How do I get a title in my name for a junk car w/ no orignal title--New York?
A friend of mine owns a junk yard. He gave me a car, 2001 Honda Civic. The car does NOT have a title, and is considered "Salvaged". The car itself is not in that bad of condition, it was just vandilized and abandonded..so it needs a new windshield, maybe a new paintjob, and a deep cleaning inside, but other than that, the car is good condition. I know that I will have to get these things repaired before we have it inspected.
What my biggest concern is getting it titled into my name, being that we have no title to begin with. The man at the junkyard has no additional information on the car's previous owner. I need this title in order to insure, register, and put plates on this vehicle. I dont know what to do here. I have searched the internet with no luck, maybe someone who knows the NY dmv can help me out.
You have two choices to make to get a title. One easy but costing a little and the other cheap but you will have to do documentation to get one.
First, if you look on the internet for auto title companies you will find there are numerous title companies, especially one in LasVegas I use where you give them the vin number and for $149 they send you a clear title for the car notorized for you to sign into your name and then you just take the title and car to your sheriff's dept for inspection just as any other out of state car you transfer. Even if the title was junked in your state they have no way to find out that it wasn't rebuilt and retitled in another state. This will be a clean title too, not a rebuild. Now if you want to go through the trouble you can call your clerk's office where you transfer vehicles and ask them what documentation you need to get a rebuild title for a vehicle. Don't volunteer any more info than they ask for. In the eyes of the govt a vehicle won't be junked out unless there is something wrong with it. This means you will probably have to get a few receipts for parts you put on it to repair it whether it be spark plugs or whatever. Keep receipts for everything you do to it as you will need them in the process. Most states allow you to reinstate a junked title as a salvage or rebuild title with the right documentation. Some states require a statement from the person who junked it stating why it was junked and then you need a receipt where you purchased it. I recommend the title service as it is a no-hassle way to get a title and get it quick. The other process takes up to a couple months sometimes to get taken care of. Hope this helps.
