparently, the rules for inspection of previously > junked > vehicles are strict in CA.) > > The Solution.... > > This saga leads to several interesting choices: > > 1. Transport the van to CA for the vehicle inspection. Of course > it can't > be driven there as it has no current license plates. > > 2. Park the van for 2 more years to comply with the MN 3 year rule. > > 3. Drive the van with plates "borrowed" from a junked van of > similar > vintage, and possibly attempt to switch all of the serial numbers. > (This is > known as the witness protection system.) > > 4. Arrange for an accident, and collect the fair market value from > my > insurance company. (Since all of us Listees know how fair and > generous > insurance companies typically are in valuing 15 year old Westys, > this > technique is a leading candiate if one can omit any ethics issues.) > > 5. Ask the List for help in finding a cooperative venue where the > van can > be titled and then re-registered in MN. > > HELP!!!!! HELP!!!!! > > Can anybody hear a voice crying in the governmental bureaucratic > wilderness? > > > p.s. For those of you who remember me from my past Listee life, > please note > my new email address: bpremack@mn.rr.com > > > > Budd Premack > 86 Syncro (and a host of others) > Minneapolis, MN (Land of Sky-Blue Waters) >

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