lost title! never registered. need advice

[bmoha7321]

Some of you have been following my build blog on my 97 GSX shell. I bought the shell from a friend who bought it from the last registered owner with title in Aurora Illinois. My friend did not register the shell as it is just that a shell. Not driveable. No motor no tranny. It's a project car and went into his storage. He bought a 97 supercharged corvette and sold me the 97 GSX shell. He dropped it off here and I promptly put it into my storage. I have spent the better part of the year working on it. I didn't register it as it wasn't driveable. The DMV doesn't have a problem with me not registering it since it wasn't on the road.
Ok long story short I had been expecting to get the GSX running last month and put the title into the cargo pocket of my pants. It actually started 6 days later and then to my horror I found out I sent the title thru the wash. It's nothing but paper pulp. The WI DMV was no help.
I did not know the original registered owner in Illinois. My buddy did not save his name or telephone number. His screen name here on tuners is turbodsmawd420. He lives in Aurora Illinois. DMV is saying basically the only way to get this thing registered in WI is to have him re title it in Illinois and then send me the new title. I don't know his name. If anyone on here knows him personally I really need to get a hold of him.

 

[jtmcinder]

You know the VIN, right? If so, contact Illinois DMV.

 

[bmoha7321]

Yes of course. I was under the impression that DMV will not give out info etc unless I'm a police officer.

The DMV here was very friendly but no help

The DMV here was very friendly but no help

 

[Redwidow]

You can usually file for a lost title and it might take a little time but it should solve your problem. You willing have to call your local police dept and tell them you lost the title. They will come out and take your info and the vehicles info and run it to make sure its not stolen. After they determine its not stolen they will give you something to take to the dmv and they should be able to send you a new title

 

[jtmcinder]

Only the last registered owner can file for a lost title. The OP is not said person.

 

[ed1380]

Do a title bond.

 

[GST2012GSX]

Sorry to hear that, but there's nothing that you can do about it. The other way was that you had a bill of sell from the seller, but I'm sure you don't have any. You need to first is find the owner, have him give you a bill of sell signed you might get away with that at the mvd but if you don't the owner will have to ask for the tittle and send it to you signed. Well good luck with that. There are some other ways to get the tittle if you can't find him!

 

[bmoha7321]

There is a process in place for getting a title for an abandoned vehicle. And that's how it starts thru the police dept but it usually takes 5 months and that's only in state. Not out of state.
I'm not sure how out of state works
I need to get the GSX on the road ASAP. The 94 ford exploder I'm currently keeps eating parts; tranny overheats after 40 miles of driving, lost overdrive, no brakes and just yesterday the blowed stalled & caught fire. So no heat or defogger.

Someone else suggested title bond bond but was unable to explain how it worked

 

[DSMBanditFZ6]

I had the same problem with a ford contour and had to track down the previous owner. You would think that it would be public information. Maybe ask a cop if he can give you a name registered on the vin# . What if he lost his car , and you found it and want to return it? I know it sounds stupid and should b public information. Get a name and use a people search.

My y .02 goodluck

 

[bmoha7321]

I'm hoping carfax will give me his name since he's the last registered owner.

 

[Redwidow]

Only the last registered owner can file for a lost title. The OP is not said person.[

My fault on the mix up. I was thinking an abandoned vehicle. I had to do one for a 57 chevy truck but its been about 6 years and it was in the state. Although if its "abandoned" I don't know how they would know if its in the same state or not.

One idea would be to talk to a towing company. I know some states have a law where if a company tows a vehicle, and after attempting to contact the owner and 90 day, if their is no response, the car is legally the company's. I don't know if they can give any insight on how they get a title after that

 

[ed1380]

For a title bond go to the police station with the vin and they'll give you a paper saying its not stolen. Then go to an insurance company with $50 and they'll start the process and give you paperwork to register it right away. Then after a while the title will come in the mail. I still haven't received my title because they need the car value not how much you paid for it, so it had to be redone. At least that's how its done in Ga

 

[jtmcinder]

OK, I did some searching. This is the killer quote: "Out-of-state residents may not apply for an Illinois duplicate title if they have purchased a vehicle without a title from an Illinois resident. The out-of-state purchaser must ask the Illinois owner to apply for the duplicate title." It's from: How to Obtain a Duplicate Title on the Illinois Sect'y of State website. As of now, it really looks like you have to find the previous owner if you're going to do this through Illinois.

So I started looking at your options in Wisconsin. I found nothing you could use. Every option required a title. The only thing left was to go to Wisconsin DMV, say that it's an out-of-state salvaged car with no title and see what your options are.

You could, of course, get a junked 2G with a Wisconsin title and swap the dashboards, but that could well be illegal, so I clearly would never actually write in out, let alone suggest it.

 

[bmoha7321]

I appreciate you looking into it. Dash swap has been suggested. Man. All this work and I'm feeling hosed.

 

[jtmcinder]

You're welcome. Sorry I could be more useful. You know that Cinder (my old car; see avatar) now lives in Wisconsin, yes? I wonder how she is doing.

 

[bmoha7321]

It's the effort that counts.
I did not know that. Big fan of that car.
I'm going to stop by police station after work with the VIN get the process started.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Well I'm not sure how the law side of this works but I might be able to help...

If you file for a lost title/ abandoned vehicle title, through the mail..It wil take 6+ weeks to get the new title..

Now since your in Madison, thats a big help...I lost my title, went to the dmv in Madtown, and came home the same day with new title..You might be able to go there, can't remember what street, file for said lost title, abandoned vehicle title and come home the same day with the title in your name..

I know someone in Arora..I can messege them and see if they know the guy who origanally owned the car..But theres no gurentee on that..

I'll get back to you as soon as I can with good or no news..

Edit: Sent a guy a messege reguarding your problem..I Will get back to you..

Did you perhapps send the origanal owner a pm and email trying to get ahold of him..That might help..But that sais guy was last on tuners in september..So an email might be the best way to get ahold of him..

 

[bmoha7321]

I haven't pursued the abandoned car method yet but I may have to.

Usually I'm very good at keeping titles. I keep them all in the same spot. Was just excited to get it up & running.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Never put a title in your pants..Always put it somewhere safe..Better yet..Give it to your girl...You may not know where it is, but she will..

Secondly..What the hell were you doing wearing cargo pants..Didn't those go out of style like a long time ago..

 

[ed1380]

Never put a title in your pants..Always put it somewhere safe..Better yet..Give it to your girl...You may not know where it is, but she will..

Secondly..What the hell were you doing wearing cargo pants..Didn't those go out of style like a long time ago..

I learned that the hard way. I still have the washed pieces in a ziplock bag somewhere.

 

[Bud92gsx]

I learned that the hard way. I still have the washed pieces in a ziplock bag somewhere.

I hope you were not wearing cargo pants as well...

If so..Try on a pair of regular jeans will you..

 

[nolen117]

I had the same problem, and I went to a local auto auction and they basically wrote an afidavit of alteration and a shit ton of other stuff, and got me a title with their name on it, as if I had bought it from them

 

[salvageddsm]

Find a local tow truck company you trust they can get these things done rather quickly .As they deal with abandon cars daily with no titles ... and good luck

 

[bmoha7321]

Got used to cargo pockets.

 

[Bud92gsx]

I used to wear them back in the day too..But now I don't carry enough stuff to warrant wearing cargo pants..

If you got a girl and you wear cargo pants..You become their purse..I seen that on scrubs and thought it was funny..