Do title services still exist?

[colonelpowers]

Hemmings used to have several companies available that you could purchase titles through but I have been searching the computer today and can't find a one. In Virginia it is almost impossible to get a title if one didn't come with the car. I only know of 3 ways, a garage can get title to a car that has been abandoned or left unpaid, you can get a builder's title for a hot rod or replica, and lastly you can get a title for a vehicle that has been abandoned on your land or was found on land that you have purchased. Unfortunately, the car that I am looking at doesn't fit any of those options. Any good ideas?

[Norman Kling]

We have one here in Alpine. It was about 30 years ago when I brought my pile of rusty parts home. First thing I did was go to the title service and they came out and looked at it. They got the engine number and found out it was not registered to anyone else, nor reported stolen, so I got a title and kept it registered as Non-Operation, until it was ready to drive. Still registered to me. Another car I bought came with title and bill of sale, however the engine had been changed and not the number on file. The car was running and the previous owner had it insured with the number on the engine. I bought it from his estate, so could not question him. Took that on to the CHP and they verified the number on the block and it was not registered to anyone nor reported stolen so they OK'd the transfer.
Norm

[ModelTWoods]

Google: "Broadway Title Company". Its address is in Bangor, ME. The same company used to be in Alabama, but moved to Maine.I don't know why, but I assume they had some trouble with the State of Alabama, and were forced to move to another state. They still have a website, but I would investigate them thoroughly before doing business with them, because when you Google them, a site comes up saying Broadway Title Company scam. Now, I don't mean to talk bad about them, because I haven't dealt with them since they were in Alabama, but in the 1980's when they were in Alabama, I got two titles for vehicles through their services, and their Alabama titles were accepted by the State of Texas.

[RVA23T]

Have you tried to do the Virginia Abandoned Vehicle Process (AVP) yourself? It is an online process here in Virgina. You just need to have the vehicle under your control on your property in the state, and the VIN #.

https://transactions.dmv.virginia.gov/a ... opage.aspx

Downside is it is an online process only, and i would guess the pre 1969 vin # might be an issue.

[Dan Hatch]

I don’t know how you could get a “title “ for a Model T from Alabama. They did not start issuing title until 1975.
I live here and can not get titles for any of mine.

What can be done is it registered and a tag issued in Alabama. Then you should be able to get a title in any state.
They a long time ago around 1980s would give a letter from the State that said this car was a legitimate registered vehicle in Alabama. They quit that years ago. Dan

[John Codman]

I have a friend who built a "T bucket" years ago. He used a tube frame and a fiberglass body. The only part of the car that actually came from a Model T was the steering wheel. It was titled as a 1923 Ford. He got the title from an outfit that was in the area that has been previously mentioned. Apparently the outfit would buy the title from a car that was being junked. I think that would be on the boundary of illegal, because the original car no longer exists, and the state doesn't know that it no longer exists. Maine is pretty casual about registrations and titles - you can live in California and register a vehicle that has never been to Maine in Maine. There are a surprisingly large number of "big rig" trailers with Maine plates. It's a profit center for Maine. I was thinking of registering my trailer there, but it is not legal to do so in Florida.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

... you can get a builder's title for a hot rod or replica...

Can it be an original car that was assembled from parts? If so, tell them that's what you did and go from there.

[jsaylor]

Here in California we have several individuals who are certified by the DMV to do vin verification and provide the proper paper to get a car titled and registered. Saves a lot time usually just one trip to the DMV with the paper and your done. Same with YOM plates. As far as street rods, California DMV says if it looks mostly like a 1923 then you can register it as a 1923.

[ModelTWoods]

I don’t know how you could get a “title “ for a Model T from Alabama. They did not start issuing title until 1975.
I live here and can not get titles for any of mine.

What can be done is it registered and a tag issued in Alabama. Then you should be able to get a title in any state.
They a long time ago around 1980s would give a letter from the State that said this car was a legitimate registered vehicle in Alabama. They quit that years ago. Dan

Dan, MY BAD. I guess I confused plate registration with a paper title. Like I said, the last time that I used Broadway in Birmingham, was in the 1970'or 80's. I do remember that they sent me paperwork and a metal license plate in the mail, and then, I got a Texas title. Most title services, like Broadway, were, or are, in NON-TITLE states which didn't issue titles until after the 60's or 70's.

[Chris Haynes]

I have never had to use a service to get a title. In CA I fill out an "Application for Title" form. If asked where it came from I tell them the vehicle has been on my family land for years. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER tell them the car was built from parts. Bring the vehicle in for serial number verification. Pay some money. The title will come in the mail in a couple weeks.

[ModelTWoods]

I don’t know how you could get a “title “ for a Model T from Alabama. They did not start issuing title until 1975.
I live here and can not get titles for any of mine.

What can be done is it registered and a tag issued in Alabama. Then you should be able to get a title in any state.
They a long time ago around 1980s would give a letter from the State that said this car was a legitimate registered vehicle in Alabama. They quit that years ago. Dan

Dan, MY BAD. I guess I confused plate registration with a paper title. Like I said, the last time that I used Broadway in Birmingham, was in the 1970'or 80's. I do remember that they sent me paperwork and a metal license plate in the mail, and then, I got a Texas title. Most title services, like Broadway, were, or are, in NON-TITLE states which didn't issue titles until after the 60's or 70's.

Addendum: I Used Broadway for THREE vehicles. One was a 63 Ford Galaxie 500 R code 427 engine car. I knew that if I turned in the Indiana title that came with the car, I wouldn't get it back from the State of Texas, so I got the alternate title to turn in. The second was a 64 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt drag car that the title was lost long ago (if it ever had one). the third was a 26 Ford four door sedan that came from the non-title State of South Carolina.