Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 21:43:39 -0500
Reply-To: al brase <braseelec@FORBIN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: al brase <braseelec@FORBIN.COM>
Organization: al brase electric
Subject: Re: A Cautionary Tale of Titles - Part II
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
DAVIDTHEKM@aol.com wrote:
>
> Dear Volks,
>
> Since this is Friday, I thought I would update you on the latest in my quest
> to get a title to my AdventureWagen. I also want to clarify the questions
> some were having about whether you need a certificate of insurance and/or a
> certificate of title to register a vehicle, in Texas at least.
>
> You may recall I had bought a non-running '82 air-cooled Vanagon
> AdventureWagen in great condition in July. I also bought a used engine on
> E**y, which has been sitting in my backyard on a pallet for the last month.
> I bought the vehicle on a Friday evening and towed it 200+ miles home. The
> man I bought it from said the title was in his lockbox, and that he would
> mail it the next Monday. Two months and numerous phone calls later I still
> had no title. I finally had my attorney send a letter demanding the title or
> a refund.
>
> After my first posting, the seller called my attorney. He admitted he had
> never registered the vehicle in Texas. He only had the Florida title that
> was signed over to him from the original owner. He said he had been planning
> to register it after he fixed it up. He never finished, and it has sat at
> his place since 1992. He said he would be willing to register it now IF I
> PAID ALL THE COSTS INVOLVED, which would be about $100. He promised he would
> then sign the Texas title he would get over to me. There are several
> problems with this idea. First it would require me to trust him again, which
> would never happen. Second, and here's where the confusion came in, to
> register a vehicle in Texas, it has to have a current inspection, as well as
> proof of insurance.
<snip>
In addition, they say they do a large amount
> of international business, since the vehicle doesn't have to ever physically
> be in New Hampshire, so here's an idea for our non-US members. I consider
> the $120 to be very reasonable and a better investment than my attorney. It
> is also probably no more than I would have had to spend to reimburse the
> original owner, who I located in Florida, if he had applied for a lost title.
> It will certainly be faster. I'll let everyone know if it really works as
> well as it sounds when this transaction is completed.
>
> David Hunt '68 Crewcab '74 Thing N****n transportation appliance
David:
I can see two problems with this:
1. This vehicle can never be registered again in Florida without BIG
problems.
2. What if the Texas guy or the Florida guy wants to make a stink? If
he's as shady as you say, maybe the Texas guy might do just that!
I'd see if the Texas guy could just send me the Florida title along with
a power of attorney letter authorizing his signature to sign off the
thing to you. This would be necessary if he's already inserted his name
into the buyer blank. If he hasn't, why do you need a Texas title? This
is done all the time in our state. It's called "floating the title". I'd
guess your attorney could draw up the papers.
Boy! Texas surely has some dumb laws! This means basically non-runners
can't be transferred? What about rebuilders, late model insurance
company wrecks?
Al Brase
69 double cab
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