Problem with title in Tennessee

I bought a 1986 VFR off Craigslist over a year ago locally. The original title was in One guys name ( name number 1) ...on the back it was signed over to the guy I bought it from ( name number 2 )..Number 2 never had the title transfered to his name. ( original owner and this guy was related somehow) I did get them both to write and sign bills of sale stating me as the new owner......BUT....I didn't take care of the title transfer to my name until now. ( the bike was a project and so I was not riding it ).......Now the state says the title has to be put in name number 2 and then transfer to mine.....I CANT FIND EITHER GUY NOW....I know I was stupid to put off going to the DMV until now ...any ideas?? The state is no help.

 

The second guy never titled it because he didn't want to pay sales tax on it.
I am a used tractor trailer dealer in TN. You will have to find someone in the courthouse who WANTS to help you. Ask them if you can pay sales tax on it twice, once for him then once for you. The second guy couldn't just sign it over to you without first registering it himself, only a licenced dealer can do that, but too late now. He signed the title where it says
"Reassignment by Licenced Dealer", without being a dealer he can't sign there.
You might HAVE to find him, then make him get a title in his name, then sign it over to you, but he will have to pay the sales tax (which he should have done when he bought it). He won't be too happy about that, but it is him trying to evade taxes. Good luck at the courthouse, if not, good luck finding the guy. Keep us posted.

 

Thanks....but he didn't sign in the "Reassignment by Licensed Dealer" area...he signed right above there as the BUYER....the sale price was listed as "gift"....are you saying a dealer may could help with this? ...for a fee of course .

 

Unfortunately no. It sounds like he has really screwed this title up. You would be better off if he had not written on the title at all. Then, as far as the state is concerned the transfer would be from man 1 directly to you, leaving man 2 out all together. If it was a gift, sales tax must be paid according to the book value. Someone at the courthouse should be able to help you fix it. You just have to find someone who gives a S&%T. Good luck with that. You might ask to speak directly to the county clerk. He is elected and is always looking for a vote. If it looked like the transfer was from man 1 directly to you, it would go a lot smoother. You could leave man 2 out all togther.

 

I hope the bike in your pictures is not the one with the bum title. That is waaay to nice o'bike to have title problems.

 

I've heard of several people using this service successfully.

http://www.its-titles.com

Give 'em a call.

Note: IIRC, they have the vehicle titled in a lax state that only requires a bill of sale, and then transfer the title to your name in the state you're a resident in.

 

Some states require only a bill of sale if the vehicle is over 20 years old.
If you have a relative or friend in one of those states, they might be able to put it in their name, then sign it over to you.

 

Afraid so...this is the bike. Man I feel so stupid for not doing it right away....now I may have a really nice bike I can't ride. :-(

 

You could send a letter to man 1 to the last known address. The post office may have his forewarding address, and foreward the letter to him. If he is a stand-up guy he will contact you, get a new title in his name, then sign it over to you. It should only cost him about $5.00 for the replacement of a "lost" title. Anyway never,never,never quit the fight. You can e-mail me at "eddievalleytrailer@msn.com" to let me know how the search is going. It might cost you a little but you could always hire a private investigator to find him. With the internet, these guys can do this easily. He can say the title was lost or destroyed (he destroyed it when they wrote all over it) and get a new one in his name easily. Sometimes the county clerk can print one out on the spot for a small fee, but only to the preson whose name is printed on the front. Keep me informed. I'm only about 90 miles from you in Jonesborough (Johnson City) and have a co-worker whose aunt is a PI. I'll ask him to ask her how hard it is to find someone who has moved.

 

Know anybody you can trust with a towing business?

Have them "impound" the vehicle on paper as an abandoned vehicle, 30 days later (at least in california) if the vehicle is unclaimed the impound yard can sell/give/auction/whatever.

They'll give you a form (and probably a bill of sale) you can take to DMV and re-register the vehicle (without mentioning any of your prior problems)... Try not to talk to the same counter person at the DMV.

 

Sometimes this can leave you with a salvage title. It can also leave the bike with a theft recovery title. It's rare Tennessee would ever issue a clear title if the bike ever got into their system.

 

GREAT NEWS GUYS!!!!

I put a free ad up in the local Craigslist looking for contact info on the previous owner. After weeks of no reponse....bam....I get an email from a guy asking why I am looking for him. I explain my problem. Gave him my contact info....again no response for weeks......I got a phone call from the previous owner last week. He got a new title...we met and its mine again legally....He was a very nice and honest guy. The new title cost him 10.00 so I gave him enough to take the family out for a nice meal.

Ever so often things do work out!

LETS RIDE!

Thanks, Dean

 

GREAT!!! That's the only to fix the title correctly. I'm glad the PO stood up and did what was right. You should NEVER buy or sell a vehicle with a screwed up title. It was nice of you to give him a few bucks, but I think he owed you a clear title. Glad everything worked out. I'm going to the Dragon tomorrow 8/17 Saturday....wanna go?

 

It would be great but I have to work this weekend. Going on vacation soon so have to tie up loose ends. Would love to some time later.

 

You seem to be the closest VFRW member to me. We'll have to go riding when you get the time. I'm about 90 miles from you in Jonesborough, TN.

 

Great thread, from running a shop I know title problems intimately Eddie really knows his stuff, the state has all the cards. So glad it worked out, salvage title brings in other unforseen problems.

Thumbs up on honest riders eace: