state titles question

R

ronn

Well-known member
I collect car, truck and motorcycle titles.


Recently bought a group and the model A was the first one Ive seen that said phaeton on it. Years ago states wrote, roadster, victoria, phaeton, coach, express, cabriolet, etc.


My question to you- what state are you from and when you recd your title, did it say something similar to the above? when it came back in your name in the last ten years, did it still state the same or did your state streamline to 2 dr, 4 dr, conv and truck?


Many states have streamlined and that is my curiosity...........
btw- have never seen a title that says vicky, or rpu.
 
New Hampshire calls it a "passenger car" - even though it is a truck. (Avatar)

When I sold the AA truck chassis, part of the agreement was I could provide title as the buyer was from Texas and Texas has more strict titling law.

So I went through the NH process, provided the out of state bill of sale (foresight here to be sure it was a state with state specific bills of sale) paid the fee, and shortly after the local PD called looking for an appointment to do a "VID confirmation."

"You understand you're looking at a bare chassis with a number."

"Yes. It doesn't matter but for a title it HAS to have a specific number attached somewhere."

The nice uniformed female officer arrived, very courteous and got an education on the numbering of Model A vehicles (i.e. two numbers, should match but commonly don't, as long as one is "Legible" that meets the state requirement.)

My numbers "matched" so no issue at all.

I received the NH title in the mail a week or so later and the sale to the Texas buyer went on as planned.

The AA chassis is/was a "Truck."

Joe K
 
as I figured,,,,,,, states have mostly done away with the sir names and most everything is basic.


thx for the feedback!would like to hear from a lot more states if this is the case.
 
Joe, what do you mean by (i.e. two numbers, should match but commonly don't, as long as one is "Legible" that meets the state requirement)?

I am not sure what that means. Don't ALL the numbers need to match?
 
I have a nice early 30 chassis sitting outside my cellar door right now.NO sign of a chassis number ever.It is super clean,with a thin coat of paint.If the number was ground off it would have a dip of a few thousandths there.You can run a machinests straight edge over it,no sign of any work.I took the body off a few months ago,and figured while it was off I would just take a look to see if the numbers matched.If I remember right the body subrail stamping said it was assembled in Somerville Mass.Titles were not issued here in N.H. until 1964,and those were for new cars.Then,when the car hit 10 years old they they were not required.About 20 years ago they started letting us title antique vehicles.The borders would be stamped,exempt vehicle,titled by request.I always title my antique cars now.It only costs $27.50,is painless,and it makes it so much easier for out of state buyers.There is SUPPOSED to be a protocol in place for every state to honer the rules of a state a car may have came from,but in real life the minions bechind some of the counters of other states still try to make folks jump through hoops.
 
old31 said:
Joe, what do you mean by (i.e. two numbers, should match but commonly don't, as long as one is "Legible" that meets the state requirement)?

I am not sure what that means. Don't ALL the numbers need to match?
Click to expand...

In NH she (officer/official capacity) only needs ONE "non-removable" number to be referenced.

In the case of a non-match Model A (i.e. engine replacement) it could be the current number exposed on the engine block.

In the case of my AA chassis with engine, it could have been either number. BUT - the number chosen HAS to be visible subsequently. For use in a "cursory examination" and done without lifting a body or worse. I was fortunate that the engine number was VERY legible.

It is common locally (more seen on Model T firewalls) that a brass or stainless plate will be made and attached. This showing a "made-up" number. But the plate has to have "permanence," be positively attached with welding, rivet or screws, and not be able to be removed without tools.

In effect, you as owner of the plate actually only own the "plate." The fact that a car is attached is immaterial.

Of course your car MAY have a previously recorded title showing the earlier engine number - in which case you have to sell the car by Bill of Sale and hope the new buyer can go through the "state titling" process. A matching Title Paper/Car Number only speeds the registration process. (Only "titled" cars can be registered.)

Or - on engine change - one could "create" that firewall plate with the "old" number, attach it - and keep on going using the previous number/title.

It's a little hokey in NH - but when one thinks of the purpose of a title - to allay theft and provide "short term" identification in the event of theft, I guess it makes sense.

Of course there is nothing to prevent a thief from faking a bill of sale, "making his own serial plate," attaching it, and state titling the vehicle in his own name.

EVERY system has a weakness somewhere.

Joe K
 
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In 3 weeks, I have made 5 trips to the DMV trying to get the title put in my name. I had to go get a bond from the insurance company just to submit the paperwork.
Now I get a letter saying the vehicle has to be inspected by the Auto Theft Task force to verify the Make and Model of the vehicle.

The first available date for the inspection is 3 weeks out in April. No inspections during bad weather. So, if it's raining, I have to reschedule. . .

Hopefully it's not raining that day, and after the inspection and a 6th trip to the DMV the title transfer paperwork will be accepted.

And that's with me having the old Tx issued title, signed buyers' receipt, insurance, and a cashier's check receipt made out to the seller.
 
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and Im guessing it will say the same. good luck with your inspection!


TX used to be an easy state. sounds like they are running you around.........
 
Hello, a few years ago when I bought my 31 Roadster, it was listed as a convertible, when I took in back to apply for antique title,had it corrected to roadster. Pennsylvania had a whole list of body names, or at least they did, with descriptions of they should be. Oddly enough my 1971 MGB is listed as a Roadster even though it has roll up side windows,
 
Joe,I think you left a couple of words out when you said,'only titled cars can be registered'.Pre 2000 cars do not need a title at all.I was having problems trying to sell to out of state buyers back in the 70's.I wanted to title older cars,but the DMV clerks thought I was crazy for wanting to spend money I didn't have to.Then I got a guy there that understood what I wanted to do,and did a title for me.But,he did have to stamp it as exempt.Then I sold the car locally,and the buyer didn't want or need the title.So I still have it.
 

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so PA has held onto the old surnames........


thats interesting Herb..... I ve noticed titles pre 1940 rarely say PU


usually delivery, trk, express or box.
 
Every states policy is different, but the amount of stupidity is across the board no
matter what state you are in. I bought my 1931 "COUPE" several years ago, and
at the time I was forward thinking enough to make a photo copy of the original
title that had come out of Texas. MY photo copy clearly shows the word "COUPE"
in the body style category, but the title was returned to me with the word "COACH"
incorrectly placed. In an attempt to get the title corrected ( obviously their mistake )
I was requested to send in a notarized copy of my photocopy of the Texas title,
the new incorrect State issued title, and another complete payment of all necessary
title fees & additional monies to correct their mistake. Needless to say - I did not

comply with their requests. Fast forward to last year : I bought a 33 pick-up truck
out of Pennsylvania, a state that did not have antique car titles much before the licensing year of around 1966. I could not get a title here without an original title
from the sellers state. I solved the problem by having my brother buy the truck
and apply for a title in Wisconsin where they will accept a "Bill of Sale" - then he
resold it to me, problem solved (almost) ! I turn in the paperwork to the state

and the Wisconsin title clearly lists the body style as Pick-up from the Wisconsin DMV,
but when I get the title back from the state the body style lists my truck as a
"CARRY ALL" Seems like you end up dealing with people that have single digit I.Q.s
I guess you can consider any pick up truck as a carry-all vehicle then ?
 
Keith True said:
Joe,I think you left a couple of words out when you said,'only titled cars can be registered'
Click to expand...


Yes, thinking back that is the "end game" I never needed to confront with the AA chassis.

I've often wondered where that AA ended up. 26K original miles - the engine had never been opened for a shim-removal.

I won't say the buyer stole it - but he got a very good deal. And I didn't lose money.

Joe K
 
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